How to Wear and Display Cub Scout Temporary Patches
Cub Scout temporary patches and badges are different than regular patches. Learn what they are, how to wear them, and how to display them.
Cub Scout patch placement is always a big question for parents–especially those temporary badges. How can Cub Scouts earn them and where do they go?
Check out my Cub Scout uniform badge placement guide for permanent patches.
There are many opportunities to earn temporary badges. When our Cubs participate in activities such as the annual popcorn sale, the Memorial Day flag placement, or the Scouting for Food drive, they get a new patch.
Scouting anniversary events and camporees have patches for the attendees. The Scouts who go to Cub Scout Day Camp get a patch. Often, an organization such as a minor league baseball team will host a Scout Night and will give patches to the Scouts who are there.
But what are the requirements for Cub Scout patch placement of temporary badges? The Scouting America regulations say that you can only have one temporary patch on your uniform at a time. It is to be worn on the right pocket of the uniform shirt.
Options for Temporary Cub Scout Patch Placement
You could sew that patch on, but when your kid gets the next one and wants that one on their shirt, you’ll have to take the first one off and sew the next one on.
Even with this super easy way to sew on patches, I don’t want to spend my time doing that!
A great option for temporary Cub Scout patch placement is to use a patch holder like this one that’s available from your local Scout Shop or online from the Scout Stuff.
Simply put the patch inside the plastic holder and hook it over the right pocket button.
After a year or two of Scouting, your Cub Scout will have a nice collection of patches. There are multiple options for how to display these.
Ways to Wear Patches
Brag Vests – Many Scouts have a “brag vest” that they wear over their uniforms. These bright red vests are typically made of felt. You can find these on Etsy.
Sashes – Here’s a cool idea! Wear a Cub Scout sash similar to the ones worn by Scouts BSA for their Merit Badges.
Patch Jackets – I saw a man and his two sons at our Council office who were wearing patch jackets like this one. I loved the idea, so I bought fleece, zippered jackets with a hood and started sewing their patches on. (I told you I’m a horrible seamstress–the patches are on crooked!)
Ways to Display Patches
Blankets & Quilts – Through the years, many Scouts sewed their patches onto blankets and often used them on campouts. While this isn’t as popular as it once was in the United States (although there is a private Facebook group called “My Camp Blanket Rocks!“), many international Scouts still create their “campfire blankets.”
I also saw some beautiful quilts on Pinterest. You can see them by checking out my Cub Scout Patches board.
Shadow Boxes & Picture Frames –By using a shadow box or picture frame, there will be much less wear and tear on your Scout’s patches. When your child becomes old enough to appreciate it, you can pass the shadow box on down to them. Take a look at this one. Pretty awesome!
I found this incredible shadow box on a forum. I love that it has the belt loops embedded in the frame. I wish I could give credit to the woman who made it, but she only goes by the handle “*Jinx**Trouble x3” on the forum. Jinx, if you see this, contact me so I can hire you to make one for my boys!
Banners –There are many options for banners that you can make or purchase. I love this one with the Cub Scout blue and gold colors.
Take a look at my Cub Scout Patches board on Pinterest for more ideas.
What’s your favorite way of displaying your child’s Cub Scout patches?
Yours in Scouting,
Sherry
P.S. If you need information on Cub Scout patch placement for permanent badges, read this.
30 responses
-
We like the blanket idea, many in our Pack have all done this. We get the soft surfed fleece ones in red when they come out at Christmas time. We tend to like them better than the more rough felt ones. I like the Christmas ornament idea too! Even if you just glue felt to the back to save money instead of purchasing two patches. We usually commemorate that year by buying the Scout annual patch ornament every year for our tree. Thank you for all the awesome ideas you post in these emails, they are great and as a Den Leader I use them often!!
-
[…] As you earn other temporary patch awards, you might want to wear the new ones. Here are some ideas of what to do with the badges after you take them off your […]
-
We tape them to my sons bedroom door. He lives adding the newest ones.
-
Great idea!! Thanks for sharing!
-
-
I love the shadow box, my son just received his arrow of light and is now a Boy Scout. I’m going to have fun putting this all together.. I enjoy your site.. . I’ll be looking for more!!!
-
That’s awesome! Tell him congratulations on the AOL! Thanks for reading!
-
-
[…] an activity or for completing an achievement. Only one temporary patch can be worn at a time. Read this article for some ideas on what to do with those temporary patches when you put a new one on your […]
-
Read the insignia guide again. Two temporary patches are allowed.
-
Could you point me in the right direction to find the information about wearing two temporary patches? I saw where the boys can wear one temporary patch and their recognition patch, but I couldn’t find anything about two temporary patches.
I want to make sure I provide accurate information, so I really appreciate your help in getting this right.
-
Cubmaster Guy/Sherry:
Sherry is correct in that only one temporary insignia patch may be worn at a time centered on the right pocket. For more information, please consult the BSA Guide to Awards and Insignia, [see Section 1, Special Regulations, Temporary Insignia (page 11)], at: http://www.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/33066(15)_Web-4.pdfI hope this clears up any confusion.
-
-
-
That shadow box is AMAZING! I can’t wait to put one together for my Cub Scout when he moves on to Boy Scouts.
-
Sherry, love the ideas. Here’s one you can add. Where were from the patches come with hang loops. I always request one or two extras of any that I can. Example cub day camp. I order three. 1 goes to his scrapbook the other two get glued together and become Christmas tree ornaments. Sometime the patches don’t line up nice so I glue those to felt. He thinks it”s the best thing to see his life on the tree.
-
Ooohhh! I love the Christmas tree ornament idea! Thanks for the suggestion!
-
Omg that is a wonderful idea! My mother in law and i both volunteered for day camp last year so we all three got patches but we have no clue what to do with ours. Now, ill be making an ornament out of them! Thank u!
-
-
Great article! I’ve been wondering what to do with the extra patches. Now I have plenty of ideas. 🙂 Thanks!
-
Thanks for the kind words, Miles! Glad the article was helpful!
-
Leave a Reply