Scouting, Volume 58, Number 5, September-October 1970 Page: 57
88 p. : ill. ; 28 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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ity to new program features.
However, that's just the surface
story of the Scout uniform. The im-
portant part is the intangible, the
part you can't see. Maybe these
words from an October 1930
equipment catalog tell the story:
"The Scout uniform is part of
the romance of Scouting. It is a
symbol of the ideals and outdoor
activities for which the movement
stands. It has the picturesque
touch which helps the Scout iden-
tify himself with the great tradi-
tions of our outdoorsmen—the pi-
oneer, explorer, scout, and cowboy
whatever may be his shape or age,
if he will but take pains to fit it well
on." How aptly this description fits
the Scout uniform. It is worn by
boys of every race, religion, and
economic level, demonstrating
that Scouting is for all boys.
The uniform is an excellent
equalizer and sets boys at ease
among their colleagues. B-P recog-
nized this quality when he de-
clared, "The uniform tends to bring
the boys more closely together in
a sense of brotherhood, and covers
any difference in appearance be-
tween the poorer boy and his more
grooming and sharp appearance
don't come naturally to young
boys. These traits have to be en-
couraged and developed, and a
basic part of the Scout program is
to make a habit of pride in appear-
ance. The official uniform is part
of this training. Fads and other in-
fractions should be corrected
quickly. When the uniform is worn,
it should be worn correctly and al-
ways as a complete outfit.
At times this may be hard to do,
but with proper planning it can be
done. BOYPOWER '76, Scouting's
long-range plan, aims to involve a
IFAiROC P@R 8E6WDCI
♦ ♦ ♦
ADVENTURI
—which underlie the psychology of
Scouting. It is one of the significant
and important features of the Boy
Scout movement because of its
definite educational value to the
boy himself, to the Scout leader,
to the patrol, to the troop, and the
community."
In his book Matching Mountains
With the Boy Scout Uniform, Ed-
ward F. Reimer called it a "talking
uniform" that makes boys dream.
It's the great things for which it
stands that challenges the boy out-
side the suit to get inside the suit.
It promises good company, fine
sport, achievement, and the cov-
eted name and standing of a Boy
Scout.
The Scout uniform shows that
the boy belongs, that he is a mem-
ber of the largest boys' organiza-
tion in the free world. More than 9
million other boys throughout the
world consider him their friend.
In 1823, Stacey Grimaldi wrote
a small gem of a book entitled A
Suit of Armor for Youth. In the
book's preface, he wrote, . . this
armor has the talismanic power of
adapting itself to every person,
well-to-do comrade."
To a boy, the uniform is also an
incentive to get the most out of
Scouting, for on it he displays his
symbols of achievement. Other
badges tell where he is from, what
his position is, and the story of his
Scouting activities.
Lastly, and most important, a
boy's uniform is a constant re-
minder to live in accordance with
Scouting's ideals. He knows that
the Scout uniform is outside evi-
dence of inside aims and ideals.
Therefore, when he dresses like a
Scout, he wants to act like one and
do the things Scouts do—all the
way. Besides, it helps give him
self-confidence as well as standing
in the public eye.
Volunteer leaders also know the
value of the uniform to the den or
pack, patrol or troop, or post. The
uniform inspires team spirit and
motivates fuller participation in
unit activities. Uniformed units
have better advancement records,
hold boys longer in the program,
and build stronger unit traditions.
Scouters recognize that good
representative one-third of all boys
in Scouting. This requires assistance
for some boys to obtain uniforms,
basic equipment, and literature es-
sential for a full Scouting experi-
ence.
Many Scout units and local coun-
cils have devised methods of pro-
viding uniforms for boys whose
personal and family circumstances
make it impossible for them to pur-
chase them. For instance in Chi-
cago, III., a Women's Service Board
collects and repairs used uniforms.
These "experienced" uniforms are
cleaned, stored at the council of-
fice, and issued to unit leaders to
distribute as needed.
In Wilmington, Del., an assistant
council commissioner for uniform-
ing "processes" over 1,000 used
uniforms yearly. After he and his
wife wash and repair the uniforms,
he visits roundtables and training
courses to find out which boys
need uniforms.
In Baltimore, Md., an Equipment
and Uniform Center has been set
up in the basement of a neighbor-
hood urban-renewal office. Boys,
individually or with parents or
57
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Boy Scouts of America. Scouting, Volume 58, Number 5, September-October 1970, periodical, September 1970; New Brunswick, New Jersey. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth331808/m1/63/: accessed April 26, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Boy Scouts of America National Scouting Museum.