Patch trading frenzy hits the jambo
Posted on July 28, 2010 by bwursten
They’re everywhere. In the shade. On a small piece of land. In front of tents. Coming in all shapes, sizes and ages, they form groups, sometimes hordes. Furious trading occurs. They are the jamboree patch traders.
Many Scouts said they have been given advice or rules for patch trading.
Here are some simple trading courtesies that Scouters should follow:
Scouts trade with Scouts
Adults trade with adults
One patch for one patch, two for two, etc.
One set for one set
No buying or selling patches
Comments like “rare,” “one of a kind,” and “few made” can be just hype and you should use caution
“I tell the boys if someone is pushing you to trade patches against the rules, then walk away,” said David Young, one of the Scoutmasters with Troop 925, Green River, Wyoming.
Andrew Shipotofsky, 17, Erial, New Jersey, made his first trade Tuesday. “This was pretty neat. I like meeting different people and hearing about their experiences.”
“Patch trading is funner than I thought,” said Kyle Morgan, Severna Park, Maryland.
Several different groups of Scouts said the hot patches were Halo, X-Men, Stargate, Star Wars, dragons, and international patches.
Some jamboree patches are sold, such as those from the Hot Air Balloon staff. They sell shoulder patches for $10, jacket patches for $20, and a double-sided donor patch for $50. The money pays for the balloons and their upkeep.
The trading posts also sell patches. The patch-of-the-day is extremely popular and often sells out within hours.