Varsity In The Church

Purpose of Scouting in the Church

Some might wonder why the church sponsors Scouting units. The following excerpts from the church’s Scouting Handbook may help answer this question.

“By providing opportunities for boys and young men to put into practice the gospel lessons they learn in the home and at Church, Scouting programs have been used to support the priesthood.”

“Scouting also assists in accomplishing the eternal purposes of the priesthood and families. Scouting under Church sponsorship must not operate independently of the priesthood and the family. The Scout unit should become an extension of the home, the…quorum, or the Primary classes and should function as part of the Church’s activity program for boys and young men.”

“Scouting can help boys and young men enhance close relationships with their families and the Church while developing strong and desirable traits of character, citizenship, and physical and mental fitness, all based upon a firm belief in God.”

Varsity Overview

All members of the Teacher’s Quorum are also members of the Varsity Scout Team. A Varsity Scout Team is lead by the Team Captain under the guidance of the Varsity Coach. The Team Captain is assisted by Program Managers. There is one Program Manager for each of the five areas of emphasis. Each program manager is assisted by an adult program advisor from the Team committee.

Varsity Scouting has five areas of emphasis: advancement, high adventure/sports, personal development, service, and special programs/events. The five areas are equal to one another in importance. Teams should focus on a different program feature each quarter and should plan activities in all five areas during each program feature.

The Boy Scouts of America provides resources for over 25 program features. Teams may also custom design features.

Duty to God: Teachers

As a Teacher, you can earn the Duty to God for Teachers Certificate. You can also earn certificates as a Deacon and as a Priest. If you earn all three certificates, you will earn the Duty to God Award. To earn the certificate as a Teacher, you must complete requirements in the areas of:

• Priesthood Duties and Standards
• Family Activities
• Quorum Activities
• Personal Goals in four categories:

·        Spiritual Development

·        Physical Development

·        Educational, Personal, and Career Development

·        Citizenship and Social Development

• Duty to God Service Project
• Personal Journal

Complete requirements are in the Fulfilling Our Duty to God: Teacher booklet. Many Duty to God requirements fulfill Scouting requirements and vice versa.

Completing the Duty to God for Deacons requirements may result in partial completion of many merit badges including: Athletics, Camping, Career-Oriented badges, Citizenship in the Community, Citizenship in the Nation, Communications, Computer, Cooking, Crime Prevention, Disabilities Awareness, First Aid, Genealogy, Hiking, Law, Lifesaving, Music, Personal Management, Public Speaking, Sports, Theater, and Wilderness Survival.

In addition, other awards such as the Varsity Scout Letter, Denali Award, Firem’n Chit, Paul Bunyan Woodsman, Hornaday, 50-Miler, Interpreter Strip and Leave No Trace may be partially or completely earned.

Merit Badges

To earn a merit badge, examine the list of available badges and select the badge you would like to earn. Let your Coach know the badge you would like to earn. If approved, your Coach will give you a blue merit badge card along with the name of one or more approved merit badge counselors for that badge. Contact the merit badge counselor to arrange a meeting. You will need to bring a “buddy” with you. Your buddy can be another Scout working on the same badge or it could be a sibling, friend, parent, or other relative. Meet with the counselor to discuss the requirements and your plans for completing them. You may need to have more than one meeting in order to complete all requirements.

Once complete, the counselor will sign your card, remove one section and return the rest to you. Turn the signed card in to your Coach. You will receive one section back at the next Court of Honor and the troop will retain the last section. Be sure to save your section of the blue card as a record you have earned the merit badge.

Other Awards/Recognitions

In addition to merit badges and rank advancement, Varsity Scouts are eligible for: Order of the Arrow; National Camping Awards; Snorkeling, BSA; Mile Swim, BSA; BSA Lifeguard, Boardsailing, BSA; Hornaday Awards; World Conservation Award; Leave No Trace Awareness Award; Interpreter; 50-Miler Award; Historic Trails Award; Totin’ Chip; Paul Bunyan Woodsman; Firem’n Chit; Den Chief Service Award; and Religious Emblem of your faith.

On My Honor

The On My Honor award is the LDS religious emblem. If you did not already earn this award as a Boy Scout, you may earn it as a Varsity Scout. Time in a Boy Scout Troop will count towards the award as well as time in a Varsity Scout Team. There are three requirements: be registered and participate in a Scouting unit for two full years; be worthy as shown in an annual interview with the bishop; and earn the Star rank. You should apply for this award prior to your 19^th birthday.  There have been changes to the On My Honor Award. For the changes go to LDS-BSA web site.

Varsity Scout Pledge

As a Varsity Scout I will:

Live by the Scout Oath, Law, motto and slogan;

Honor the dignity and worth Of all persons;

Promote the cause of freedom;

and Do my best to be a good team member.

Scout Oath (Promise)

On my honor I will do my best

To do my duty to God and my country

and to obey the Scout Law;

To help other people at all times;

To keep myself physically strong,

mentally awake, and morally straight.

Scout Law

A Scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent.

Scout Motto

Be Prepared.

Scout Slogan

Do a Good Turn Daily.

Outdoor Code

As an American, I will do my best to

Be clean in my outdoor manners,

Be careful with fire,

Be considerate in the outdoors, and

Be conservation-minded

Varsity Scout Pledge

As a Varsity Scout I will:

Live by the Scout Oath,

Law, motto, and slogan;

Honor the dignity and worth of all persons;

Promote the cause of freedom; and

Do my best to be a good team member.

Uniform

“…putting on the uniform does not make a fellow a Scout, but putting on the uniform is a sign to the world that one has taken the Scout obligations and folks expect Scout-like acts from one wearing it.” (Handbook for Boys, 3^rd edition, 1927)

The official Varsity Scout uniform is identical to the Boy Scout uniform with two exceptions. The Varsity Scout uniform shirt has blaze (orange) shoulder loops rather than red. It also has a Varsity strip above the right pocket. A guide for the placement of insignia is located inside the front and back covers of the Boy Scout Handbook.

Advancement

Members of a Varsity Scout Team who are not Eagle Scouts may continue to travel along the “Trail to Eagle.” Varsity Scouts who have reached the rank of Eagle may continue to earn Eagle Palms.

In addition, there are two awards that can only be earned as a member of a Varsity Team: the Varsity Letter and the Denali Award.

To earn the Varsity Scout Letter, you must:

• Be a registered Varsity Scout team member
• While a team member, actively participate in or accomplish at least one high-adventure/sports program to the satisfaction of the Varsity Scout Coach
• Have an attendance record at team meetings and activities of at least 75% for three consecutive months
• Satisfy the Varsity Scout Coach that you know and live by the Scout Oath and Law.

The Varsity Scout Letter is worn on the bottom front of a merit badge sash. The Varsity Scout Letter may be earned more than once. Recipients may wear a gold bar on the letter to represent each additional letter earned. Activity pins can also be awarded at the completion of each ultimate adventure or sports season.

To earn the Denali Award, you must:

• Be a registered Varsity Scout team member
• Advance one rank toward Eagle. If you are already an Eagle Scout, earn a Palm.
• Hold leadership positions in a Varsity Scout team for at least six months.
• While serving as a team captain or program manager, act as primary leader on at least two activities AND while serving as a program manager or team captain, demonstrate shared leadership skills by participating in supportive roles in activities in each of the three remaining fields of emphasis
• Satisfy the team captain that you know and live by the Varsity Scout Pledge
• Complete a progress review.