Boy Scouts, Camping & LucyBlue Mittens

Wendy: Nov., 2026

At LucyBlue Knits, we love giving new life to old wool sweaters and turning forgotten treasures into something special. Sometimes, we come across a piece that has a story all its own. That was exactly the case when we found an old red Boy Scout vest covered in colorful patches dating back to 1974, at a thrift store!

Rather than letting those wonderful patches remain tucked away and forgotten, we decided to give them a new purpose. We carefully removed the patches from the vintage vest and appliqued them on to several pairs of unique mittens. We combined a little piece of scouting history with our love of repurposing wool sweaters.

These aren't ordinary mittens. They're conversation pieces, little reminders of the past, and examples of how discarded items can become something extraordinary. This pair dates back to 1978. I wonder where the person is now that earned these badges almost 50 years ago.

We love the yellow and red patch that says, "BE PREPARED". This motto was created in 1907, by the founder of By Scouts, Robert Baden-Powell. (Interesting fact, he intentionally matched his initials, B. P. ) He wanted the boys to be in a constant state of readiness--both mentally physically.

His goal was to encourage young people to develop character, learn practical outdoor skills, become responsible citizens, and help others. Over the years, Scouting (now known as Scouting America) became known for camping, hiking, community service, leadership, and learning new skills. Badges and patches became an important part of the experience, recognizing participation, achievements, camps, special events, and membership in different councils and groups.

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Sue and I grew up wilderness camping. Every summer, (from age 5 (Susie), me (age 7), and my brother (age 9) til we left for college), our dad would plan a wilderness canoe trip that would take us deep into the lakes and forests of the Boundary Waters, Vancouver, Newfoundland, Minnesota & the Ozarks. We would pack all our gear & food, set off in a canoe, and paddle & portage our way through dense woods, wild rivers and lakes for a week. No porta-potties, no electricity or running water, no cots--just tents, canoes, sleeping bags, cooking gear and dehydrated food. He taught us how to improvise, solve problems, be grateful for the little things, be brave, work hard, and appreciate all of nature's beauty. He also taught us how to BE PREPARED--for bad weather, rough water, hungry forest animals and what ever else nature can throw at you. Although he was never a Boy Scout, his decades of wilderness canoeing and camping certianly taught us many of the things that the Boy Scouts stand for. And maybe that's why we were soooo excited when we found this vest.