Varsity Scouts
In 1984, the Varsity Scout program was rolled out as an official program of the BSA for boys 14–17. This program is designed to retain older Scouts with additional award opportunities and program elements not available to younger Scouts, as well as attract high school age young men interested in sports and high adventure activities but no previous Scouting background. The youth leader of each Varsity Scout team is called the captain and the adult leader is called the Varsity Coach.
In 1989, with rollout of the Venture program, the Varsity letter was redesigned for the use of the Venture Crew as well, and activity pins were added. More recently, the Denali Award was introduced to recognize outstanding achievement by a Varsity Scout. Varsity Scouts are also eligible to earn the ranks and merit badges prescribed for Boy Scouts. It is considered a sub-set of the overall Boy Scout program.
While remaining relatively small compared to Venturing and Exploring, the program has persisted, probably due to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' policy to charter Varsity Teams for all 14-15 year old boys in the United States. In recent years, the number of teams chartered by other organizations has increased. In 2001 revised Varsity Scout manuals were released.
Read more about this topic: History Of The Boy Scouts Of America
Famous quotes containing the word scouts:
“it pleaseth me when I see through the meadows
The tents and pavilions set up, and great joy have I
When I see o’er the campana knights armed and horses arrayed.
And it pleaseth me when the scouts set in flight the folk with
their goods;
And it pleaseth me when I see coming together after them an host of
armed men.”
—Bertrans De Born (fl. 12th century)