Varsity Scouting

“Remember I posted about what to do about high adventure for the scouts? Well at the last meeting of the scout troop I was asked to start up a "Varsity Team" and told I could begin "drafting" after some paperwork. This is all very new to me, but I do have a lot of support with the scoutmaster of the troop. That said, I would really appreciate any words of wisdom/encouragement. I met some of the young men that would be part of the team and I am really pumped. That said, I am worried I won't be a lot of help to them in some of their areas of interest. I guess that's OK. I sure hope they want to do some backpacking, but if not I guess I am the one that has a lot to learn.

Am I thinking about this the right way?
last edited: 10/05/05 7:24:09 PM”

“What are the areas of interest?
Are you supposed to steer in a direction with a set goal or support and encourage what the scouts choose?

Good on ya for helping out.”

“That's a good question, birch. I am planning the first meeting with the core team I'll start with. I figure we'll get to know each other and what they want to do as a Varsity Team. I don't see that there is anything wrong with my telling them what I did as a scout and what my likes are so long as I don't do a lot of "selling". I had a lot of people give me good ideas about planning "high adventure" but I had no idea I would be asked to do this. I am actually pretty excited, and encouraged since the scoutmaster that asked me to do this is very good at what he does and will provide me with a lot of coaching.”

“Initially my only advice would be to start with figuring out a key question (sounds like you are thinking along these lines already)...

Do I see the kids for who and what they are and meet them on those terms, or do I focus on there potential or a mix of both?

I think a gentle nudge towards hiking etc would be great (though I am biased). How about making a bunch of teams for a local adventure race and going out and training and working together with that goal. Lots of teamwork, planning, goals,communication, physical ed, encouragement and sense of accomplishment.”

“Are you a trained scouter? As a scouter for a looong time , my best advice is to (if you haven't already) sign up for the scouter training they have. It's the best in the world. Fortunately, the Varsity scouts tend to be older. There will be a narrower range of maturity to deal with.”

“Might want to check this out...

http://www.scouting.org/venturing/

I was a CubMaster & Scoutmaster, we decided to start a Venturing Crew. For us, it was awesome, just another option for you to consider & be aware of.

First & foremost, however (as has been mentioned above), my suggestion is to make sure you have buy-in from your members! Your program has to reflect THEIR interests so that they'll stay involved.”

“Huh, I didn't think the Varsity program was still around. I thought it was phased into Venturing.

I honestly don't know too much about it other than when it was introduced it was like a sports program for Scouts. I didn't get it.

But hey, if the kids are jazzed do as much research and training as you can and go for it.
last edited: 10/05/05 10:02:13 PM”

“HPM is correct. It is now Venturing. Follow the link I posted above, there are a ton of resources available for you.

A great program. When I was Crew Advisor our Crew was co-ed, both the guys & gals had a lot of fun & learned a lot in the process. I still hear from many of them although I "retired" from that position about a year ago.”

“Varsity Scouting is still around, it's mostly used by LDS units, for athletics and personal developement.

http://www.scouting.org/nav/enter.jsp?s=xx&c=ds&terms=Varsity+Scouting&x=17&y=14”

“I am pretty sure Varsity Scouting is an existing program. They sure gave me a lot of material to read about it and even went so far as to create the team and name it.

Here is a URL I first looked at to understand what I was being asked to do:

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

Varsity Scouting is a program for young men who are at least 14 years of age but not yet 18. It provides options for young men who are looking for rugged high adventure or challenging sporting activities and still want to be a part of a Scouting program that offers the advancement and values of the Boy Scouts of America.

This was 100% consistant with the literature I was given, specifically the 5 points of the program.

I think how I got drafted into this was because I signed up as an assistant Scoutmaster and have been acting in that role for a while now. They troop has it's regular activities and I recommended a few that I thought the boys might want to learn about. I did a few demos (backpacking stoves, the different types, their safe use, backpacking gear versus traditional "patrol box" scout camping, etc). The Scoutmaster told me he loved my ideas but that most of the boys were too young for this sort of thing and asked me to run this Venture Team for the older boys.”

“I wasn't sure it was still around Pitts, that why I said that. I've heard nothing about Varsity for a very long time so I thought it went the way of Exploring.

As far as...
most of the boys were too young for this sort of thing

Dead wrong. All our boys backpack within their first year, among many other things. It's all in how you structure the program but that's whole nother issue altogether.

I have no doubts you can knock together a great program for your guys.”

“You know, I agree with you HPM. I was very disappointed. Sharing in this with the boys was something I was pumped about as my son went into Scouts. I was really let down. I think my first outing as a scout was a 5 mile hike and I had to carry a canvas tent.

I have to wonder if their attempt to make a Varsity Team is really just a way to get rid of me. I suspect I was rocking the boat a bit.
last edited: 10/06/05 9:51:25 AM”

“Sounds like a very cool opportunity that can be very rewarding for you and for the scouts. You didn't mention fundraising, but it sounds like your kind of adventures could be expensive. I have a fundraising idea for you. My dad was a Boy Scout leader. He used to take the pack on the coolest trips. They would do a lot of stuff in the Boundary Waters and in Quetico. One year they went kayaking off the coast of Alaska with the humpbacks and the next year they went scuba diving in Cancun. As you can imagine, all these high adventure trips cost a lot of money.

My dad came up with this plan. Most of the boys had part-time jobs anyway. In order to do traditional Scout fundraising (selling Christmas trees, popcorn, car washes, etc.) would often cut into their job schedules and wasn't necessarily producing high amounts of money for the time they spent on it. So instead, he started a program where the boys would simply work at their regular employement. The employers were asked to make a donation to the pack in lieu of paying the boy. The scout would "donate" a certain number of hours to his employer, who would then make a commensurate donation to the pack. In this way, the employer was still getting the work done and they were getting a tax break. They expanded the program to also include the parents and the parents' employers. In this way, they easily raised huge dollar amounts each year relatively easily. (I seem to remember hearing $40,000.)”

“LOL!
My first Scout trip was a five mile backpack. It really sucked due to piss-poor planning and the same level of adult leadership. That's a good story to share around a campfire.

If they are all about Jamboree style camping then yes, you are rocking the boat. Keep rocking, the boys deserve it.

Honestly just about any single one of the folks who posts here could put together a far superior trip.

It took me about a year (maybe more) to get a buy-in by the entrenched leadership to take the kids backpacking. But all you need to do is keep at it by building interest in the boys. If the kids want to go the adults can't say no. After all, we are youth-led right?

So just show up at meetings after each hike you do with lots of photos and talk up all the cool stuff you've done or people on here have done that you think would be cool to do with the kids.

Plus you backpack with your son right? Well, next time you go invite one or two of his Scout buddies and make sure it's an awesome trip. Grassroot your program ideas.”

“So Pitts, where in Il are you, how far is Cherokee, NC from you and when is your spring break?

Bring your boys and join our Scouts on their spring break Pisgah National Forest week long backpack in '06.

March 18-26, 2006
last edited: 10/06/05 10:11:43 AM”

“Heck any of you other Scouter bring your guys too.

Let's coordinate and make up patches and all that.”

“Oh crikey. A backpack-o-ree.”

“WHEEEEE!”

“If they are all about Jamboree style camping

That's it! Man, you just gave me a shot in the arm. I was getting really discouraged.

Cherokee, NC is 10 hours drive away. I don't see this as unreasonable but I had better have the first real sit-down with the team to get their buy in. I was thinking of offering up a smaller trip to start with and show slides from some of my recent trips. Also, I have set up a project to build an pop-can alcohol stove. When I did the demo a few weeks ago of differents stove types they were fascinated and ever since then all the older boys do is bug me about when we are going to build them. I think that's cool as hell.
last edited: 10/06/05 11:07:24 AM”

“I am of the opinion that Jamboree style camping needs to move from 100% of program to 50% of program.

Yes it needs to stay a part of Scouting for a wide variety of reasons but that high impact style needs to be presented as a style and not as the de-facto "way Scouts go camping".

Question.
Are you being asked to start a whole new unit with a separte charter and everything or are they asking you to start a patrol within the existing Troop on the same charter? There is a huge difference.”

“On the Pisgah thing you are correct to do a couple of smaller hikes first. Hey, you have 6 months to build them up. Plus this sets a high goal.

Share this trip report with your guys.
http://www.troop623.com/Smokies01_1.htm
last edited: 10/06/05 11:15:57 AM”

“Are you being asked to start a whole new unit with a separte charter and everything or are they asking you to start a patrol within the existing Troop on the same charter? There is a huge difference.

I am being asked to start a new team with the older boys from the troop I am in and then to "draft" other older boys. I was told I could draft from other troops, but I am nervous about this. That sounds like "poaching" to me, but perhaps this is how it's done. I need to talk to someone that is more active in scouting other than the scoutmaster in the troop my son is in.”

“Unless you have a lot of adult buy-in to fill the various adult positions a new unit requires then I would not start a new separate and independent unit because you will end up being a one-man show and you will burn out fast. Setting up and running a whole new unit is a very big task.

Now if this is just a crew/team/patrol within your existing unit that's a different animal but it sounds like they want you to form a new unit.”

“I am going to talk to the scoutmaster some more. He is a good guy, so don't get the impression I have a problem with him. That said, I did talk to my son tonight. I reminded him that the troop was boy lead and asked if he wanted to go backpacking with his friends and if he would be prepared to offer up the idea. He seems excited and I think I am going to keep pushing but let me son do the work. I can't believe I never thought of this.”

“..so don't get the impression I have a problem with him.
Rodger that.

But yeah, that's the way to do it.
Get the boys excited and let them run.”

“Adult buy-in is your # 1 issue to address... you can't even talk about a Crew / Team / what-ever until you know what adult leadership support you have to work with.”