non official 1077 bsa national convention patchesThe practice of making badges that had absolutely no semblance of being official started about 1977. People came to the Jamboree with badges designed strictly for trading. There would be thousands of visitors and hundreds of Wood Badges who might want this type of badges. In theory the Security Staff was to be on the lookout for these, but how do you police thousands of Scouts trading.
1977 bsa jamboree information packets
As in years past, the Jamboree was well planned with plenty of information on all aspects of the event. For the first time a uniform and equipment catalog allowed people to pre-order items. At the time this was a boon to collectors, they could have attendees order additional collectibles. In 1977 a Visitors Guide was available with a map and information about the Jamboree, parking was $3.
We Survived


I mentioned the seemingly endless rains at the 1977 Jamboree.
This patch highlights the fact, it was probably made after the Jamboree, but fun.
1977 bsa red scout beret
1977 red boy scout beret


The red Scout beret was widely used at the 1973 Jamboree. It was standard head wear for the 1977 Jamboree, part of the Jamboree uniform.
1977 boy scout national jamboree sholder patches 
1977 boy scout national jamboree sholder patches1977 boy scout national jamboree sholder patches1977 boy scout national jamboree sholder patches
This is a sampling of Jamboree Shoulder Patches for the 1977 Jamboree. JSP’s were slowly replacing council contingent patches. There were multiple issues and dozens of varieties for leaders, staff and other designations. The trend towards multiple issue’s had begun. 
Gamehaven Council 1977 Jamboree Patch 


Gamehaven took their standard issue CSP and made it fully embroidered for the Jamboree. This badge is often overlooked as a Jamboree issue.
John Hices book

In 1998 John Hice of Ohio, published a color booklet BSA National Jamboree Shoulder Insignia. (to the right), He documents only 16 JSP’s from the 1977 Jamboree. I’m showing 19 but include a couple that do not have Jamboree notations on them. I’m surprised at how few councils actually developed JSP’s in 1977. By 1981 there would be about 100 council issue JSP’s and there would be a dozens of varieties.


(below) By 1977 armbands were falling out of favor. To some degree they were replaced with baseball caps with the small badges on caps. The OA Service Corp. badge and pocket flap are official. Most of the others are private issue. The NESA and Medical Staff badges are official issue Jamboree patches with embroidery added. Two other medical staff are private issue
1977 boy scout jamboree staff id 1977 boy scout jamboree staff id1977 boy scout jamboree staff id1977 boy scout jamboree staff id
(below) Patch Traders and collectors often volunteer for Trading Post staff. Some make patches for trading and to sell to other staff members. The two staff badges were popular but unofficial. Thanks Dave Pede
1977 boy scout jamboree staff id 
(below) The Commisary Staff issued a series of small desk flags over the years. I’ve shown individual ones from previous Jamborees, but the flags are such a unique collectible I thought I’d recap them. The Commissary Staff is the group of individuals who unload incoming food delivery trucks and see to it that the food gets to the individual subcamps. Thanks Bob Cylkowski 
1977 boy scout jamboree staff id 
The Commissary Staff flags are self explanatory. The small Jamboree desk flags often confuse people, but again they were from the Commissary Staff. 
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Paul Myers Goshen, Indiana
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