
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 Scout 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.
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.
Uniforms
The traditional Boy Scout uniform with a "Varsity" identification
strip above the right pocket, and blaze loops are worn for formal
occasions. Many teams design their own T-shirt for outdoor activities.
Scout Oath
Varsity Scouts will use the Scout Oath.
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.
Varsity
Letters
Backpacking
Basketball
Freestyle Biking
Bowling
Canoe
Camping
Caving
Cross-Country Cycling
Discovering Adventure
Fishing
Frontiersman
Mechanics
Orienteering
Rock
Climbing and Rappelling
Roller Hockey
Skiing
Shooting Sports
Snow Camping
Soccer
Softball
Survival
Swimming
Tennis
Triathalon
Volleyball
Waterskiing
Whitewater Canoeing
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 record keeping.
Varsity
Scout Leader Fast Start. The Varsity Scout Leader Fast Start
video supports the orientation of new Varsity Scout leaders.
Varsity
Scout Leader Fundamentals. This is a three-part training
program for training adult Varsity Scout leaders.
Varsity
Scout Roundtable Planning Guide. The Varsity Scout Roundtable
Planning Guide supports the programs outlined in the program features.