Varsity Scouting

Purpose

Varsity Scouting is a program for young men who are at least 14 years of age but not yet 18. It provides options for young men who are looking for rugged high adventure or challenging sporting activities and still want to be a part of a Scouting program that offers the advancement and values of the Boy Scouts of America.

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 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.

Scout Oath

Varsity Scouts will use the Scout Oath.

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, until it becomes a constant ingredient in 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 on district, council, regional, and national levels.

The traditional Boy Scout uniform with a "Varsity" identification strip above the right pocket and with blaze shoulder loops is worn for formal occasions. Many teams design their own T-shirt for outdoor activities.

Resources

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

Each program feature contains resource materials that will prepare a team for an ultimate adventure or sports season. The high-adventure subjects 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.