OAImages Blog

There are times I almost think
I am not sure of what I absolutely know.
Very often find confusion
In conclusion I concluded long ago
In my head are many facts
That, as a student, I have studied to procure,
In my head are many facts..
Of which I wish I was more certain I was sure! …
– “The King and I”

Recently on patch-l (link) there was a discussion about this patch.   Bill Mulrenin spotted it on eBay and wondered what it was.   A discussion ensued.I searched this site for the phrase “Scout Camper” and found two items: 138 X1 and 489 X1.   I dismissed the 489 without looking at because the colors were wrong, but did respond to the list that the 138 X1 had a very similar design.   Another list member pointed out the 489 X1 had the identical deisgn except for the background color.    We then postulated this mystery item could have come from either 138, 489, or another lodge in the TX/OK area.

Nick Loesch then chimed in saying he had one of these items.  He believed it to have been issued by Okiciyapi lodge, Texoma Valley Council.

George Jennings then wrote me.  He said the exact same patch was used by Shinnecock 360 in the 1960s when he was lodge adviser.   It was an award that non-OA members could earn.  The lodge youth leadership approved the program and patch.   Frank Fultz, then Scout Executive for Suffolk County Council, ordered the patches for the lodge. 

At this point, I started to wonder if Mr. Fultz had come from 138 or 489’s home area, or was in contact with his fellow Scout Executives there.   Another thought was the design may have been a stock design or that the award was some initiative mentioned in some BSA professional training seminar.

Some probably have figured out by now that this item is already listed in Blue Book!  It is the 489 YX1.   Since “Scout Camper” was not in the description I didn’t notice it earlier.   The description says, “unknown purpose.”  The purpose of this patch is unkown by the identically designed, but differently colored, X1’s purpose is known enough to avoid the “Y” status?   Could it simply be this patch was just not issued by 489?

Does anyone know the complete story of this patch?  Was this a stock design?   Was there an initiative among the professional ranks to create some sort of program, run by OA lodges, but targetted to those who were not yet members? 

It is not unheard of for the BSA to create trial programs, tested in several councils but disappearing after a few years.   Could this have been such a program?