Woggle Question (UNCLASSIFIED)

Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
Hi Karen!! You wrote and asked me:

“I read your answer to a lady regarding the wearing of the Wood Badge regalia (found at http://www.scoutinsignia.com/wbneck.htm) ….here’s my dilemma….It seems to me that the Wood Badgers have co opted the woggle and don’t think it should be worn by anyone else in US Scouting.”

Says *them*. The Woggle is NOT just for those Wood Badgers, Karen. It’s an acceptable “keeper” (slide) for ANY neckerchief. There is no reference within the Wood Badge course syallbus nor within any BSA guide or manual which states that the Wood Badge woggle – or any woggle – can ONLY be worn by Wood Badgers. I wear the Wood Badge woggle with a unit, the Kente cloth, and NESA neckerchiefs, depending on occasion. But then, like yourself, I am a Wood Badger also. “I have my father’s leather woggle from when he was a Cub Leader in Canada and would like for my son who is a Scout to be able to wear it. I cannot find any official guidance on this just a lot of Wood Badgers who seem to think they are the only ones allowed to wear woggles. I have read and found a lot of info on Scouts in other countries making and wearing woggles but can’t get a straight answer from anyone in the US….any insights?”

Well, one can make their own woggle; there’s plenty of websites which explains how to do it. When those special “patch police officers” come around, ask them to show you in writing where it states this. They won’t be able to show you. The ONLY thing special to Wood Badgers are the beads and neckerchief. Seriously, if a Wood Badger had a Troop or special event neckerchief slide that they wanted to wear instead of the standard woggle, they *may wear it* with the neckerchief and beads. Looks weird, but again, there’s NO policy or guidance which keeps people from doing so, in the same way that there is NO policy or guidance which states that Wood Badgers who belong to a unit must wear the MacLaren tartan neckerchief (on the contrary, as I wrote to Dee, Wood Badgers who ARE a part of a Troop, Team or Crew with their own distinctive neckerchief SHOULD WEAR THE WOOD BADGE WITH THAT NECKERCHIEF (and slide, if the unit adopted a special slide)). Personally, I would hold off on having him wear the woggle until he’s a bit older. I made the mistake of wearing a special Cub Scout “joining badge” from Germany on the pocket flap of a Scout shirt when I went to camp. I left my shirt somewhere and when I returned, the silver badge was gone. I later found it on an adult’s uniform shirt. He said that he got it in a trade. I’ve been looking for a replacement — been several times to the Scouting offices in Germany — but I could not find it. Yet.

Thanks for asking me!!

Settummanque!