All Uniform Neckwear Neckwear

A neckerchief is not a scarf. It is a piece of triangular or square cloth, with a design or illustration, which is *part of the official uniform* of Scouting.

There is an excellent discussion on how the neckerchief came to Scouting which is from Lew Orens' very excellent Pine Tree Web website. If you have a few minutes, please go to his outstanding page on neckerchiefs for more information and background.

On a separate page are instructions on how to fold the neckerchief so it may be worn properly with the uniform of the Scout. These same instructions are found in all of the basic manuals in Cub Scouting, Boy Scouting, and Varsity Scouting as well as within the pages of the Scoutmasters' Handbook and the Cub Scout Leader Guide.

The basic rule of thumb dealing with neckerchiefs are as follows:

-- Neckerchiefs are a UNIT OPTION. There is no such thing as an "official BSA neckerchief", because as one can see from the above image, there are various types of neckerchiefs representing different types of events, activities and programs. Therefore, each Boy Scout Troop or Varsity Team chooses first whether or not they will wear a neckerchief (and they should be encouraged to do so!). Once they decide on wearing one, the Patrol Leaders' Council or the Varsity Team's leadership determines the style (one color, two color, three color; screened or embrordered; with or without a patch, etc.) and colors (every color under the rainbow and just about every combination is available).

-- ALL members (to include adults!) wear the SAME NECKERCHIEF with THREE exceptions:

"Learners" participating in the Wood Badge training course wear the "learners' neckerchief" as shown below, but ONLY during the period in which they are participating in the Wood Badge course (in other words, until they receive their Wood Badge). Yes, those who have earned the Wood Badge WEAR THE UNIT'S NECKERCHIEF WITH THE BEADS AND WOGGLE (A separate page explains why this is so....);

EAGLE SCOUTS have the option of wearing either the white linen National Eagle Scout Association neckerchief OR the blue Eagle Scout neckerchief instead of the unit's neckerchief upon earning Eagle;

and if your local Council has a special neckerchief which is to be worn by camp staff, honor units or as a recruiting gift, Scouts and Scouters may choose to wear it instead of their unit's neckerchief.

-- ALL PARTICIPANTS ATTENDING A NATIONAL JAMBOREE OR WORLD ENCAMPMENT WEAR THE NECKERCHIEF FOR THAT ACTIVITY FOR SIX MONTHS PRIOR TO, DURING THE ENTIRE EVENT (including travel periods) and SIX MONTHS AFTER the event is over. Afterwards, they need to return wearing the unit's neckerchief.

Individual pages explain each element found here:

Wearing ties with the Uniform
Neckerchiefs and long sleeved shirts
Wearing the Wood Badge with (other) Neckerchiefs
How to "fold" the neckerchief for wearing
The Kente Cloth Neckerchief
Over or Under the Collar?

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