Varsity Scouting revival

richard.shaw

Revise

I've noticed that there is a distinct lack of mention of Varsity program. Just here in the Ideas site alone there isn't a category for it. To my knowledge there hasn't been any recent literature or training to support it. Maybe revamp it to make it more appealing to the youth:

- Triathlons
- Cross Country Races
- Mountain Man competitions
- BMX and/or skateboarding

Idea # 735Boy Scouting, varsity

Comments

Fran Callahan 4 months ago

I really do not know much about the track opportunities outside of school varsity sports. I am familiar with club (travel) soccer, swimming, baseball, hockey. Having an opportunity for scouts who already compete on a school team run in the off-season at meets against other scout teams and non-scout teams might be good to stay in shape and compete at different distance intervals for training purposes.

I also would throw out there the opportunity for councils to initiate triatholons at at their various camps...easily do running/cross country, simming, and biking. Perhaps have a state league between councils that host this event as a series over a period of a few months...again scouts and non-scouts could compete. There are ice hockey leagues that do this throughout the summer.

Nick Carr 1 month ago

A couple years ago at Wood Badge we were asked to address each of Scouting's programs, including Varsity. There was just a little information on what it really is; and not one person in the entire course had any experience with it. I remember occasionally seeing scout units wearing the orange loops at summer camp, but that was at least 10 years ago, and I can't recall ever seeing one since.

A while back I was flipping through some old Scouting magazines someone left here, and happened across an article about the origins of the Varsity Scouting program in the Western Region (it's on p. 24 of the Jan/Feb '84 Issue). It explains the purpose of retaining 14/15 year olds and common activities they do. Current info on Varsity (article in BSA Info) lists the same 5 "fields of emphasis" mentioned in the 1984 article, and puts emphais on high adventure teams and/or sports teams.

To me the word varsity is potentially misleading, because it helps to establish a connection between this program and varsity high school sports. Even if there is a connection to a sports team it's not a high school sports team, and sports isn't the intended entirety of the program.

There have to be good Varsity units in some locations, but they sure don't have a visible presence in this area. Perhaps there was more appeal for Varsity Scouting prior to the creation of Venturing from Exploring. Now if a 14/15 year old Scout isn't getting much out of his regular troop program the advantages of joining a Venture crew are likely more appealing than hunting down or creating a Varsity Scout team.

It will be interesting to see what, if anything, changes with regard to this. You're right, it isn't mentioned very often.

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