Varsity Scouting Program Development

The Varsity Scouting concept includes an active outdoor program but it also is centered around encouraging balance in a young man's activities. Thus the program emphasizes the five "Fields of Emphasis":

• Advancement = Working toward recognitions and awards, including the progressing toward Eagle rank, Varsity Scout Letter, Denali, other scouting awards, and LDS Teachers Duty to God. 
• High Adventure/Sports = Engaging in challenging physical and mental activities
• Personal Development = Growing through leadership, citizenship, physical fitness, social, and cultural experiences
• Service = Benefitting the ward, the community, the environment, and needy individuals.
• Special Programs and Events = Participating in district, council, national BSA and other events.

In its annual calendaring, the Team will identify an outdoor or sports Program Feature to be emphasized each quarter, such as

• Backpacking
• Canoe camping
• Mechanics
• Fishing
• Snow camping
• Shooting sports
• Volley ball

Several of the activities scheduled for the quarter will lead up to a major activity or high adventure for the particular Program Feature, at the quarter's end.  Then the team will also select at least one activity from each of the other Fields of Emphasis to round out the quarter's schedule.

Some time during the year the Team will also conduct a week-long Ultimate Adventure.

Each Field of Emphasis has a young man as its Program Manager. The Varsity Scout TEAM COMMITTEE is comprised in part with five adult Program Advisors, each having a youth as a Program Manager counterpart relating to a specific Field of Emphasis.

THE IDEA

• Divide up the activities.
• Let a boy leader be responsible for the planning and follow through for his particular field.
• Give him the resource of an "Adult Advisor' to help him with workable ideas and suggestions
• Solve his bigger-than-boy problems such as:

Transportation
Equipment
Contacts, etc.

• Assure his follow-through (do not do it for him) by encouragement, assistance, and letting him know the rest of the team is counting on him.