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Uniform Standards

UNIFORM STANDARD - FALL 2022

The Importance of a Uniform

Source: Bryan on Scouting

The importance of the uniform — at all levels of Scouting, but especially in those early Cub Scouting years — cannot be overstated.

It’s a tool for recruiting other young people into the program. It’s a way for boys & girls to show off their accomplishments. It provides a sense of belonging.

“That little blue uniform is pretty familiar to most people,” Andrews says. “It might depend upon what community you’re in and what the cultural tradition of Scouting in that community is. But anything that we can do to help the community know that Scouting is an organization that cares about kids and teaches kids to care about each other and to be citizen servants and to grow up as people who are going to take care of the world they live in and play leadership roles — all of those things are important.”

Class A or field uniform is the official dress uniform used for events like pack meetings, banquets, religious activities, travel to out-of-town events, and fundraising. Basically, unless you're getting dirty, this is the primary uniform.

Class B or activity uniform is more casual and commonly used for outdoor activities like hikes, rockets, etc. It's a pack or scouting related tshirt with the same bottoms as Class A. Belt and neckerchief are not necessary.

Lion, Tiger, Wolf, & Bear Cubs

Shirts - Class A

Class A blue uniform shirt from BSA for cubs in Lion, Tiger, Wolf, & Bear dens (AKA den critters). We recommend buying on the large side so that you get a few years out of them.

Shirts - Class B

Class B would be pack or other scouting related tshirt. We do at least one annual order of pack tshirts.

Blue Belt

BSA blue belt with the Cub Scout logo on the buckle. No need to get a specific critter one that would need to be purchased each year.

Neckerchiefs

Critter specific neckerchief based on their current den level.

Shorts/Pants

Class A bottoms include any khaki or blue colored shorts/pants, blue skort, or blue jeans. Must have belt loops. Please no athletic shorts or sweatpants.

WEBELOS, AOLs, & Leaders

AOLs = Arrow of Light Cubs

Shirts - Class A

Class A tan uniform shirt from BSA for Webelos, AOLs, and adult leaders. Once Webelos grow out of their blue shirt, they transition to a tan one. They can wear the blue shirt as long as it fits them though (per BSA).

Shirts - Class B

It's the same for all levels of scouts and adults. Can also include an activity tshirt, like summer camp.

Green Belt

BSA olive belt with the Scouts BSA logo. They will use this one after they cross over also.

Neckerchiefs

WEBELOS and Arrow of Light scouts wear the tartan neckerchief.

Shorts/Pants

Class A bottoms include any olive colored shorts/pants/skorts (that match the BSA olive belt) or blue jeans with belt loops. We recommend BSA apparel so that they can use them in their future troop also. Please no athletic shorts or sweatpants.

Friendship Knots

Neckerchiefs (or "neckers" for some of or foreign freinds) can be tied into a friendship knot instead of using a slide (or "woggle") which are regularly lost, especially with Cubs. Here are a few videos with different takes on how to tie them. Do whatever is easiest or have someone help at a Den or Pack meeting. We moved to this because slides were always getting lost. This also allows the Cub to take it off, hang it up, and be able to put it back on, all on their own.

Optional Items

These are optional items for our Pack.

Slide - Den critter - not necessary with the friendship knot
Hat - Den critter - in lieu of a Pack 802 hat
Socks - Scout Shop socks - not that formal

Uniform Sources

Burdett & Son Outdoor Adventure Shop - College Station - Back left corner of the store
Scout Shop - Houston or Scout Stuff - Conroe
Academy - Magellan Outdoors Zipoff Pants (Olive/Dark Green) are popular for WEBELOS to adult leaders (and in Scouts BSA). We recommend the model with the regular sized belt loops instead of the built in nylon belt.
eBay, PoshMark, thrift shops, and various classifieds
Uniform bank - There are free uniforms available through our pack and other district uniform banks. Ask Pack 802 leadership for more information if this is of interest.

Uniform Insignia

NOTE: The pack will provide additional rank and activity patches, as well as activity belt loops, as we go.

There are a few patches that you'll need to get started.

The council shoulder emblem ("council strip") - You can choose a standard one from the store or find other options on eBay if you want something different. Just make sure it's a Sam Houston Area Council patch.
Unit number - Instead of buying the standard 8, 0, and 2 red number patches and sewing them on separately, our pack has a custom single unit numbers patch that includes the 802 as well as our founding year of 1937. Contact the Cubmaster or Committee Chair to purchase and receive one of these through the pack.
U.S. flag emblem - This will likely already be attached to the class A uniform shirt

Insignia Placement

Where does that patch go?

This is a good overview from another pack. Parts of it may get dated over time, but it's a good overview.

There is also a printable PDF Cub Scout Insignia resource from BSA

Patch Sewing Services

There have been businesses or individuals who will offer to sew patches on. Pricing is generally $2 - $8 per patch. You can check the Arrowmoon District Discussions board for possible leads also.

We recommend stitching them on and not using glue or other iron on connections as it can limit placement in the future. The glue does NOT come out once it's melted into the shirt fabric.

More... Cub Scout Uniform Patch Placement

Sensory Issues

If your child has any sensory issues that make a belt or other standard uniform items problematic, please communicate that to your den leader or pack leadership. We happy to make exceptions in those cases.

Donate to the Uniform Bank

Once you're Cub is done with their uniform, please consider donating the old uniform to the pack uniform bank so that it can be used again. Just bring it to a Den or Pack meeting and give it to a leader. Thank you!

Other Resources

Removing Badge Magic - PSA Badge Magic should never be ironed. The heat will melt it into the fabric.

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