Figure 1.--

Both Cubs and Scouts had optional short pants for summer wear. They were the same color and style as the long pants. Scouts wore them more commonly than in the 1950s, but relatively few Cubs wore them. They were required at Scout camps, but Cubs did not attend these camps. The styles changed in the 1960s. Theu no longer had the colored piping on the pockets. The same change was made in the long pants as well.

Cub Shorts

Cubs had optional short pants for summer wear. They were the same color and style as the long pants. Most Cubs wore the long pants uniform, even in the summer. As best we can tell, relatively few Cubs wore the short pants summer uniform. The BSA continued to promote the short pants uniform. There were many ads in Boys' Life, the Boys Scout magazine. Generally they promoted the idea that the short pnts uniform was more comfortable for summer wear. A good example is a Boys' Life ad (June 1968). I'm not sure why the short pants uniform was not more successful. I think that short pants were only beginning to become more popular for American boys. The cost of the uniform may have discouraged some parents. The styles changed in the 1960s. The Cub shorts no longer had the gold colored piping on the pockets. The same change was made in the long pants as well.

Scout Shorts

Scouts had optional short pants for summer wear. They were the same color and style as the long pants. Scouts wore them more commonly than in the 1950s. They were required at Scout camps. The styles changed in the 1960s. The shorts no longer had the red colored piping on the pockets. The same change was made in the long pants as well. Scout shorts were same olive green color as the long pants. The shorts by the 1960s had ordinary slit pockets, I am not sure when the change was made. Scout shorts still had button flys in the 1950s and I believe the early 1960s, but the BSA switched to zippers during the decade. Scouts still primarily wore long pants, except at camp, but shorts were becoming more accetable casual short pants increased in popularty among American boys. A HBC reader provide images of 1960s Scout shorts. Note that there are no flap pockets with red piping, but regular slit pockets. The shorts have belt loops and button flys. The shorts look olive green. The shorts worn in the 70s seemed more of a green color. The lining of the waisst had the official Boy Scout symbol.