Uniform Information

Uniform and Badge Placement Guide

We are proud of Scouting and we require all members to be in the full Scouting uniform once invested. And to only have official badges awarded by Warranted Scout Leaders. Please resist the temptation to "customise" the uniform 

The Kaukapakapa Group Badges

When your child joins the Kaukapakapa Scout group, and the uniform fee is paid, they will get the silver Scout shirt, Waitoru Zone badge, Kaukapakapa Group badge, and their Section (Scout/Cub/Kea) badge. They will get their Kaukapakapa scarf and woogle at their investiture ceremony

How to calculate your shirt size

1. Take a shirt, not strechable like a t-shirt, from your wardrobe and lay it flat on the table 

2. Smooth it out with no wrinkles

3. Measure from just under the sleeve seam, across the chest to the other sleeve seam. As shown in the picture

Keep in mind that your child will experience growth, so be generous in your sizing. And maybe check the shirt sizes of other Scouts on similar size

Please ensure you have correctly calculated the shirt size you require before ordering

Please write your name on the shirt label after you have checked it for size

Size Chart

Sewing on Badges

Please use these Scouting NZ guidelines to place your badges

Uniform and Badge Placement Guide: Badge Placement for youth Badge Placement for Adults

This is a great time to introduce your Kea, Cub, or Scout into the art of sewing. One of those life skills everyone needs

Important - Wash brand new shirts first before sewing any badges on, as it may shrink and distort the badges

Method One - Using a sewing machine

• • Pin badge into correct place with at least two pins 

  • Double check you have it in the right place 

  • Work from the top side of the shirt, through the badge 

  • Use grey thread matching the shirt on your bobbin 

  • Use clear nylon thread on the top, this is invisible so you don’t have to swap thread for each badge 

  • Travel a small amount at a time, leave the needle in and lift the pressure foot up to turn the fabric, ensuring the badge and fabric stay flat 

  • When you work on the sleeve turn the shirt inside out. Then you can work inside the sleeve on top of the badge and the sleeve does not have to wrap around the machine arm 

Method Two - Hand Sewing

To hand sew on a badge using thread that matches the border colour of badge. If you don’t have a close colour match use; clear or invisible nylon thread

• • Pin badge into correct place with at least two pins 

  • Double check you have it in the right place 

  • Use small over hand stitches through the border of badge, just catching the edge 

  • Use a length of thread no longer than your fore-arm; otherwise it is likely to tangle 

  • Use a single thickness of thread; it is less likely to be seen 

  • You may need to use a thimble as the material can be quite tough 

Method Three - Invisible Hemming Tape

Use invisible hemming tape (supermarkets, Spotlight, etc). Plain hemming tape is not double sided. Tape comes in straight lengths so may want to buy the slightly more expensive quilters product called HeatnBond available from Spotlight

• • Place badge upside down on iron board 

  • Cut pieces of tape to cover badge 

  • Place shirt over badge in correct place and orientation 

  • Double check you have it in correct place and orientation 

  • Iron on as per instructions with tape

General Uniform Care

Iron scarf and shirt from inside. Most badges do not like being ironed, and iron up against them tends to break the stitches over time

If you wash the shirt on a delicate cycle or a slow spin and hang it to dry on a coat hanger, it will need only very little ironing if at all

Rolling the Scarf

Keas, Cubs, and Scouts are taught how to roll the scarf as part of the joining process. This is a Scout secret and cannot be shared