displaying patches/badges

[cad-guy]

my son is beginning to aquire a good amount of different patches for his scouting activities. I am just wondering how you are all displaying these? Do you make a quilt to hang? I have seen that some girl scouts use vests, but just wondering how some boyscouts might do it. THanks

MKH

[riverwalk]

You ask a great question. It gets asked by most parents, eventually. In the BSA, a red vest (you can buy from catalog or any Shop) is one recommendation. In fact, I just had one made by my other half, as the official ones weren't the best size for this Scouter, haha.

But also suggested is a patch blanket, or you could do the quilt idea. Many do something after the Scouting years are finished, to show their progress. But as Activity patches result from everything we go to, then a vest/blanket is the ticket. There are many personal suggestions. Refer also to the Insignia Control Guide (also at their Shops).

[cad-guy]

I'd love to see a picture of one. Any idea where I can see one?

[scoutaholic]

... a red vest (you can buy from catalog or any Shop) is one recommendation. ...

But also suggested is a patch blanket, or you could do the quilt idea. Many do something after the Scouting years are finished, to show their progress. ...

I've seen the vests used a lot by cubs from active packs that get a bunch of activity patches. My boys both ran out of room on their vests as cubs.
I don't think I've even seen an older scout wear the vest, although there is no reason they couldn't. Maybe it is too juvenile, or too uncool?
BSA Supply also sells a red patch blanket and a patch 'skin'.

My Mom gathered together all the patches, skill awards, t-shirts, neckerchiefs, etc, etc from my older brothers and put them together in a quilt top. Because the family moved around several times, they had neckerchiefs from cubs, webelos, several troops, and from Jamboree '77. She sowed the neckerchiefs together, and then put the patches on the neckerchief that correspended with when/where they earned the patch.

She never finished the project for the older two, and when she does there is a new problem when she is ready to do mine. As riverwalk said 'Many do something after the Scouting years are finished...' I've been scouting for 18 years now, and my scouting years aren't finished yet.

[Mad Dog]

A number of boys and adults in our troop put them on the jac-shirt. I have seen it written, although I have never seen it done, that you can put them on the back of the merit badge sash as well.

[Fibonacci]

I have seen it written, although I have never seen it done, that you can put them on the back of the merit badge sash as well.

All of our Scouts put their patches on the back of the sash. Some of the older boys have to layer them a bit.

[scubascout]

i thought only merit badges go on a MERIT BADGE SASH

[vpalango]

i thought only merit badges go on a MERIT BADGE SASH

Actually....

Merit Badge Sash. If worn, merit badges are attached to front (and back, if needed) of sash. Venture/Varsity letter is attached at bottom front corner. Temporary insignia may be worn on back.

Those other patches are all considered "Temporary Insignia", so they are permitted on the back as I understand it.

[scubascout]

ok, sorry

[OldGreyBear]

I am ever so much more than a youth, but my mother did this for me. She took the event patches, merit badges, unit numbers, ranks, position of responsibility and made a quilt. The quilt is about queen size and features one foot square blocks, each block has a quilted fleur de lis in it and in the center of the fleur de lis is a patch. Its khacki in color and piped in red. Just thinking of it brings tears to my eyes

[pipestone1991]

My mother isplanning on making a quilt.

[riverwalk]

One of my ebay "wins" was a neat display from a Cub Scout's experience in the NCACouncil. It was a blue felt pennant suspended from "The Arrow", and contained patches and service stars, and so on. I use it to show newcomers why they should consider hanging onto their stuff.

Also I couldn't rest thinking this display might get tossed if nobody wanted it. So it now serves Scouting in Circle Ten, haha.

[ppate1]

The book answer for wearing or showing temporary patches comes from the insignia guide. Temporary patches can go on the back of the merit badge sash but, by the book, you can only wear one back patch on the red jac-shirt. The back patch can be an OA patch, a National Eagle Scout Assoc. patch, the National Camping School back patch, Philmont Training Center, or a national high adventure base patch like Sea Base, Northern Tier or Philmont. The reality however is that folks put all kinds of patches all over the back of that jac-shirt and treat it like a patch vest, not a jac-shirt. One would hope that any patches worn would have been earned by the wearer, but who knows sometimes? I don't really want to be the Patch Police for other adults.

[riverwalk]

Good points. BSA does not want patches all over the jac shirts, but we all see them. Is it a major issue, no, but it can look cluttered and therefore is outside the recommendations in the Guide. But I have seen retired jac shirts (too small now perhaps) that were used like a patch blanket, so there's a thought.

I saw a tan vest tonight (not unlike the docents use at the NSM), from a Scoutmaster in the 40's and 50's. It had even us big kids looking it over, haha. Save what you can!

[Hubert]

I take a small blanket, not too small though, and cut a hole in the middle and wear it like a poncho. It keeps me warm and is a nice way to show off my patches!

[riverwalk]

One local Scouter used to be much larger than his current size. He used to have a large red poncho of all the activity patches. Very impressive. And don't forget the shadow boxes. BSA has some, as other places have. But handy people can make something that fits the individual.

One of the displays I did for my Dad (WWII-USNR) had a ship look to it. The shadow box held decorations from that period. But I painted the outside battleship gray. I used furniture tacks (painted as well), to simulate rivets. Whether it made sense to everyone wasn't important. It showed enough thought and time went into it.

[Lynda J]

I made a hanging panel. I sewed buttons on it so Kevin can hang his patches on them. It hangs on the door of his room along with his OA breast plate and his Arrow of Light. He can switch out patches when he wants. Many times he will take the patch from an activity he attended last year if he attends the same event the next year. I figure at some point all of them will be transfered to a quilt. But for now he likes doing it this way.

[MDEagle]

OK, 'fess up! Who out there is like our family... arts and crafts impaired?

My wife keeps all my son's patches in a shoebox for him. She has some vague intention to do something with them one day.

Come on! I know we're not the only ones!

[WVBeaver05]

Well, I don't know that I am necessarily "craft impaired" (but probably am), but I don't really have any interest. I keep mine in a ziplock bag.

Now, my wife (and son, actually) are decidedly not "craft impaired", but his are in a similar ziplock bag. In their case it may just be that there really hasn't been any time to do something creative with them.

[Hubert]

I am horrid. lol. Thats why I like the blankets, u just sew them on the blanket and cut a hole. If its un even, who cares! lol.