Tag Archives: scouting

Collections of Artifacts

Artifacts: woggles / variety (scouting)

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bucket of woggles (now is stewardship of young Lee Olson)

When my brothers and i were wee lads, our beloved Mom was out cub scout leader.

In Canadian (and international) scouting, the leaders of the cub pack are named after characters in Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book. Mom was Akela, Mikki Gladstone was Bagheera, we also had a Baloo and others.

After Mom passed away and the brothers and I were sorting through items, Dan and I assembled a tub of “woggles” which are little sliders designed to hold the kerchief/scarf together around one’s neck.

Of course, there is plenty of creativity available for such a device – many are evidenced in this collection.

Continue reading Artifacts: woggles / variety (scouting) →

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Portraits of the Artiste, Youngtime Dossier

Portrait: Junior Cub Scout

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Junior Cub Scout, circa 1978?

Before the arms were adorned with badges (basically every single badge except the sailing one) and before i was a Chief Scout (basically the youngest one ever), i was just a Beaver graduate trying to make my way in the intimidating world of Cub Scouting.

Soon, i became a “6-er” and a “2-nd” or something and was qualified to lead the DYB DYB DYB chants. Heady days which began with a wee cub and his badgeless grey flannel shirt and fantastic hair (and yet another pair of specs). 

 

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Youngtime Dossier

Artifacts (youngtime): Scout ID, Camps, Lessons, Certs including “Mr Fun” award

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Certified and Valued, 1979-1981, signed my my Mom/Akela
Surrey (BC) Parks and Recreation Commission aquatic program ticket #2636 – year unknown – Mon-Fri 12:00-12:30 July 2-13. No Refunds.

Indeed, youth and childhood is often laden with activities of various sorts… some ad hoc as it were, others organized in some formal manner or another. This round-up contains evidence of the latter in the forms of artifacts from swim lessons registration card, summer camp maps, scout ID cards and camp photo and importantly, a certificate proclaiming me as “Mr. Fun” at some summer camp with a Troop of which i have no remembrance. Carry on with the fun!

Boy Scouts of Canada 1975-76 “Dave Olson” (note signature)

Continue reading Artifacts (youngtime): Scout ID, Camps, Lessons, Certs including “Mr Fun” award →

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Youngtime Dossier

Artifacts (youngtime): Chief Scout’s Award – evidence / letters, photos, certificate – ca. 1983

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from left Dave Olson, various RCMP and Judge, Bob Olson front, Brad Coleman far right – receiving Chief Scout’s award, 1983

In Canadian Scouts, the highest accolade one can achieve is the Chief Scout’s Award. Requires a whole load of badges and tasks and whatnot – sorta like the US Eagle Scout i suppose.

Anyhow, as it goes, most Scouts earn this on their way out and onto Ventures (the next age bracket group) but diligent as i am, earned at a young age (was told youngest ever but no way to verify) and attended the ceremony (requiring special permission apparently) along with older brother Bob and pal Brad Coleman. Must been 1983.

What follows are artifacts and evidence to this point.

(As obvious) this is a letter from Governor General who is apparently the Chief Scout of Canada) acknowledging earning of eponymous Chief Scout’s Award.

Continue reading Artifacts (youngtime): Chief Scout’s Award – evidence / letters, photos, certificate – ca. 1983 →

Consider Perusing:

Portraits of the Artiste, Youngtime Dossier

Portrait: Resplendent Cub Scout

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Resplendent Cub Scout, circa 1981?
You’ve heard of full patch Hells Angels, right? Well this is what a full
patch Cub Scout looks like – pretty much the same thing… No doubt the Brownies were lining up for closer observation of the middle part hair, slightly feathered. 
 
 

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Portraits of the Artiste

Portrait: Old Man Cub Scout

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Old Man Cub Scout, circa 2011

Keen observers will notice this is not authorized uniform, or a prescribed salute, nevertheless, as a former full-patch Cub and Chief Scout award recipient, i figure i can do whatever I choose – Regulations be danged i say!

Note: this was at photo booth at Craig and Lien’s wedding at a fancy Chinese resto after i had just conducted/MC’ed a 4 hour festival of frivolity in Japanese. The suit is a thrift store beauty.

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