OK, I admit it: I like patches. Not the kind a college English professor might have on the elbows of a tweed jacket, or that a parent might sew onto a kid’s jeans. I’m talking about the multi-colored embroidered patches that ornament Scout uniforms and tell the history of the wearer’s Scouting adventures.

The joke among adult Scouters is that we work for patches. I know it’s not true, but when I see the relationship some Scouters have with their patches, I’m convinced there may be a grain of truth in the statement.

Patches have been a part of Scouting from the start. Early versions were made of felt with words and pictures printed on them. Today, they are fully embroidered masterpieces that typically represent a time and place where something memorable happened, like a District Camporee, Pinewood Derby, Summer Camp, or a Blue and Gold Banquet.

Patches can also be awarded in recognition of achievement and leadership. When boys and girls join a Pack or Troop, they get a patch to show which Den (for Cub Scouts) or Patrol (for Scouts BSA) they belong to. As they grow and advance in rank, Scouts earn more patches — Tiger, Wolf, Bear, and Webelos, then Scout, Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class, Star, and Life.

Complete any of the more than 130 merit badges and you get a little round patch to sew onto your merit badge sash. Don’t ask me why they call these badges — they are really just small patches.

At the pinnacle of Scouting achievement, the rank of Eagle Scout is acknowledged with — you guessed it — a colorful oval patch. Eagle Scouts who become adult leaders can wear a red, white, and blue “square knot” patch on their uniform.

To some, an event’s patch is almost as important as the event itself. I’ve attended planning meetings where one of the longest and most contentious discussions is the size, shape, colors and imagery of an event patch. 

Patches are fanatically collected, bought, sold and traded by Scouts and adults alike. There are collector groups, online communities, and “swap meets” across the country. The search for a rare specimen or one to complete a particular set can be akin to the quest for the Holy Grail. I know a collector who built an addition on his house to display his Scouting memorabilia, including thousands and thousands of patches.

Personally, I have two large totes full of Scout patches and other memorabilia. Unlike the collectors who collect just for the sake of collecting, I collect patches from events or programs I have participated in. Like the thoughts in my head, my patch collection is eclectic and unorganized. But I don’t know how many times I have opened one of those totes and been transported back to the time and place where a patch was earned. It’s as if the fabric itself has been imbued with the fun and adventure that are at the core of the Scouting experience.

Some Scouts care deeply about patches, some don’t. Some are indifferent. No matter what they think of the physical object, there is no denying the value of what they do to earn it. I would gladly give up my patches … even the really cool ones … but I wouldn’t trade the memories for the world.

Keep those patches coming, and Scout On!

Scott Fishel wears several hats in Scouting, including a longtime association with Troop 178 and Troop 1178 in Morton. You can contact him at [email protected]. Find a Scout unit in your community at beascout.org.