If you are a scout leader, you most likely have your group participate in several parades during the year. Scouting groups are usually prominent in the town and will hold a place in local parades to show their pride and dedication to the community. When marching in a parade, it is important to get the word out as to which group you are representing.

The uniforms will give a clue, but when walking they are sometimes overlooked, and a banner might be a better idea so townspeople will be able to see who your group is as you are walking by. Here are some instructions you can use to make your own scouting banner for a local parade.

Involve The Whole Group

When making a banner to be shown to the town, have the entire scouting group available to help with the designing and decorating of the sign. This will give the members a sense of accomplishment and they will be proud to be a part of the final product being shown to local townspeople. Come up with an idea for a theme and have each member think of something they can add to the banner so it is individualized as well as made as a group.

Finding The Right Materials

When making a banner, it will need to be sturdy enough to withstand tugging and windy conditions. Plain paper products are not enough to be able to be walked for several blocks or miles throughout town without risk. Consider making your banner from a piece of heavy material. It would be perfect to be able to be held by smaller members easily without the fear of breaking it while walking. It can also be stored easily by rolling it up between parades.

The cloth will need to be attached to two long rods. These can be found in a hardware store and the cloth can easily be sewn around them by a crafty parent or grandparent of one of the scouting members. Curtain rods would work for holding the cloth because end caps could be placed on them so the cloth does not shift while walking.

Decorating The Banner

Hold a night during a regular scouting meeting where the members can use pieces of iron-on felt to construct lettering and pictures that will be placed on the cloth. They can be carefully cut out and a leader can apply them using a hot iron. Any other adornments such as sequins, rhinestones, or pom-poms can be added by using a hot glue gun. (For more information, contact Genesis Signs)