The 1981 Boy Scout National Jamboree Fort A. P. Hill, northern Virginia Page 2
| This is a sampling of Jamboree Shoulder Patches for the 1981 Jamboree. JSP’s were largely replacing council contingent patches. In 1981 there were over 100 JSP issues and dozens of varieties for leaders, staff and other designations. About 300 councils used their ordinary CSP, but that would change in 1985. The trend towards multiple issue’s had begun, two different George Washingtons, ordinary and Staff, etc. |
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| (below) Larger councils often had multiple troops. Orange County had five troops each with a unique JSP. |
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  Some contingents used their regular CSP and wore a Jamboree identification badges beneath it. Collectors often want these as part of the Jamboree council collection. |
 An enterprising embroidery company offered a generic Jamboree style CSP. If the council didn’t have anyone that could develop a unique design all you had to do was provide your council name and use the generic design. Most councils had someone with ingenuity and most developed unique designs. |
 Something NEW in 1981. Most JSP's had something to do with the local council. Something with it's location or history or a council logo in the design. In 1981, Southwest Michigan Council used an image of Snap, Crackle, Pop from Kellogg Co. in Battle Creek. I believe it's the first time that a commercial image would be used on a Jamboree patch. years later this theme would become popluar with all kinds of characters on patches. |
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(above) Since I’m showing the patches I’m not showing the cards, but
people collect them. (below) Scouts were given a set of 18 identical Sub Camp cards with images of the sub camp flag and a bit of history about the flag on the back. By trading with Scouts from other sub camps and getting their personal information, Scouts received the participation segment to be worn beneath the Jamboree patch. The flags and their meanings was part of the overall Jamboree theme of Strengthen America’s Heritage. Few Scouts probably knew there were so many flags used during the Revolutionary War. |
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| Each Scout received two of their sub camp patches. Frank Kern of Washington remembers receiving his in a plastic pocket hanger. Since they were distributed at the Jamboree most were never sewed onto uniforms. Today the subcamp set is probably the most difficult thing from the 1981 Jamboree. |
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| Paul Myers Goshen,
Indiana gimogash@comcast.net |