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Scouting's World Crest

A common insignia for all Scouting members

  • 1947 - The World Organization of the Scout Movement decides that all member nations would issue and wear a patch with the World Crest on it as a sign of world brotherhood and unity among all Scouting organizations in the then "free world". The Boy Scouts of America (BSA), along with a small group of other countries agreed in principle, but the BSA declined to carry out the mandate, with BSA Chief Scout Arthur Schuck, stating that the BSA "will do so when the time is right for it to happen."
  • 1955 - The first official use of the World Crest occurs during the 8th World Jamboree held in Canada, although the Crest was available to Scouts and Scouters several years before.
  • 1956 - BSA decides that its Scouts and Scouters who participate in an approved "international activity or event" would wear the Crest to-and-from such an event, as would members of other nations be doing.
  • 1957 - BSA makes the World Crest available to local Councils. It was previously only avaiable from the BSA's International Service. During this year, the BSA also establishes the long standing requirements stating: "take part in an organized international activity or event with Scouts from another member nation of the World Association."
  • 1990 - Rules changed allowing for Scouts and Scouters in the USA to earn a World Crest by "taking part in an international exhibit or display or an international event.", whether or not Scouts from another country were present at such exhibit, display, or event.
  • 1991 - Insignia Guide states: "policy is that the patch WILL BE WORN BY ALL YOUTH MEMBERS AND BY ALL ADULTS, VOLUNTEER OR PROFESSIONAL, AS A SIGN OF WORLD BROTHERHOOD AND UNITY WITH OTHER MEMBERS OF THE INTERNATIONAL SCOUTING COMMUNITY."
  • 1992 - The World Crest is established as one of the few PERMANENT patches or insignia on the Boy Scout or Scouter's uniform.
  • 2002/2004 - Insignia Guide states: "World Crest, cloth, No.00143, all Scouts and leaders, centered horizontally above left pocket and vertically between the left shoulder seam and top of pocket. May be worn by members of Scouting to symbolize their membership in the World Scouting Movement."
Adapted from "Scouting History and Traditions" as published by the Mt. Diablo Silverado Boy Scout Council, Copyright © 2006-2008.

A Worldwide Symbol of Membership

An emblem of the World Organization of the Scout Movement, the World Crest may be worn by all registered youth members and adult leaders as a symbol of their membership in a worldwide Scouting brotherhood.

A small amount from the sale of each emblem is sent to the World Scout Foundation to help extend Scouting in developing nations throughout the world. This adds an opportunity for each Scout to personally share indirectly in the activities of brother Scouts in other lands.

Over the years, each member national Scout organization has made use of the badge in a different manner. In 1988, the World Organization of the Scout Movement requested that every national Scout association authorize this emblem to be worn by all members to signify membership in a worldwide movement.

The Boy Scouts of America wears the World Crest emblem as a permanent patch centered horizontally over the left pocket and vertically between the left shoulder seam and the top of the pocket on each Scout and Scouter uniform.

World Crest Patch, Item No. 00143 

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