Eagle Scout Rank Patch wear after age 18

[Stosh]

I don't do the bell thingy, but I do sing while in bear country.   Bears have pretty good sense of hearing so it doesn't need to be at any heavy metal or operatic volumes.  Just enough to let the bear know you're coming and not startle them.  

 

A couple of years back I was at Yellowstone and going from one area to the next along a lesser used path.  I was with the Mrs. and was singing a little marching ditty as I walked along.  Coming down the trail towards us was another couple who smiled and said, "I see you're having a pleasant day"  I smiled and answered, "And if I sing enough to warn the bears that I'm coming, it'll stay that way."  They chuckled and went on their way.... both began to sing, too.    

 

I understand the safety issue as well as the LNT issue.  I don't wear bright colors but do carry them for emergency purposes only.  I don't play loud music, but I do sing at certain times.  There can be a reasonable balance between Safety and LNT.

[Rick_in_CA]

I have adhered to the LNT which goes beyond just cleaning up after yourself and not making a permanent impact on things.  Loud colors, loud noises, unsavory smells, etc. all go along with the LNT principle.  No one wants to go out into the wilderness to enjoy the simplicity of nature and have Ringling Brother Barnam and Bailey show up next door.  If one is worried about the right yellow tent being able to be seen in an emergency, a yellow survival blanket or poncho works just as well.  As a matter of fact, smoke and fire do a pretty good job too.  There are other alternatives besides a perpetual circus atmosphere when there  isn't an emergency.

True, but what if you aren’t aware of the emergency?

 

This reminds me of a story I was told when I was a Webelos. A troop had been back packing, and were camped in a steep valley. They had no idea but a forest fire was heading their way about to cut off their only exit. It was their day-glow orange tents that saved them. They were woken up by a forest service helicopter and told to evacuate. They basically left most of their gear and ran. It was a near run thing.

 

They were later told that the forest service had no idea a boy scout troop was there. The helicopter was flying past and had it’s spot light on. It was the flash of orange as they flew by that caught their eye and caused them to turn back and check it out. If the troop had not been using high visibility tents, the whole thing might have ended very differently.

 

The story was very dramatic (especially to a 10 year old - lots of fire and smoke, the ASM telling the story was a good storyteller), and has stuck with me ever since. And one of the reasons why I want a high visibility tent if I go into the back country. I want to be easy to find, even if I think everything is fine.

[Rick_in_CA]

I have adhered to the LNT which goes beyond just cleaning up after yourself and not making a permanent impact on things.  Loud colors, loud noises, unsavory smells, etc. all go along with the LNT principle.  No one wants to go out into the wilderness to enjoy the simplicity of nature and have Ringling Brother Barnam and Bailey show up next door.  If one is worried about the right yellow tent being able to be seen in an emergency, a yellow survival blanket or poncho works just as well.  As a matter of fact, smoke and fire do a pretty good job too.  There are other alternatives besides a perpetual circus atmosphere when there  isn't an emergency.

True, but what if you aren’t aware of the emergency?

 

This reminds me of a story I was told when I was a Webelos. A troop had been back packing, and were camped in a steep valley. They had no idea but a forest fire was heading their way about to cut off their only exit. It was their day-glow orange tents that saved them. They were woken up by a forest service helicopter and told to evacuate. They basically left most of their gear and ran. It was a near run thing.

 

They were later told that the forest service had no idea a boy scout troop was there. The helicopter was flying past and had it’s spot light on. It was the flash of orange as they flew by that caught their eye and caused them to turn back and check it out. If the troop had not been using high visibility tents, the whole thing might have ended very differently.

 

The story was very dramatic (especially to a 10 year old - lots of fire and smoke, the ASM telling the story was a good storyteller), and has stuck with me ever since. And one of the reasons why I want a high visibility tent if I go into the back country. I want to be easy to find, even if I think everything is fine.

[Stosh]

One can play the "What-If" game all day long and it doesn't make sense in the long run.  More people are killed by lightning than forest fires annually.  Therefor all scouts in the woods need to wear blaze orange lightning rod beanies and keep one foot on the ground at all times.   This is a year around problem.  Even in blizzards, the National Weather Service has recorded lightning strikes in the area.  I don't think the BSA scout shops carry these beanies, but for the safety of the boys, maybe they should.

 

 

Just sayin'

 

[TAHAWK]

Aluminum foil beanies with grounding cable?

[Stosh]

As long as they are metal and blaze orange they will work.

 

Along these same lines, some people have said that when they tune the lightning rod like an antenna, they can pick up local weather radio and get a jump on the process.

[Sentinel947]

Personally, I'm not a hunter or soldier out in the brush who needs to blend in, the color of my gear is not a consideration in my gear buying process. 

[Stosh]

Personally, I'm not a hunter or soldier out in the brush who needs to blend in, the color of my gear is not a consideration in my gear buying process. 

 

 

LOL!  I am a hunter and by law I have to wear blaze orange during deer season.  That's the only outdoor clothing I have that doesn't fit my back to nature comfort zone.

[EmberMike]

I've never cared much if a kid turns 18 and keeps the badge on. At least for a little while. Eventually it might be worth suggesting the square knot. 

 

There's an adult leader in my area who is probably in his 50s and wears the eagle badge and the square knot. I've only seen him a few times but next time I might be compelled to ask about it.

[desertrat77]

Adults wearing the oval Eagle patch was not common in the '70s, but it was not uncommon either.  

Edited February 15, 2017 by desertrat77

[TAHAWK]

Truly, the DEAD have arisen.

[Back Pack]

Why have a uniform code then?

[Stosh]

Why have a uniform code then?

They don't the uniform isn't even required, but try going to Jamboree without one then you'll hear about it.

[Back Pack]

They don't the uniform isn't even required, but try going to Jamboree without one then you'll hear about it.

Well maybe not a code but there's an insignia guide for a reason which states who and how the patch can be worn. I suspect the intention there is that people, if wearing the uniform, wear it correctly. Otherwise they wouldn't have one.

I suspect it's much like leash laws. Most adhere to it because it's the law. Others do what they want and don't care.

[EmberMike]

For me there's an element of respect involved in this particular case. We're not talking about someone who wants to still wear an outdated patch or something non-standard elsewhere on the uniform. This is about the highest rank and a badge that's intended specifically for youth wear. And also one that has an adult alternative in the form of a square knot. Some districts even have an eagle-specific council shoulder patch adults can wear. 

 

So when there are well-established adult options to show that you're an eagle and you insist on still wearing the badge, especially well past your youth years, to me it's a bit disrespectful. I'm certainly not a stickler when it comes to uniform code. Surely I've probably had some violations of my own over the years. But when it comes to eagle stuff, I just feel like that's an area that deserves a bit more of a concerted effort to stick with the code.