Varsity Scouting (Boy Scouts of America)
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| Owner | Boy Scouts of America | ||
| Age range | 14 to 18 years | ||
| Country | United States | ||
| Founded | 1984 | ||
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   Standard uniform colors for Boy Scouting
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Varsity Scouting is part of the Boy Scouting program of the BSA. It is an alternative available to boys ages fourteen to eighteen that takes the basic Boy Scouting program and adds high adventure, sporting, and other elements that are more appealing to older youth to accomplish the aims of character development, citizenship training, and personal fitness. Varsity Scouts are organized into teams, which are separate chartered units from a Boy Scout troop.
Varsity Scouts may participate in the BSA advancement system for troops and also have their own recognitions. Their uniform is slightly different. Rather than using the dark green shoulder loops on the epaulettes, orange loops are used and the position patches follow a sports team theme (Coach is used rather than Scoutmaster). The number of Varsity Scouts is small, but has shown recent increases.
The Varsity Scout ideals are spelled out in the Scout Law, the Scout Oath, the Scout Motto and the Scout Slogan. The Varsity Scout learns to use these ideals as a measure of personal growth and continually tries to improve.
Varsity Scouting has five fields of emphasis. A well-planned Varsity Scout program includes elements from all of the fields of emphasis:
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 and Sports. The basic framework for Varsity Scout activities revolves around high adventure and sports. Resource materials are available for 27 program features. The intent of this emphasis is to encourage a coherently planned set of activities that lead to occasional "ultimate adventures" or sports seasons. Following the original model, currently teams are encouraged to plan a set of activities quarterly that culminate in some type of big event.
Personal Development. "Varsity Scouting promotes growth through spirituality, leadership abilities, citizenship, social and cultural attributes, and physical fitness." The personal development side of Varsity encourages boys to focus on character development within the framework of their personal and religious beliefs. A particular focus on leadership skills is evident in many teams.
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