From: Dr. Bob Klein (drbob@troop111.org)
Date: Thu Oct 31 2002 - 16:18:11 CST
Here are the remarks I made a year and a half ago to a similar question.
The more things change....
I don't believe there is an official policy on uniforms. You are
strongly encouraged to travel in Scout Uniforms; it (almost) always
guarantees help if you need it on the road, plus gets you
"auto"-discounts at various restaurants and diversionary activities,
plus people usually are much nicer, your Scouts are a heck of a lot
easier to spot in crowded areas, and (maybe most importantly) Scouts who
are dressed as Scouts tend to behave as Scouts.
At the Ranch, they strongly encourage arrival in Uniform, plus
attendance at the Opening and Closing Campfires in uniform. Compliance
is sporadic, but no-one gets their chops busted over it that I have ever
seen. Class B's with Crew T-Shirts, or hiking clothes are the norm for
walking around Basecamp.
I may start a firestorm on this next comment, but I personally would
urge you in the stongest possible terms to NOT take or use your Scout
Uniforms on the trail. Although they were once the standard for trail
use at Philmont, that was pre-1970 with the uniforms of that time. The
modern version is very poorly suited for wilderness outdoor use (despite
the pretty pictures in the various official literature, or the
ridiculous testimonials that were common in Boy's Life or Scouting
Magazine a few years back - thankfully now rarely seen). Over the past
13 years, I have seen a few Crews hiking the trails at Philmont in their
Scout Uniforms - it was QUITE clear that none were happy with their
choice. [However, we will doubtless soon hear from a few grizzled
veterans who will swear by their uniforms, and I ain't goin' there.
Talk to the Scouts - they know better.] Modern outdoor clothing is far
superior, and I'm talking even the cheap stuff, not expensive high-tech.
For the record, my Troop is a fully uniformed outfit, so (despite the
above comments) I'm not an anti-uniform nut-case. My uniforms are
effectively second skins, I wear them so much. But they have no place
on the trail at Philmont. Leave em at Basecamp, and be free!
One man's opinion - your mileage may vary.
- Dr. Bob Klein, SM-111, Arlington, VA - who will be putting his uniform
on in less than an hour for our Annual District Dinner.
Mark Waggoner wrote:
> I am a crew leader traveling with 2 other council contingents this
> summer. The other crews are made up of entirely scouts from within their
> prospective troops. Ours is a mixture from the entire council. Crews x &
> y tell me that they do not travel in Class A uniform. I didn't know
> there was any other way to travel. Maybe I'm old school, what is the
> proper uniform for travel these days?
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