Too Many Hats!!

[Eamonn]

I hate hats. I hate to wear a hat.
Looking through the new jamboree catalog I see new BSA jamboree hats along with the jamboree ball-cap.
I know that we have the Insignia Guide and the Inspection Sheet. Many of these hats are not "Official" but official or not they are going to be worn by people who think they are in full uniform.
Why can't we just have one adult hat?

[wagionvigil]

$$$$$$

[RWSmith]

$$$$$$

For a million dollars, is that your final answer?

[wagionvigil]

Yes!

[Eamonn]

There I was thinking " If you want to get ahead get a hat, if you want to get a hat get a head." Now I'm hearing that this all about money !!
I'm shocked, it makes no cents.

[wagionvigil]

When I was a scout there were two hats The Fold up scout hat and the campaign hat. That was enough. When I was on Camp staff all staff were required to have a campaign hat and a red jac shirt. When you have too many options then you no longer can be uniform.

[riverwalk]

Anyway, I'm trying now to find one of the old folding hats (on ebay). These were nice as a Scout, since one could hang the hat on the belt.

And I still "need" (want) a Red Jac, but they cost $$$.

[wagionvigil]

I hear about how expensive things for scouting are but they are cheaper today then they were in 1965 when My father was making 5000.00 and the campaign hat was 25.00.Or summer camp was 25.00 per week and today parents are making 90000 and camp is 145.00 etc.
I have seen jac shirts on ebay and also at good will and salvation army stores.

[West]

Yeah, I'm watching goodwill and salvation army for the red jac. I have 2 of the folding hats, but unfortunatly they are both mediums and to small for me. I do wear the old red barret though, much nicer then the new hats (it's also a medium but fits fine, go figure.)

[Eamonn]

I don't think that today's Camp Staff would want to spent the money for a Campaign Hat and the red wool jacket.
Anyways - Aren't Campaign hats only for adult Boy Scouters?

[wagionvigil]

AS I said it was not an option like in any other job there were and are requirements of employment. Also there was a scout campaign hat. It had a satin band not a leather band.

[Eamonn]

Summer Camp is now 9 weeks for Staff.
They would need to work at least 2 weeks to pay for the Hat & Jacket.
Still on the bright side, maybe they would keep coming back year after year.

[wagionvigil]

Summer camp was 9 weeks at 18.00 per week you figure the math.

[commish3]

Eamonn,
If you are going to jamboree to Jamboree to see 38,000 scouts in correct field uniforms or even activity uniforms you are in for a disappointment.

Even though the BSA requires everyone to have a correct uniform and even though they will specify times when that uniform must be worn...it ain't gonna happen.

You will see the same mix of civilian and uniform pieces that you see in your council. Oh you might see a higher percentage of complete uniforms then you are use to, but what you will fin is just like home, if the unit leaders are wearing the correct uniform then the scouts in that unit will be also.

But believe me you will see the same, blue jeans and soccer shorts with uniform shirts just like you see now.

Jambo does have its own uniform standards though so the Jambo hat for the duration of jambo will be accepted as a uniform piece. The hats will be allowed to be adorned with collector pins, but only for the duration of the event.

Now what about all those belts? Have you ever counted how many scout belts there are? now why can't we just have one belt? Oh, and socks....do you realize how many different socks we have?? what's with that ?:wink:

[halo]

Actually, I believe the hat has become "the personal touch" for each group that symbolizes that group besides just having the same troop number.

In addition in the past, a man/boy wearing a hat was expected. Not so much nowadays. So, to complete the uniform, if the boys choose a hat they like and is comfortable, chances are they will wear it.

My son's troop puts a lot of work into choosing the hat they want to wear. The boys wear their hat with the complete Class A uniform as well as with the Class Bs with pride.