Where did the Webelos plaid come from ??

[WestCoastScouter 10]

Does anyone know where the Webelos plaid came from ?

 

It's not the same tartan as the Mclaren (Gilwell Neckerchief).... so how was that plaid selected and why ?

 

 

[Eagle92 110]

I believe I read somewhere that it combines the colors of Scouting at the time Blue an Gold for Cubs, Green for Scouts, and Red for Explorers.

[Basementdweller 608]

It is a tartan and is registered to the BSA. It is not the same as the McLaren Tartan

 

here is the link to the registry

 

http://www.tartanregister.gov.uk/tartanDetails.aspx?ref=819

 

 

[CalicoPenn 729]

It comes from the Webelos Colors.

 

For a time in the Boy Scouts, patrols were not identified by patches on the sleeves, but by colored ribbons pinned to the sleeve - the Patrol Colors. The Webelos program was developed during the time period when Boy Scout Patrols were identified by color ribbons. As part of the identification as a transition phase from Cub Scouts to Boy Scouts, the program emulated the Boy Scouts by developing a standard set of Webelos Colors, ribbons worn on the sleeve.

 

Those colors are Gold (for Cub Scouts), Green (for Boy Scouts) and Red (for Senior/Explorer Scouts). The Webelos Colors were incorporated into a plaid Neckerchief. According to the BSA's official website, the colors of the Webelos Neckerchief are Gold, Green and Red with no mention of Blue. This does make sense as Blue is not a base color of the plaid neckerchief but is a result of the mixing of the Green and Red.

[emb021 16]

"For a time in the Boy Scouts, patrols were not identified by patches on the sleeves, but by colored ribbons pinned to the sleeve - the Patrol Colors. The Webelos program was developed during the time period when Boy Scout Patrols were identified by color ribbons. As part of the identification as a transition phase from Cub Scouts to Boy Scouts, the program emulated the Boy Scouts by developing a standard set of Webelos Colors, ribbons worn on the sleeve. "

 

I don't think so.

 

The time period for the use of ribbons for patrols was the very early years. By the time Cub Scouting came about, and Webelos, am pretty sure patrol patches were put in place.

 

The colors Gold (for Cub Scouts), Green (for Boy Scouts) and Red (for Senior/Explorer Scouts) were used for service star backings AND garters.

 

[CalicoPenn 729]

Yep - mea culpa - my timing for Webelos was off by about 10 years. Cub Scouting started in 1930, Webelos in 1941. Patrol ribbons were still being used at least to 1929, and possibly for some years beyond (the use of ribbons slowly faded after patrol patches were introduced in 1926 but patrol ribbons were authorized at least up to 1929 but given the economic times, likely not pushed out too hard since the ribbons could be "homemade" if neccessary).

 

However, the Webelos Colors were based on the old patrol colors system and the official representation of them were the, now optional, Webelos Colors ribbons that were used to put activity pins on.

 

Just as an aside, Service Stars were introduced in 1923 but the backing colors were'nt standardized for branch of program until 1946. The backing color indicated the length of service since the stars did not have numbers. A green backing meant 1 year of service, a red backing meant 5 years of service, and a purple backing meant 10 years of service. For a short time there was a gray backing that meant 3 years of service. The service stars were gold but for a short time there was a silver service star which indicated 5 years of service - it was used with a red background - I'm guessing someone decided it didn't make sense to have a gold service star for 1 year of service, a silver service star for 5 years of service then a switch back to gold for 10 years - probably someone who realized that it was dumb to carry that kind of inventory.