Scouting Insignias Throughout History

The Definitive guide to scouting Insignia.

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• Boy Scouting
• Eagle Scouts
• Cub Scouts
• Varsity Scouts
• Girl Scouting
• Alternative Scouting
• Historical Scouting

Scouting has long been a popular activity for both young men and young women. With a strong emphasis on ethics and moral values, scouting groups partake in both group and individual activities, outdoor challenges and other adventures. By accomplishing certain goals, scouts earn badges, patches, medals and other insignia to commemorate their accomplishments. As such, insignia has become a significant part of the scouting culture, representing the pride of youth.

Boy Scouting
The Boy Scouts of America originated way back in 1910, and the organization has grown and strengthened over the years. The goal of the Boy Scouts of America is to instill strong ethical and moral values in the young men of today who will be the leaders of tomorrow.

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• Boy Scouts of America
• Boy Scouts of America – Badge History
• Boy Scouts of America – Merit Badges
• Boy Scouts of America – Patches
• Boy Scouting – Position and Identity
• Scouting Architecture
• Senior Scouting Programs
• Virtual Boy Scout Museum – Awards, Badges and Insignia
• Religious Emblems
• General Boy Scout Uniforming

Eagle Scouts
The Eagle Scouts is not a sub-division of the Boy Scouts of America; rather, it’s the highest ranking attainable in the Boy Scouts program. It’s an honorable distinction that most Boy Scouts strive for.

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• Eagle Scouts: Merit Beyond the Badge
• Distinguished Eagle Scout Award
• The Eagle Badge
• Eagle Scout Roll of Honor
• Eagle Scout Badge
• History of Required Merit Badges for Eagle Scouts

Cub Scouts
The Cub Scouts is for boys between the first and fifth grades. It’s a family-oriented program targeted specifically to meet the needs of younger boys. Groups are organized by den and pack, participating in a variety of individual and family-based activities to strengthen values and family bonds.

Image via USScouts.org

• Cub Scouts
• Cub Scouting – Position and Identity
• Cub Scout Rank Badges 1930 – 2010
• Den Mother History and Badges
• Cub Scout Awards

Varsity Scouts
The Varsity Scouts program is the branch of the Boy Scouts designed for older boys between the ages of 11 and 17. It’s also open to 10-year-old boys who have earned certain distinctions and awards.

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• Varsity Scout uniform insignia
• Varsity Scout Program Information – Insignia (PDF)
• Varsity Play Book (PDF)
• How your Varsity Scouts can earn the Denali Award
• Varsity Scouts (1984-Present)

Girl Scouting
The Girl Scouts of America emerged in 1912, just two years after the Boy Scouts. Today, more than 3.2 million girls and women are proud to call themselves members of the Girl Scouts of the United States of America.

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• Girl Scouts History
• Girl Scout Insignia and Awards 101
• Insignia List – Organized by Grade Level
• A Girl Scout Badge Guide from the National Museum of American History (PDF)
• Girl Scouts – Make Your Own Badge
• Vintage Girl Scout Online Museum
• The Design and History of the Girl Scout Logo

Alternative Scouting
Throughout the years, many alternative scouting organizations came and went alongside the Boy Scouts of America. Generally, the Boy Scouts disapproved of such attempts to compete with their program, although some other programs successfully merged with the Boy Scouts in later years. There are dozens of organizations with a scouting premise not only in the U.S., but around the world.

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• Other Boy Scout Organizations
• U.S. Scouting Service Project – Merit Badges
• The Internet Guide to Order of the Arrow Insignia
• The International Badgers Club
• Member Countries of the World Organization of the Scout Movement

Historical Scouting
Scouting has long been a part of cultures around the world. The process of joining youth together as a cohesive unit to instill lifelong values and skills has established such a significant place in history that it’s become known as “The Scouting Movement.”

Image via BSATroop14.net

• A History of Senior Scouting Programs of the BSA
• Boy Scouts movement begins
• U.S. Scouting Service Project – Scouting History
• The History of Scouting
• Nostalgia, Tradition and the Relevance of Scouting
• The Historical Exhibit of Letterboxing Patches