Varsity Scouting

[KC9DDI 11]

I understand that Varsity Scouting is a well-established older scout program, that functions as almost a parallel program to traditional scouting troops, in that rank advancement after 1st class can occur in a varsity team. My question is - what exactly is the Varsity program supposed to be? There's very few teams in my area, so I'm not at all familiar with the program - is it more popular elsewhere? What's the structure of a team (youth/adult leaders, patrols, etc)? What are the program focuses.

 

Also, I understand that the LDS Church makes extensive use of Varsity Scouting in their "customized" version of Scouting - my question, though, relates to the program in traditional scouting.

[t158sm 10]

Maybe this will answer your questions.

http://www.scouting.org/factsheets/02-923.html

[Oak Tree 15]

No teams in my area, either. How many teams are out there? Are there some national statistics? It seems like a fairly non-utilized part of Scouting. When there are teams, how do they work in practice? Is it basically an LDS church league?

 

Oak Tree

[KC9DDI 11]

Maybe it is just for the LDS church... Based on that fact sheet, I don't understand why they don't just charter as Venturing Crews -- the only difference seems to be that the crews are Co-ed, and go up to age 21.

[ScoutNut 147]

From what I understand, Varsity Teams started as an in Troop program for older boys. This was changed to a Venture Patrol & Varsity became a separate program. Then Venturing Crews were created & that took the boys away from Varsity.

 

Now, Varsity Teams are chartered almost exclusively by the LDS community. Varsity is used as their program level before Venturing.

 

 

[scouter-mom 10]

Our small district has two Varsity Teams, both of which were built out of two troops. Neither unit is LDS. I believe the youth are dual registered with their troops and teams. (I know that they are in one unit for certain.)

 

Also, in another district within our council there is a non-LDS unit that is a Varsity Team. There are probably others within our council that I am not aware of.

 

These units seem to offer their youth a chance to do activies away from the younger youth, as well as offer them a different opportunity to earn different types of awards.

 

All four of our district's LDS units have Varsity Teams. I am not aware of any of them earning Varsity awards, though.

 

Just sharing.