Ideas for a Boy Scout Shadow Box

A shadow box is a great way to display a Boy Scout craft project.

A shadow box is a meaningful way to preserve memories and display the mementos a Boy Scout accumulates during his journey from Tenderfoot to Eagle. During an Eagle Scout Court of Honor, a scout's family traditionally provides a display of the scout's growth and past achievements for the attendees to view and enjoy. A collection of thematic shadow boxes makes an easy and enjoyable display.

Planning Your Theme

Unless you have an entire room to dedicate toward every scouting achievement, it is best to impose some limits on the scope of your project. One way to do this is to choose special scouting moments and arrange them as themes. Choosing themes will save time and ensure that your shadow box project does not overwhelm you.

Memorable Merit Badges

Favorite merit badge activities make good shadow box themes.

To progress from Tenderfoot to Eagle, a scout is required to earn both specific and elective merit badges. The purpose behind merit badges is that they build skills and foster exposure to new activities. One theme possibility is to choose merit badges that have a special meaning to a scout. Examples: merit badges that lead to avocations and career choices, life-changing decisions, or parent-scout bonding.

Favorite Camping Outings

A camping outing makes a good shadow box theme.

Overnight and weekend camping outings will be a fond memory of a scout's scouting experience. Boy Scout camping outings are often supervised by adults with cameras who post their photos on the troop's website. However, to capture those Kodak moments, a disposable camera in your scout's backpack can lead to some memorable shots for a shadow box. Accessory decorations such as a compass, a small square of a trail map, a neckerchief slide, and some forest nuts and leaves can enhance the feel of camping in your shadow box.

High-Adventure Activities

Pieces of adventure activity equipment are great for shadow boxes.

Gaining experience and building courage play an important role in scouting's "challenge by choice" activities. Paddling a canoe, rappelling off a cliff and exploring a cave are just a few of the many high-adventure activities scouts experience. Photos of these experiences in a shadow box with accessory mementos such as a climber's carabiner, a piece of climbing rope, or a spelunker's head lamp will make an interesting display of the experience.

Knots

Samples of Boy Scout knots display well in a shadow box.

Proficiency in tying knots is a staple of every scout's skill set. A shadow box with a black velvet background adorned with short lengths of white rope or cord tied into a variety of knots makes an attractive display. Adding a small hook to the outside of the shadow box frame to hold a short length of rope is a fun way to encourage others to try their hands at a knot.

References

• "The Boy Scout Handbook: Boy Scouts of America"; 11th edition; 1998
• Scouting; Preserving the Past, Enriching the Future; Erin E. Ulerich
• Cubscout Pack 214: Shadow Boxes