1957 World Badge Collection

French Scouting in 1957 was organized into several distinct associations that were united under one national federation, Scoutisme Français. This federation allowed the different groups (primarily separated by religious or secular principles) to co-exist and represent France as a single contingent at world events.

This collection perfectly captures this diversity. Here is a badge-by-badge identification.

1. Scouts de France (SDF) – Catholic Scouts

Included are two badges from this association, which was the largest in France.

• Badge (Top-Left): Gold Cross with “SOIS PRÊT”
  • Description: This is the main emblem of the Scouts de France, the French Catholic Scout association. The emblem is a Jerusalem Cross (a cross potent with four smaller crosses) combined with a fleur-de-lis.
  • Motto: “Sois Prêt” is French for “Be Prepared.”
• Badge (Bottom-Right): Fleur-de-lis on Red Cross
  • Description: This is also a badge of the Scouts de France. It’s a simplified version of their emblem, showing the Scout fleur-de-lis superimposed on a croix pattée (a cross with splayed arms). This was a common variant, often used as a promise badge (worn after a Scout made their promise) or as a beret badge.

2. Éclaireurs de France (EDF) – Secular Scouts

• Badge: Bottom-Left (Red Bow and Arrow)
• Association: Éclaireurs de France (Scouts of France), the secular, non-denominational, or “inter-religious” association. Founded in 1911, it was one of the original French scouting organizations.
• Description: The emblem is the Arc Tendu (Tense Bow), with an arrow ready to be fired. It symbolized readiness, energy, and aiming for a goal.
• Motto: “Toujours Prêt” (Always Prepared).

3. Éclaireurs Israélites de France (EIF) – Jewish Scouts

• Badge: Top-Right (Two Lions)
• Association: Éclaireurs Israélites de France (Jewish Scouts of France). This association was (and is) the Jewish scouting organization within the main French federation.
• Description: This powerful emblem depicts the two Lions of Judah (a symbol of the Tribe of Judah and Jewish heritage) flanking the Tablets of the Law (the Ten Commandments).
• Motto: The scroll below reads “TOUJOURS PRÊT” (Always Prepared).

4. French National Contingent Strip

• Badge: Bottom-Center
• Description: This is the “FRANCE” name strip, the unifying contingent badge. A scout from any of the associations above—Catholic, Secular, or Jewish—would have worn this strip to identify themselves as part of the single, unified French contingent at the 1957 Jamboree.

These five small patches provide a perfect summary of the entire structure of French Scouting in the 1950s.

🇬🇧 UK Scout Badges from the 1957 Jamboree

National Flag Patch (Middle Center): This is a woven cloth patch of the Union Flag (or “Union Jack”). This would have been worn by members of the British contingent, often on their sleeve or on a neckerchief, to identify their home country during an international event like the World Jamboree.

Queen’s Scout Award (Top Center): This is the most significant badge in the group. This arch-shaped patch, with a green border, gold field, and the St. Edward’s Crown over a red fleur-de-lis, is the Queen’s Scout Award. This was (and is) the highest possible rank a Senior Scout could achieve in the UK and Commonwealth, equivalent to your Eagle Scout rank in the B.S.A.

First Class Scout Badge (Middle Right): This large, olive-green oval patch features a red fleur-de-lis with two gold stars and the “BE PREPARED” motto on a scroll below. This was the highest rank a Scout could earn in the regular Boy Scout section before moving up to Senior Scouts.

Second Class Scout Badge (Middle Left): This smaller, olive-green oval patch features a red fleur-de-lis with two gold stars (but no “Be Prepared” scroll). This was the intermediate rank earned between Tenderfoot and First Class.

Tenderfoot / Membership Badge (Bottom Left): This curved, olive-green patch with a red border and the words “BOY SCOUTS” and “BE PREPARED” was the first badge a boy earned. It signified he was a Tenderfoot Scout and had made his Scout Promise. It was typically worn on the uniform above the left breast pocket.

This is a fascinating set of badges because it perfectly illustrates the structure of Belgian Scouting in 1957. Unlike a single, unified association, Belgium had (and still has) a federation of different associations, divided by language (French and Dutch/Flemish) and sometimes by religion.

🇧🇪 Belgian National Contingent Patch

Patch (Bottom): The black horizontal strip with “BELGIE” (the Dutch name for Belgium) and the national flag colors (black, yellow, red) is the official contingent patch. This would have been worn by all Scouts from Belgium at the 1957 Jamboree to identify their country.

Flemish-Speaking Association Patches

These three patches are all related to the Vlaams Verbond der Katholieke Scouts (VVKS), the Flemish-speaking Catholic Scout Association.

• Motto: “Weest Paraat” (Dutch for “Be Prepared”).
• Emblem: A teal/green fleur-de-lis with a red bugle horn superimposed on it.

1. VVKS Membership Badge (Top Right): This large, vertical patch shows the full emblem and motto. This was the main identification badge for this association.
2. VVKS Emblem Badge (Top Left): This smaller square patch shows just the emblem (fleur-de-lis with horn). This was likely a smaller variant, perhaps for a different uniform part or rank (like Tenderfoot).
3. VVKS Motto Strip (Middle Left): This horizontal strip shows only the “WEEST PARAAT” motto. This was also likely a membership badge, perhaps the first one a Scout received (Tenderfoot strip).

French-Speaking Association Patches

These two patches are from the other major associations, which were primarily French-speaking.

4. Fédération des Scouts Catholiques (FSC) Badge (Bottom Left): This oval patch is the badge of the French-speaking Catholic Scout Association.
   • Emblem: It features the Belgian Lion (a national symbol) rampant, holding the Scout fleur-de-lis, all in gold/yellow on a teal field.
   • Motto: “Toujours Prêt” (French for “Always Ready,” a variation of “Be Prepared”).
5. Scouts Protestants de Belgique (S.P.P.B.) Badge (Bottom Right): This square blue patch is from a smaller but important third group, the Protestant Scouts of Belgium.
   • Emblem: It features a silver/white fleur-de-lis on top of a red cross pattée (a symbol often used by Protestant or ecumenical groups).
   • Motto: The letters “S.P.P.B.” stand for Scouts Protestants / Protestantse Padvinders de Belgique.

1. National Contingent Badge

• Badge: Bottom-center.
• Text: “LUXEMBOURG”.
• Description: This is the country strip or contingent badge. It would have been worn by all scouts representing Luxembourg at the 1957 Jubilee Jamboree, regardless of which specific association they belonged to. It’s the official badge that unified the entire delegation.

2. Fédération Nationale des Eclaireurs (FNEL)

Both of the other badges in the collection are from the same association: the FNEL (Fédération Nationale des Eclaireurs du Luxembourg). This was (and is) the secular, inter-religious scouting association of Luxembourg.

• Badge (Top-Left): FNEL Fleur-de-lis
  • Description: This is the classic, elegant emblem of the FNEL. It is the international scout fleur-de-lis, beautifully embroidered in the national colors of Luxembourg: red, white, and blue. This was likely worn as a beret badge or a general membership badge.
• Badge (Top-Right): FNEL Association Emblem
  • Description: This is a more complex and symbolic emblem from the FNEL. It’s a fantastic piece of design. Let’s break it down:
  • Crossed Hatchets: A common scouting symbol representing pioneering, woodcraft, and outdoor skills.
  • Red Rose: At the bottom is a red rose. This is a national symbol of Luxembourg, often associated with the Grand Duchess Charlotte.
  • Fleur-de-lis: The central shield itself is topped with a fleur-de-lis, tying it all back to the world scouting movement.

It’s worth noting that the other major association at the time was the Catholic group, Lëtzebuerger Scouten (Scouts of Luxembourg). Their badge would have looked different, typically featuring a cross. This collection provides a snapshot of the secular (FNEL) contingent that attended the Jamboree.

At this time in 1957, South Africa’s scouting movement was, like the country itself, segregated. These badges represent the Boy Scouts of South Africa, which was the association for white scouts and the one officially recognized by the World Scout Movement and in attendance at the Jamboree.

1. Boy Scouts of South Africa (Association Emblem)

• Badge: Top-left
• Description: This is the main emblem of the Boy Scouts of South Africa. It features a leaping Springbok (a type of antelope and the national animal/symbol of South Africa) superimposed on the international scout fleur-de-lis. The Springbok was a powerful and common symbol used by South African representative groups, including the famous rugby team. This badge identified a scout as a member of this specific association.

2. National Identification Badge

• Badge: Top-right
• Text: “SOUTH AFRICA” and “SUID AFRIKA”
• Description: This is another national identification badge, also featuring the Springbok. Encircled by a wreath and the bilingual country name, this badge prominently displays the head of the Springbok. This was likely worn as a general national patch, perhaps on the sleeve or neckerchief, to make the contingent’s country of origin clear. The green and gold colors are the traditional national sporting colors of South Africa, which are derived from the Springbok itself.

3. National Contingent Strip

• Badge: Bottom-center
• Text: “SOUTH AFRICA . SUID AFRIKA”
• Description: This is the official country strip worn by all members of the South African contingent. It is bilingual, using both English (“South Africa”) and Afrikaans (“Suid Afrika”), which were the two official languages of the Union of South Africa at the time.

This set is a complete and “classic” representation of the South African contingent to a World Jamboree from that era.

This set of badges tells a story about a scout I met from Italy.

Unlike the federations in Belgium or France, scouting in Italy in 1957 was largely dominated by one main organization, especially at an international event like the Jamboree.

Here is the identification of each badge.

1. Association Emblem

• Badge: Top
• Description: This is the most important badge in the set for identification. The beautiful, stylized gold fleur-de-lis (or giglio, Italian for “lily”) on a brown background is the emblem of the ASCI (Associazione Scout Cattolici Italiani), or the Association of Italian Catholic Scouts.
• Context: After being banned by the fascist regime in the 1920s, scouting was re-established in Italy after World War II. The ASCI was the main Catholic (and largest) scout association in the country in 1957 and would have provided the vast majority of the scouts for the Italian contingent.

2. City/Regional Badge

• Badge: Middle
• Text: “ROMA”
• Description: This curved shoulder patch identifies the scout’s home city or region. “Roma” is the Italian name for Rome. This scout was part of a troop from the capital city of Italy.

3. National Contingent Badge

• Badge: Bottom
• Text: “ITALIA”
• Description: This is the country strip for the Italian national contingent. It features the name of the country over the green, white, and red of the Italian flag. This would have been worn by all scouts from Italy attending the 1957 Jubilee Jamboree.

In short, this is the complete identification “set” for one scout:

• Who they were: A member of the ASCI (top badge).
• Where they were from: Rome (middle badge).
• What contingent they were with: Italy (bottom badge).

An exceptional set of badges from the German contingent at the 1957 Jamboree.

What makes this collection so special is that, like badges from France and Belgium, it perfectly captures the structure of German (specifically, West German) scouting at the time. After World War II, scouting was re-established in West Germany and organized into a federation called the Ring deutscher Pfadfinderbünde (Federation of German Scout Associations).

This federation united the three main associations—secular, Catholic, and Protestant—allowing them to represent Germany as one contingent at world events. The collection includes a badge from all three, plus two national badges.

Here is the identification for each one.

National Contingent Badge

• Badge: Bottom-center (Strip with eagle).
• Description: This is the official country strip for the West German national contingent. The badge features the Bundesadler (Federal Eagle), the national coat of arms, alongside the black, red, and gold of the German flag. This “Deutschlandband mit Bundesadler” was worn by scouts on international trips starting in 1951.

German Jubilee Commemorative Badge

• Badge: Middle-center (Hand with globe).
• Dates: “1907-1957”.
• Description: This is a special commemorative badge for the 50th Anniversary of Scouting, which was the theme of the 1957 Jubilee Jamboree. The dates mark the first 50 years since Baden-Powell’s first scout camp in 1907. The hand, shown in the three-fingered Scout sign, is “holding up” a globe, symbolizing the worldwide brotherhood of scouting. This was likely a special patch produced for the German contingent to trade and wear at the event.

The Three Main Associations

The other three badges are the membership emblems for the three major associations that made up the German federation.

• Deutsche Pfadfinderschaft Sankt Georg (DPSG) (Top): This is the diamond-shaped, teal-blue patch. It features the DPSG’s logo: a red fleur-de-lis on a cross-like base, identifying the German Catholic Scout Association.
• Christliche Pfadfinderschaft Deutschlands (CPD) (Right): This is the shield-shaped, blue patch. It features the CPD’s logo: a simple white fleur-de-lis, identifying the Protestant Scout Association.
• Bund Deutscher Pfadfinder (BDP) (Left): This is the square, dark-blue patch. It features the BDP’s logo: a silver/white, vertically-split fleur-de-lis, identifying the non-denominational association.

This complete “set” tells the story of the unified German contingent in 1957, a piece of scouting history.

A complete matched pair from the Austrian contingent. At that time, the main unified scouting organization in the country was the Pfadfinder Österreichs (Scouts of Austria).

1. Pfadfinder Österreichs (Scouts of Austria) Association Badge

• Badge: Top-center.
• Description: This is the beautiful national emblem of the Pfadfinder Österreichs. It combines two key symbols:
  • The gold fleur-de-lis, which is the international symbol of the Scout movement.
  • The Austrian shield (the red and white “Bindenschild”), which is the coat of arms of Austria.
• Motto: The scroll at the bottom reads “ALLZEIT BEREIT”. This is the German translation of the universal Scout motto, “Be Prepared”.

2. National Contingent Badge

• Badge: Bottom-center.
• Text: “AUSTRIA”.
• Description: This is the country strip that would have been worn by all members of the Austrian contingent to the 1957 Jubilee Jamboree. It clearly identifies their home country and features the red and white national colors of Austria in the woven band.

These two badges identify a scout I met, a member of the Pfadfinder Österreichs who was part of the Austrian national contingent for the 1957 Jamboree.

Top Badge: Association Emblem

• Motto: “WEEST PARAAT” (Dutch for “Be Prepared”).
• Association: This is the emblem of De Nederlandse Padvinders (NPV), or The Netherlands Pathfinders. This was the main national Boy Scout association in the Netherlands at the time (it later merged with other groups to form Scouting Nederland in 1973). The badge’s leaf shape, felt material, and red fleur-de-lis with the motto were its classic uniform insignia.

Bottom Badge: National Contingent Strip

Description: This is the official country strip worn by all members of the Dutch contingent to the 1957 Jubilee Jamboree. The red and white colors are part of the national flag of the Netherlands.

Text: “NEDERLAND”

Top Badge: Association Emblem

• Description: This is the emblem of the Suomen Partiopoikajärjestö (the Finnish Boy Scout Association). It’s a very clever design:
  • It is a fleur-de-lis, the world symbol of Scouting.
  • The stylized, linked letters in the center are an “S” and a “P” for Suomen Partiolaiset (Finnish Scouts).

Bottom Badge: National Contingent Strip

Description: This is the country strip for the Finnish contingent. It is bilingual, using both “Suomi” (the Finnish name for the country) and “Finland” (the Swedish name). This reflects Finland’s status as a bilingual country, with Swedish being the second official language. The badge also features the blue cross of the Finnish flag.

Text: “SUOMI FINLAND”.

Top Badge: Association Emblem

• Text: “SSU” and “VAR REDO”.
• Motto: “Var Redo” is the Swedish for “Be Prepared.”
• Association: The letters “SSU” likely stand for Svenska Scoutunionen (Swedish Scout Union), which was the name of the federation of Swedish scouts at the time, or it is the emblem of the Svenska Scoutförbundet (SSF), the main secular Swedish Scout Association. This beautiful silver fleur-de-lis on a dark blue background was their primary membership badge.

Bottom Badge: National Contingent Badge

Description: This is the national flag of Sweden. This simple, clear patch served as the country badge for the entire Swedish contingent, instantly identifying their origin.

Badge: Association Emblem

Symbolism: It features the scout fleur-de-lis combined with the Norwegian motto “Vær Beredt” (Be Prepared). The olive green of the badge matched the color of the NSF uniform shirt, making it a standard part of their uniform.

Motto: “VÆR BEREDT”.

Description: This is the classic emblem of the Norsk Speidergutt-Forbund (NSF), or the Norwegian Boy Scout Association. This was the main national scout organization in Norway at the time.

This collection group shows the diversity of the Danish scouting movement, which, like in other European countries, was (and is) comprised of several different associations.

1. National Contingent Badge

• Badge: Bottom-center.
• Text: “DANMARK”.
• Description: This is the official country strip for the Danish national contingent. It features the country’s name alongside the Danish flag (Dannebrog). This patch would have been worn by all scouts from Denmark, regardless of which association they belonged to.

2. Det Danske Spejderkorps (DDS)

• Badge: Top-right.
• Motto: “VÆR BEREDT”.
• Description: This badge is from Det Danske Spejderkorps (DDS), or The Danish Scout Corps. This was the original and largest non-religious scout association in Denmark.
• Symbolism: It features the scout fleur-de-lis and the standard Danish scout motto “Vær Beredt” (Be Prepared).

3. KFUM-Spejderne i Danmark (YMCA Scouts)

• Badge: Top-center.
• Motto: “VI ER BEREDT”.
• Description: This badge is from the KFUM-Spejderne i Danmark (the YMCA Scouts in Denmark).
• Symbolism: This badge is rich in meaning. The dark green background matches the KFUM-Spejderne uniform color, and the red emblem matches their bordeaux-colored neckerchief. The emblem itself is a stylized combination of the fleur-de-lis (Scouts) and the trefoil (often used to represent the YMCA triangle). Their motto “Vær Beredt” (Be Prepared) is often used in songs and responses as “Vi Er Beredt” (We Are Prepared), as seen on your patch.

4. Local Group/Camp Badge (Grenaa)

• Badge: Top-left.
• Text: “GRENAA”.
• Description: This is a local patch, identifying the scout’s home troop or a specific camp from the town of Grenaa, a port town in Denmark. Given that Grenaa hosted scout camps (like the “Grenaa Lejren” in the 1950s) and had active scout troops (like the DDS “Kattegat Spejderne Grenaa” group), this is almost certainly the local identifying badge for a scout from that town. The sharp black, silver, and red design makes it a very distinctive troop emblem.

These badges are from two of the main Danish scout associations, plus their national strip and a local troop patch, a wonderful and very complete set from the scout I traded with!

The single, combined badge that identified a scout from the Principality of Liechtenstein.

Context: In 1957, the scouting movement in Liechtenstein was represented by the Fürstlich Liechtensteinisches Pfadfinderkorps St. Georg (for boys) and the Liechtensteinischer Pfadfinderinnenverband(for girls). This badge served as the official national emblem for their contingent.

Badge: Pfadfinder und Pfadfinderinnen Liechtensteins Emblem

Description: This is the primary membership badge for the Liechtenstein scout associations at the time. The red and blue colors are taken directly from the national flag of Liechtenstein. The fleur-de-lis, the international symbol of Scouting, is set in the center of the badge, making it a clear and distinctive national emblem.

The unique, trilingual, and highly symbolic badge of the Swiss contingent (this badge without text)

Symbolism: The Swiss contingent badge is based on the Swiss national flag, featuring the iconic white cross on a red field. The scout fleur-de-lis is often incorporated into this design, with the tri-lingual text circling the emblem to proudly announce the scout’s nationality to anyone they met at the Jamboree.

Badge: Bund Schweizerischer Pfadfinder (BSP) Emblem

Text: The badge is typucally tri-lingual, reflecting the three main official languages of Switzerland:
“SCHWEIZ” (German); “SUISSE” (French); “SVIZZERA” (Italian)

Association: This was the national contingent badge for the Bund Schweizerischer Pfadfinder (BSP), the Swiss Boy Scout Federation.

The single square badge represents the General Association of the Scouts of China (Taiwan), which was a member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM) and represented China at the Jamboree.

Color: The khaki/tan cloth background was a common color for scout uniforms in that era.

Description: This is the primary membership badge of the association at the time, featuring the international scout fleur-de-lis superimposed with the national symbol of the Republic of China (Taiwan).

Symbolism:

Fleur-de-lis: The international symbol of Scouting.

White Sun in Blue Sky: The emblem in the center is the Blue Sky with a White Sun symbol, which is the national emblem of the Republic of China (Taiwan).

Stars: The two stars on the side of the fleur-de-lis’s side petals are a classic element of the Scout badge, originally a reminder of the Ten Scout Laws.

This single badge is the emblem of the unified Brazilian scouting organization at the time.

Color: The green background is one of the national colors of Brazil and is the traditional color of the UEB.

Badge: União dos Escoteiros do Brasil (UEB) Emblem

Motto: The scroll at the bottom reads “SEMPRE ALERTA”. This is Portuguese for the Scout motto, “Always Alert” (a variation on “Be Prepared”).

Association: This is the official badge of the União dos Escoteiros do Brasil (UEB), the national Scouting organization of Brazil.

Symbolism:

Fleur-de-lis: The international scout symbol, embroidered in gold.

National Shield/Seal: The blue, star-ringed emblem in the center of the fleur-de-lis is a small shield or seal, which historically incorporated the Seal of the Republic. Brazil was one of the countries that accepted the basic scout badge shape but superimposed its own national emblem.

The single badge represents the Ceylon Boy Scouts Association (now the Sri Lanka Scout Association). The association became a member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement in 1953 and participated in the Jubilee Jamboree in 1957.

Context: The year 1957 was also when the parliament passed the Ceylon Scout Council (Incorporation) Act, effectively nationalizing the former Ceylon branch of The Boy Scouts Association of the United Kingdom under the control of the Ceylon Boy Scouts Council. This badge represents that era of transition.

Description: This is the primary membership badge of the Ceylon Boy Scouts Association at the time.

Symbolism:

Fleur-de-lis: The central figure is the international symbol of Scouting.

Crown: The crown, likely a stylized version of the British Crown (since Ceylon was still a dominion in 1957), sits above the fleur-de-lis.

Circular Border: The red and green colors around the badge’s border reflect national colors or traditional organizational colors.

The single badge is the primary membership badge of the Pakistan Boy Scouts Association. A leader who attended the 1951 World Jamboree in Austria later led the Pakistani contingent at the 1957 Jubilee Jamboree.

Color: The deep green background is the traditional color of the PBSA.

Symbolism:

Fleur-de-lis: The scout symbol is placed over a green background, which is a main color of Pakistan’s flag.

Star and Crescent: The emblem in the center of the fleur-de-lis is the Star and Crescent, the primary national and religious symbol of Pakistan.

The official country identification for the Irish contingent.

Color: The badge’s border and lettering are in a deep green, which is the national color of Ireland.

Text: “IRELAND”

Description: This patch was worn by all members of the unified Irish contingent at the 1957 Jamboree. The contingent would have been composed of members from the two main scout associations operating in Ireland at the time:

The Catholic Boy Scouts of Ireland (CBSI)
The Scout Association of Ireland (SAI) (non-denominational)

This unique badge is from the Iranian contingent. Iran’s national scouting organization was a member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM) at the time, having been founded in the 1920s and re-established in the 1950s.

Color: The red border and lettering on a tan fabric are typical of that era’s woven scout badges.

Text: The text is in Persian (Farsi), which uses the Arabic script.

Translation: “سازمان ملی پیش‌آهنگی ایران” (Sāzman-e Melli Pish-Āhangi Irān)

Meaning: “National Scout Organization of Iran”

Description: This textile strip served as the primary identification for the Iranian contingent, featuring the full name of their national scouting body.

Display Format:

• Canvas backing: Heavy-weight cotton canvas, 32″ × 48″
• Original construction: 1957, shortly after returning from England
• Mounting method: Safety pins and straight pins allowing badges to be secured while remaining removable
• Canvas treatment: Unframed, edges finished but showing age-appropriate wear, black tape providing a visual border, strings attached on back of safety pins for tying to a frame (no frame included)

Badge Details:

• Materials: Primarily woven cloth with embroidered designs
• Sizes: Varying from approximately 1″ to 4″ in size
• Shapes: Mix of circular, shield-shaped, and irregular forms
• Condition: Excellent overall; some minor fading consistent with age

Aging Characteristics:

• Overall integrity excellent for nearly 70-year-old textile artifact
• Canvas has developed warm, tobacco-colored patina
• Some handling wear at edges
• Badge colors remain vibrant with minor age-appropriate fading
• Pin attachments secure and functional

Original Acquisition:

• Collected through personal exchanges at 9th World Scout Jamboree, Sutton Park, England, August 1-12, 1957
• I was 15 years old, attending as part of the American contingent

Display History:

• Mounted on canvas: September/October 1957
• Displayed at local scout events: 1957-1970s
• Used for educational presentations about international scouting
• Stored carefully when not on display
• Documented photographically: 2025

Continuous Ownership:

• Complete documentation of origin and history
• In my possession since collection in 1957
• Never sold, traded, or given away
• Maintained with care for 68 years

Current Condition Assessment:

• Overall condition: Very good for age
• Canvas: Stable, showing beautiful natural aging, folded for storage
• Badges: Colors remain strong, embroidery intact
• No active deterioration observed

Display Considerations:

• Straight pins used for mounting badges (best if framed, covered)
• Can be displayed flat on wall
• Should be protected from direct sunlight
• Consider UV-protective glazing if permanently framed
• Avoid high-traffic areas where it might be touched frequently

What This Collection Means to Me

The 1957 Jamboree was one of the defining experiences of my youth. As a young American scout, I had read about international scouting in handbooks and heard stories from leaders, but nothing prepared me for the reality of standing in a sea of 33,000 scouts from every corner of the globe.

Each badge from these 26 countries represents a conversation—sometimes conducted through gestures and smiles when language failed, sometimes through broken English or a few words of another language I’d learned. Behind each badge was a story: a scout from Germany explaining his troop’s traditions, a scout from South Africa swapping not just badges but our uniforms, a scout from Iran communicating with a smile.

The world felt impossibly large and wonderfully small at the same time.

Creating this display when I returned home was my way of holding onto that feeling—the sense that despite our different languages, cultures, and countries, we were all part of something bigger. Fifty years of scouting had created a worldwide brotherhood, and I had experienced it firsthand along with my brother, Sam.

Why It Should Be Preserved

Sixty-eight years later, this collection has become more than a personal treasure. It’s a tangible connection to:

• A historic moment in scouting’s history
• The idealism of the 1950s, when young people believed in international understanding
• The material culture of mid-century scouting worldwide
• The power of person-to-person diplomacy

I want this collection to inspire future scouts as my experience inspired me. I want them to see these badges and understand that scouting has always been about more than camping and knots—it’s about building a better world, one friendship at a time.

This collection can teach:

For Young Scouts:

• The global reach of the scouting movement
• The value of international friendship and cultural exchange
• The history of world jamborees
• How scouting promotes peace and understanding

For Researchers:

• Primary source material from the 1957 World Jamboree
• Examples of mid-century scout insignia from 26 countries
• Evidence of Cold War-era cultural exchanges
• Material culture of 1950s youth movements

For Historians:

• Documentation of international youth gathering during Cold War
• Artifacts showing insignia variations by country
• Personal narrative of jamboree experience
• Long-term preservation of textile souvenirs