The 1977 Boy Scout National Jamboree Morain State Park, PA. Page 1
The 1977 Jamboree returned to Moraine State
Park in northwest Pennsylvania. The attendance is reported at
28,601. This was the smallest Jamborees to date. There was 4 1/2” of
rain, it soaked the site. After the rains, the humidity was
oppressive. Bad weather is the Jamboree planners worse nightmare.
The location in rural Northwestern, PA. was not conducive to touring
historic sights. Although northeast contingents visited New York
City and many saw Niagara Falls. Air travel was becoming more
popular, but the Cleveland or Pittsburg airports weren’t that
accessible in 1977, many units came by train or automobile. The
Jamboree theme was Third Century/USA. The BSA was having a number of
difficulties. Boy Power-Man Power was a dismal failure. For the
first time, the BSA was referred to as Scouting USA. Membership was
down and almost everything about the “new way” was a failure. Jimmy
Carter was President and reportedly a friend of Scouting, but he did
not visit the Jamboree. At the end of this section I editorialize a bit with some historic information about the BSA in the 1970’s. ![]() Planning Bulletin #1 suggested a goal of 40,000, but the stated attendance was 28,601. I comment elsewhere that Jamboree attendance figures seem to be a fluid thing. Different sources often report different numbers. |
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Scouts received two embroidered badges and neckerchiefs. There were official I D cards and luggage/baggage tags. Each Scout was given a guide book that has valuable information about the Jamboree. Patches were made in huge quantities. About baggage tags, every Jamboree attendee receives baggage tags. Tags are issued by subcamp sites. For every Jamboree there are dozens of different color or section numbered baggage tags. Jamboree collectors often want these tags. |
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Dave Pede reports this unusual “thin Fleur de Leis” issue. It was discovered at Trading Post C when Dave was on staff in 1977. This was part of the repro set in plastic boxes but only a few had this style. Thanks Dave. |
About the Fleur de Leis and Scout sign |
![]() ![]() In the mid-1970’s the BSA started insisting that all patch's issued by BSA affiliates have the Scout logo. Some thought it was an attempt to get a better hold on who was issuing BSA insignia, but in retrospect that didn’t seem to happen. Generally speaking, it was believed that the Fleur de Leis was a universal symbol, the difference is the crossbar. The non-crossbar style was considered a BSA emblem. |
![]() ![]() The artwork shown here were potential designs for neckerchiefs for the 1977 Jamboree. I do not believe actual neckerchiefs were ever made, but if they surface I’d be happy to post them. |
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![]() These five different colored neckerchiefs above are in the Jim Ellis collection. Jim doesn’t really know what they are, and I’m asking others to help identify them. It’s been suggested these may be contingent neckerchiefs, see the contingent issue page, that were standard issue, made up in advance, to which the manufacturer added the contingents names, these didn’t get the names added. Thanks Jim Ellis. |
![]() There is a private issue fully embroidered of the 1977 Back Patch made in the orient by Howard Ang. I’m showing one with the manufacturers label, but the label is actually quite scarce. Mr. Ang was a distinguished volunteer Scouter in Taiwan (China). He attended several BSA National Jamborees, making souvenir patches and enamel pins. His work has never been catalogued. I will mention him again for the 1981 Jamboree. It’s impossible to know but it’s my opinion that a majority of the badges with oriental looking embroidery were made by Mr. Ang. Howard Ang is reported to be a very nice man and made many American friends among Jamboree Staff members. |
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Paul Myers Goshen,
Indiana gimogash@comcast.net |