Explorers (1949-1958)
Overview
In September of 1949, after researching the needs of older boys, the Senior
Scouting program was changing into the Explorer program. Explorer
Scouts became Explorers. Air Scouts became Air
Explorers. Sea Scouts became Sea Explorers. The
age for these programs was lowered from 15 to 14. Also, National changed
the policy such that when a boy turned 14, he automatically became an Explorer.
He could continue in a Boy Scout Troop, or join an Explorer
Crew within his troop, or join a separate Explorer unit.
For more information about the new Air Explorer and Sea Explorer programs, see their pages. The rest of this page will deal only with the new Explorer program.
The new Explorer program also took as its symbol the compass-anchor-wings emblem created for the Senior Scout Outfit.
In 1959, based on an extensive research project dealing with the needs and wants of older boys, this program was replaced by the new Exploring program.
Explorer Program
The Explorer program was changed and expanded from the Explorer Scout
program. Whereas the old Explorer Scout program had an explicit advanced
outdoor emphasis, the new Explorer program expanded its purpose to attract more
older boys. Explorer Posts were supposed to have a well rounded program
four activity fields: Adventuring in the outdoors, Getting along socially with
others, Being of service to others, and Exploring lifework possibilities.
More so then under the Senior Scout program, Explorer Posts were more likely to
specialize in some area of interest, which might be hobby based or vocational
based.
Explorer Uniforms
Explorers continued with their forest green uniforms. These could be worn with
a brown tie. A white web belt and optional web leggings were also
created. They could wear the khaki scout uniform with maroon tie.
Explorers also continued the use of the fatigue uniform that was started under Senior Scouting. It consisted of blue dungarees (jeans), a white T-shirt with the Explorer logo, blue fatigue cap and optional blue zipper jacket and white leggings. This uniform was dropped at the end of 1953, but the T-shirt was continued.
In 1954, bright red wool and poplin jackets were authorized for used by Explorers and leaders. The wool jacket (or jac-shirt) first started to be used at Philmont. At first, only Explorers were allowed to use the red jackets. It wouldn't be until the late 60s or so that the red jacket became the general BSA jacket for use by everyone.
Several lapel and collar pins were made, both
universal and for advisors. Collar pins were 7/8 in and lapel pins were
5/8 in
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Uniform Pins |
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Universal pin in green?? |
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Advisor |
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Advisor |
Assistant |
Assistant |
Explorer Advancement Program
The new Explorer program also revamped its advancement program. No longer
using outdoors inspired ranks, instead it had the ranks of
Apprentice-Bronze-Gold-Silver. Advancement through the ranks was done by earning one of several Rating Strips. These Rating Strips were
inspired by the Air Scout Specialist Badges, but unlike the Air Scout program,
earning the Ratings was required for earning rank. To earn them, an
Explorer had to participate in an outdoor event, social event, and a service
event, as well as do several specific requirements for that rating. One
thing was discontinued was allowing Explorers to earn any Senior Scouting
advancement program. Now only Sea Explorers could earn Sea Explorer
advancement and only Sea Explorer Advancement, Air Explorers were the only ones
to earn Air Explorer advancement and only Air Explorer advancement, and
Explorers in Posts and Troops were the only ones to earn Explorer advancement
and only Explorer advancement.
At first, medals for Bronze and Gold were also made. It appears these were quickly discontinued. They are very rare.
For rank requirements, go HERE.
For rating strips requirements, go HERE.
In 1954, with the Air Explorers using the Explorer advancement program, the color of the patches were changed and 3 ratings were added to replace unique ones from the Air Explorer program. These new ratings were Construction, Mechanics, and Weather. A new Silver Award was also created that in design was inspired by the Ace Award medal.
Also, Explorers now had alternative ways of earning Eagle Scout. In addition to being able to earn Star, Life, and Eagle if they had earned First Class in a Boy Scout Troop, Explorers could also progress through Star-Life-Eagle if they had earned either the Bronze Award or the Outdoor Skills Rating. The same was true for Sea Explorers and Air Explorers of that time. Later around 1956 or so, Star patches were made with a forest green background for wearing on the forest green Explorer shirt. Life Scout patches of that time were just the heart patch, so there was no need to do so. Why they didn't do so sooner is unclear, as Star, Life, and Eagle patches on white and blue have existed for a long time for Sea Scouts/Sea Explorers to use.
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Explorer Advancement, 1949-54 |
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Apprentice
Bronze
Gold
Silver
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Explorer Advancement, 1954-58 |
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Apprentice
Bronze
Gold
Silver
Silver
Medal, Type 2
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Explorer Ratings |
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unknown |
unknown |
Aviation
Communication
Craft
Skills
Emergency
Skills
Navigation
Outdoor
Skills
Physical
Fitness
Seamanship
Vocational ExplorationExplorer Unit Organization
With the new Explorer program, some changes were made in the officer
names. Post Guide became Senior Crew Leader, and Assistant Post Guide
became Deputy Senior Crew Leader. Other terms stayed the same.
Initially, office insignia was the Senior Scout Outfit insignia recycled. In 1954, with the changes in the color of the rank patches, office patches also changed color from dark blue to forest green.
In addition, Crews were expected to establish four committees, drawing from
the entire Post. Each of the four were devoted to one of the activity
fields of Exploring: Outdoor, Indoor (Vocation), Social, and Service
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Unit Term Comparison |
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Boy Scout Troop |
Explorer Post |
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Scoutmaster |
Post Advisor |
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Senior Patrol Leader |
Senior Crew Leader |
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Patrol |
Crew |
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Patrol Leader |
Crew Leader |
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Scribe |
Post Secretary |
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Explorer Office Insignia, 1950-54 |
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Post Advisor
Assistant Post
Advisor
Senior Crew Leader
Deputy
Senior Crew Leader
Crew Leader
Assistant Crew
Leader
Post Secretary
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Explorer Office Insignia, 1954-1958 |
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Post Advisor
Assistant Post
Advisor 
Senior Crew Leader
Deputy
Senior Crew Leader
Crew Leader
Assistant Crew
Leader
SecretaryMiscellaneous
National would continue the use of "Standard Explorer Unit" awards
from the previous "Standard Senior Scout Unit" awards. These
awards were given to any Explorer unit (Post, Ship, Squadron) which meet
certain criteria at the local, regional, or national levels. To see the
requirements, go here.
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Standard Unit Award |
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In 1957, a program called "Citizens Now" Conference was started. It was expected that every council run it by June of 1957. The conference was to be a 2.5 day event at a local college/university. A booklet explained the program, "Citizens Now" Conference Workbook (#3046), and a patch was also made. It was popular enought that many ran it again in 1958. With the changes in the Explorer program after 1958, this event was dropped.
Literature
The basic manual for the Explorer program was the Explorer Manual, which
was a revision of the previous Explorer Scout Manual. This manual
gave detailed information on how Explorers operated, and their new advancement
program.
The only manual for adult leaders was the generic Hints on Explorer Leadership, which is a slight update of the previous Hints on Senior Scouting Leadership. Why nothing equivalent to a Scoutmaster Handbook was produced is unknown. This booklet gives only a vary basic overview of leadership information for the Explorer programs.
National also published the Explorer Program Quarterly starting in late 1953. These lasted until 1966. Since about January, 1947, National had published program-specific Program Helps in Scouting Magazine. This had started with “Senior Program Helps”, which gave way to the “Explorer Section” in September, 1949. The last appearance of the Explorer Section was October, 1953. After that point, National published three separate Program Quarterlies for Cub Scout, Boy Scout, and Explorer programs.
There were Explorer Leader's Program Notebooks as well, which were a
continuation of the Senior Scouting Program Notebook started back in
1946. These lasted atleast until 1968.
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Explorer Literature |
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Explorer Manual (#3506)
paperback book, Ted S. Holstein, editor |
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Hints on Explorer
Leadership (#3482) paperback, 92pg |
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Explorer Leader's
Program Notebook paperback, 128pg |
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Explorer Program
Quarterly about 24 pages in length |
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Statistics |
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year |
membership |
units |
Ranger awards |
Silver awards |
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1949 |
63594 |
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611 |
0 |
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1950 |
92860 |
? |
1218* |
64 |
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1951 |
100983 |
? |
78* |
422 |
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1952 |
106140 |
? |
-- |
741 |
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1953 |
115866 |
? |
-- |
971* |
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1954 |
136819 |
? |
-- |
1212* |
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1955 |
152645 |
12020 |
-- |
1615* |
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1956 |
172773 |
13414 |
-- |
1957* |
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1957 |
193449 |
14721 |
-- |
2415* |
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1958 |
219660 |
? |
-- |
6890* |
*- after the official end of the "Ranger
program" in September of 1949, there was a two year grace period for those
earning the award.
*- in 1953, earning of the Silver Award became optional for Air Explorers,
after Jan of 1955, it became mandatory. Thus these numbers also include
Silver Awards earned by Air Explorers as well as Explorers
Source: BSA Annual Reports, as reported in Art Hyman's book The Scout in
Aviation.
Updated: 01/17/2006mrb