Design a Patch
BSA Guidelines for Custom Patches
We may NOT Produce:
Council shoulder patches currently stocked by the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) Supply Group
Any patch in any one of the defined shapes of a council shoulder patch, which is not a local council shoulder patch
Parody patches or emblems that the BSA, at its sole discretion, would deem as reflecting poorly on the BSA or its programs
Patches or emblems that contain the confederate flag, except where such a design is incorporated into an existing and currently used flag of any state within the United States of America
Patches depicting the World Scouting Crest
Patches that contain the Olympic rings, or the word “Olympics” or derivatives thereof
Other Considerations:
All temporary patches and emblems must contain a Boy Scouts of America corporate identifier: either “BSA” without any periods, “Boy Scouts of America,” or the BSA fleur-de-lis.
All patches and emblems must be for a Scouting event or activity
No text or designs over the BSA universal emblem, when used
No third-party trademarks will be authorized without prior written authorization expressed from the trademark owner (on company letter), and written approval from the BSA Licensing Team.
No obscene gestures or foul language
There should not be any direct political reference made on patches.
No text or designs superimposed over the American flag, nor attached to it any mark, insignia, letter, word, figure, picture, or drawing of any nature (A stationary American flag may not be used as a patch backing; however, a “waving” American flag may be used.)
No words or designs that the BSA would consider, at its sole discretion, to reflect poorly on the values of the BSA or that it would deem offensive to the BSA and/or its members
Any use of American Indian imagery must adhere to BSA American Indian guidelines.
BSA patches and emblems do not require statutory markings (i.e., ®, ™, ©), except in cases where the emblem or patch is of sufficient size that these marks can be produced legibly. Typically this is a patch that is 3½ inches in diameter or larger for a round patch, or any patch that is at least 4 inches wide or tall
All third-party suppliers of custom embroidered patches and emblems are required to be licensed with the BSA. All officially licensed custom patches and emblems will have an “officially licensed” backing or a holographic sticker affixed to it
OA Patches
Order of the Arrow (OA) lodge flaps and pocket emblems with the letters “www” should not have periods between the w’s
OA lodge pocket flap emblems must fit the exact size and shape of the uniform pocket flap.
OA lodge flaps and pocket emblems must carry a QR code produced by a BSA licensee through the Boy Scouts of America patch scan system (www.patchscan.com)
Resources
BSA Guide to Awards and Insignia
ScouterStan Commissioners Weekly Podcast Season 7