Re: Varsity vs Venture
(no name) ((no email))
Fri, 11 Sep 1998 19:05:12 +0000
Hi Les!!
Les Chaffin <chaflesl@ISU.EDU> asked:
>- Since my introduction last week there have been some changes.
>I have been promoted to Scoutmaster of Troop 104.
Congrats on the promotion!! I know you'll do well, Les!!
>- Is the Venture program replacing the Varsity program or will
>there be both Venturing and Varsity? Here in Idaho the Varsity
>program is very strong.
Let's define things, first:
VARSITY: A separate program of the Boy Scout Division, BSA. Varsity
Scouts are organized into squads, lead by a squad leader. Two or
more squads make up a Team, lead by a youth Captain (whom may have
an Assistant Team Captain or a Co-Captain) and and adult Team Coach
(whom must have at least two Assistant Team Coaches). Varsity,
originally designed for youth as an optional part of a Troop
operation, is now a separate program with separate charters for
each Team. The "varsity group" within the Troop doesn't exist
anymore. Girls may NOT become Varsity Scouts. Varsity Scouts and
Scouters wear the same field uniform as Boy Scouts, except they
wear Blaze orange shoulder loops instead of red shoulder loops of
the Boy Scout/Boy Scouter.
(personal note: Varsity is NOT just a program of the LDS Church,
but many Stakes do use the Varsity program as an adjunct to their
youth program)
VENTURE: A component of the Boy Scout program, Boy Scout Division,
BSA. Venture Scouts are organized into a *Patrol* (not a Crew),
with a Venture Patrol Leader (and he may appoint an Assistant
Patrol Leader). The Venture Patrol is geared for the older boys in
the Troop, and is advised by an Assistant Scoutmaster - Venture.
Members of the Venture Patrol wear the special Venture strip
immediately above the "Boy Scouts of America" strip on the right
side of the field uniform. Venture patrol members may choose to
work with the rest of the Troop or create special adventures for
themselves outside of the Troop or both. Venture Scouts are BOY
SCOUTS, just older. Girls may NOT become Venture Scouts. Venture
Scouts wear the same field uniform as Boy Scouts, to include the
same red shoulder loops as other Boy Scouts and Scouters wear.
VENTURING: A SEPARATE PROGRAM DIVISION OF THE BSA. Venturers are
male AND *female*, of high school and junior college age (the same
age bracket as the older Exploring program). Venturers are
organized into Crews with a Crew Leader (and he or she may appoint
an Assistant Crew Leader) and other officers. Venturers work in
outdoor and personal-growth areas: outdoor, general interest, sea,
church/religious growth. Venturers work toward the Bronze, Gold,
Silver (and those individuals whom wish to, the Ranger) Awards.
Venturers may also work toward Eagle and the Quartermaster Awards,
depending on what kind of unit they belong to (only members of Sea
Scouting units can work on Quartermaster, for instance). Girls ARE
members of Venturing Crews. Venturing members can wear the same
field uniform with GREEN shoulder loops OR wear the kelly green
"Exploring" shirts with grey shorts or slacks with green shoulder
loops.
(Exploring, the program it "replaces", has been moved to the
Learning for Life program and is now called Learning for
Life/Exploring. They lost the uniform along with most of the
connectivity to the Boy Scouts of America, although there is a
carryover period in which Exploring will continue to have some
connections, because of the desire for some youth to earn Eagle
through their Exploring participation and because of some problems
with how Exploring was funded within many local Councils).
Your Council, Les, may have some or all of the above programs going
on within it.
To answer your question:
-Your Council will continue to have Varsity Teams and members.
Just not in Troops.
-Troops in your Council may continue to use the Venture program,
but the definition has been changed from "crew" to "Patrol" to
avoid some confusions...Venture is an OPTIONAL Troop program: as
Scoutmaster, you choose to use it or not.
-Your Council has already geared up for the new Venturing program.
They have made the conversions neccessary and this fall, Venturing
and Venturers will replace your Council's "Exploring" and
"Explorers" programs. The scope will also change, as your Council
will no longer have "Law Enforcement" or "Medical" Exploring
units...but rather "Outdoor Adventure" and "Religious Life"
Venturing Crews.
All three are "older youth" programs of your Council.
Hope this all helps out!
Settummanque!
>Yours in Scouting,
>
>Les Chaffin chaflesl@isu.edu
>Scoutmaster, Troop 104 - Beaver WV2-111-98
>Falls District, Roundtable Commissioner Staff
>Snake River Council, Twin Falls, Idaho
(c) 1998 Mike Walton ("no such thing as strong coffee,...") (502) 827-9201
(settummanque, the blackeagle) http://dynasty.net/users/blkeagle
241 Fairview Dr., Henderson, KY 42420-4339 blkeagle@dynasty.net
(note that these addresses will expire on 1 October 1998)
privately at kyblkeagle@aol.com or waltonm@hq.21taacom.army.mil
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