Patch Trading: A Scout - and Scouter’s - Favorite Past Time

Any Scouter - or former Scouter - knows that patches are an important part of the game.

A Scout or Scouter will often wear a badge of rank, a council shoulder patch, an Order of the Arrow flap, and many other patches.

But, just as important as badges showing the council, troop, leadership position and rank, are patches that tell the stories of activities that the Scout or Scouter has participated in as part of Scouting America.

Scouts and Scouters alike love to take part in patch collecting and patch trading. These activities have been around for many years. And both youth and leaders can have hours of fun sitting down under a tree at camp or doing trades online with Scouts and leaders around the world.

Some patches are just regular council shoulder patches, Order of the Arrow patches, and camp and jamboree patches. Some councils make different patches for events such as camporees, summer camps, Order of the Arrow events, and Jamboree shoulder patches for National and World Scout Jamborees.

The best way to begin patch collecting and trading is to visit your local Scout council’s service center. There, you can buy tons of great patches to collect and trade with others.

As a rule, Scouting America says trades should be one for one and that Scouts and Scouters can only trade with each other as long as a knowledgeable adult is protecting youth during a trade.

Following a general rule, council patches, jamboree shoulder patches, Order of the Arrow flaps and patches and camp and activity patches should be traded for the same type of patch.

Also, after completing the trade, Scouts and Scouters should exchange the Scout handshake and thank the other for the trade.