Varsity Scout Program

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Varsity Scout Program has been discontinued. In May 2017, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the LDS church, or Mormons) announced that in 2018 they would no longer be sponsoring Varsity Teams. Since the LDS church created the Varsity program in 1984 and were basically the only group using it, Varsity has since been discontinued. Medals/awards/patches will continue to be available to earn until they are no longer available in a local or national Scout shop. (See Discontinued awards.)

Varsity emblem.

Varsity Scout strip. Worn over the right pocket, centered above the BSA strip or above the interpreter strip and below the BSA nameplate.

See: Varsity Scouting Fact Sheet

Varsity Scouting is a program of the Boy Scouts of America. It is available to boys under the age of 18 who meet the following qualifications:

• boys who are at least 14 years old.

Prior participation in Cub Scouting or Boy Scouting is not required.

Varsity Scouting offers five program fields of emphasis: advancement, high-adventure/sports, personal development, service, and special programs and events. Each of these programs is led by a youth member of the team called a program manager, who receives assistance from an adult Program Adviser (a member of the Team Committee).

Organization

Varsity Scouts are members of a Varsity Scout Team chartered to a community organization, such as a church or service club. It is led by a youth Varsity Scout team Captain and an adult leader called a Varsity Team Coach. The coach is supported by an adult Team Committee, made up of parents and members of the chartered organization. It is a stand-alone unit, chartered independently of a Scout troop, but the chartering procedure is essentially the same.

The team may be divided into Squads, and each squad elects a youth Squad Leader.

Program

Varsity Scouting has five fields of emphasis. A youth member, called a Program Manager, is responsible for each of the five fields of emphasis and works with an adult member called a Program Adviser from the team committee to coordinate each phase of the program. The five fields of emphasis are:

Advancement

Varsity Scouts use the same advancement program as Boy Scouts. They can also receive the recognitions offered through such programs as the Fifty-Miler Award; Mile Swim, BSA; etc.

High-Adventure/Sports

This program field of emphasis includes high-adventure and sports and is supported by 27 program features.

Personal Development

Varsity Scouting promotes growth through spirituality, leadership abilities, citizenship, social and cultural attributes, and physical fitness.

Service

The emphasis is on service, with the intent that it become integral to one's daily experience. Projects are conceived, planned, managed, and carried out by individual Varsity Scouts and/or the Varsity Scout team.

Special Programs and Events

Varsity Scouts take an active part in special programs and events at district, council, regional, and national levels.

Program Specialization

From: Three Ways Your Council Can Utilize Varsity Scouting

Varsity Scouting allows a charter organization to design a program that fits its own needs. Many community organizations use Varsity Scouting as part of their youth program, including the United Methodist Church, Roman Catholic Church, Baptist Church, Lutheran Church, public schools, and housing authorities.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has customized the program to fulfill its needs. Although the program is designed for young men ages 14 to 18, the LDS Church uses Varsity Scouting only for its young men ages 14 to 15. There is still a tremendous opportunity to expand Varsity Scouting within the LDS Church. All LDS wards should have a Varsity Scout team as part of their youth program.

Leadership and program

Varsity Scouting offers five program fields of emphasis: Advancement, High-Adventure/Sports, Personal development, Service, and Special Programs and Events. Each of these programs is led by a member of the team called a Program Manager, who receives assistance from a member of the Team Committee.

Position of responsibility requirements for Star and Life ranks may be met by a Varsity Scout serving as a team Captain, Cocaptain, Program Manager, Squad Leader, or other leadership roles assigned by the team coach. The acceptable positions of responsibility for the Eagle Scout rank are listed on the Eagle Scout Rank Application.

Advancement and recognition

Main article: Varsity Scout Advancement

The Varsity Scout advancement follows the same rank requirements to Eagle and Eagle Palms as those for Boy Scouts. Supplementing this Eagle trail, a Varsity Scout is also eligible for the additional advancement opportunity of earning the Denali Award. To do this he must earn at least one Varsity Letter, and serve as Program Manager (a position of responsibility), acting as primary leader in at least two of the fields of emphasis and participating in the remaining three fields.

Varsity Letter

Main article: Varsity Letter

Denali Award

Main article: Denali Award

Merit Badges

Main article: Merit Badges

Varsity Scouts can earn Merit Badges by following the same requirements and policies as Boy Scouts.

Uniforms

Main article: Varsity Scout uniform insignia

The official Boy Scout uniform with a Varsity strip identification above the right pocket and with blaze orange shoulder loops. Many teams design their own T-shirt for outdoor activities.

Scout Oath

Varsity Scouts will use the Scout Oath. Varsity team members will also learn and live by the Varsity Scout Pledge.

See also

Varsity Scout portal

• Varsity Scouting
• Varsity Scout Program
• Varsity Scout Advancement
• Boy Scouting
• Boy Scout Uniform
• Merit Badges (Worksheets)

Varsity awards:

• Varsity Scout Letter
• Varsity Scout Letter Bar
• Varsity Scout Activity Pins
• Denali Award

Team Advancement Leaders:

• Advancement Program Manager
• Advancement Program Adviser
• Unit Advancement Chair

Resources

Program Features

Three volumes of program features support the high-adventure/sports program field of emphasis.

• Varsity Team Program Features V1
• Varsity Team Program Features V2
• Varsity Team Program Features V3

Each program feature contains resource materials that will prepare a team for an ultimate adventure or sports season. The high-adventure areas are backpacking, canoe camping, caving, cycling, discover America, fishing, freestyle biking, frontiersman, mechanics, orienteering, rock climbing and rappelling, snow camping, survival, and whitewater canoeing. Each feature contains approximately three months of program.

The sports program features contain basic rules, techniques, and strategies for basketball, bowling, cross-country skiing, roller hockey, shooting sports, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, triathlon, volleyball, and waterskiing.

• Varsity Scout Guidebook. The Varsity Scout Guidebook is used by adult leaders and youth in Varsity Scouting.
• Boy Scout Handbook. The Boy Scout Handbook contains information devoted to Varsity Scouts and supporting the Varsity Scout program.
• Troop/Team Record Book. The Troop/Team Record Book is used to record member information, rank advancement, and financial records.
• Varsity Leader Fast Start. The Varsity Scout Leader Fast Start video supports the orientation of new Varsity Scout leaders.
• Varsity Coach Leader Specific Training. This is a three-part training program for training adult Varsity Scout leaders.
• Varsity Scout Roundtable Planning Guide. The Varsity Scout Huddle (Roundtable) Planning Guide supports the programs outlined in the program features.

External links

scouting.org BSA Website Materials

• Varsity Scouting Fact Sheet
• Varsity Scout Insignia
• Varsity Scout Activity Pins
• Varsity Team Program
• Three Ways Your Council Can Utilize Varsity Scouting
• Varsity Leader Fast Start Videos

Other sites

• Varsity: Advancement and Awards on the Great Salt Lake Council site.
• Varsity Scouting (Boy Scouts of America) on the Wikipedia site.
• Varsity (1984-present) on the "A History of Senior Scouting Programs in the BSA" site.
• Venture/Varsity (1989-present) on the "A History of Senior Scouting Programs in the BSA" site.