Varsity Scout Activity Pins

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Varsity Scout Activity Pins has been discontinued.
In May 2017, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the LDS church, or Mormons) announced that in 2018 they would no longer be sponsoring Varsity Teams. Since the LDS church created the Varsity program in 1984 and were basically the only group using it, Varsity has since been discontinued. Medals/awards/patches will continue to be available to earn until they are no longer available in a local or national Scout shop. (See Discontinued awards.)

Varsity Scout Letter with Letter bars and activity pins on the bottom-front of a Boy Scout sash.

This article is about the Activity Pins for Varsity Scouts. For the 26 Boy Scout Venture Patrol ultimate activity pins see Venture Patrol Activity Pins.

The following twenty-seven Varsity Scout Activity Pins and requirements correspond to the Varsity Scout team high-adventure/sports program features.

1 Award requirements
2 See also
3 Help with these requirements
4 External links

Award requirements

Youth Varsity Scout team members who participate in a "ultimate adventure" may earn a Varsity Scout Letter. Such an activity may occur every three to six months; the event is chosen by the team, planned and carried out by the High-Adventure/Sports Program Manager, and requires practice or training sessions. If the activity falls into one of the 27 Varsity Scout program features, then an activity pin may be optionally awarded. The team Captain (youth team leader) determines the requirements and awards the pins at a court of honor.

Teams may schedule an ultimate adventure that is a "big event" where the other program managers plan activities in the same program feature. Related merit badges may be earned before or during the event.

Below are types of examples Program Managers could plan for ultimate adventures; these activities are demanding and for many you must consult the Varsity Scout Features pamphlets for information, safety and consultant needs. Since there are no set requirements for the activity pins, the team captain determines what the participation requirements are within the high-adventure/sports event:

Backpacking

Sharpen skills, make equipment, start conditioning, and conduct preplanning. A backpacking trip could be at Philmont, or a trail such as the Appalachian trail. Team members could earn the 50 Miler Award, the Leave No Trace award, or the Backpacking or Hiking merit badge.

Basketball

Teams may join a league for a season (at least three months) or play other Varsity Scouts. An advancement activity could be earning the Sports merit badge.

Bowling

Bowling is a good cold-weather alternative. Join a league or hold a tournament; earn the Engineering or Sports merit badge for advancement.

Canoe camping

Plan an extended canoe camping; learn and demonstrate BSA Safety Afloat; earn the 50 Miler Award, the Leave No Trace award, and the Canoeing or the Sports merit badge.

Caving

Cover the material in the Caving program feature. Conduct a caving activity. Earn the Geology merit badge for advancement.

Cross-country skiing

Cover the material in the Cross-country skiing program feature. Organize a tour race or cross-country skiing adventure. Earn the Snow Sports merit badge.

Cycling

Plan a long-term cycling tour or a tournament, including conditioning and bike inspections. There are many outside consultants that could provide expertise. Earn the Cycling or Sports merit badge.

Discovering America

This is a wild-card activity. It allows teams to brainstorm for an adventure: A hobby adventure, a trip to another country, a special citizenship project to aid a group of people, or working on a cattle ranch.

Fishing

Cover basic instruction for fishing; learn to tie fly lures; hold a bait or fly casting tournament. Make this the focus of a high-adventure. Earn the Fishing, Fly Fishing or Sports merit badge.

Freestyle biking

Cover the Freestyle biking program feature. Stage a freestyle biking competition.

Frontiersman

Learn about all aspects of the mountain men that explored the western frontiers in the early 19th century. Earn the Wilderness Survival merit badge.

Mechanics

Team may follow the Mechanic's program feature. Activities may require an outside consultant. Activities could include earning the Traffic Safety and the Auto Mechanics merit badges.

Operation On-target

This program is mainly for Varsity Scouts, but also includes Venturers and older Boy Scouts. Operation On-target gives the team the opportunity to learn about signaling with mirrors and exposes them to radio communications, movie-making equipment, photography, and other subjects. Supporting advancement activities could include earning the Radio or Photography merit badges.

There are two pins available, a V-shaped pin for the first participation and another for each attendance thereafter.

Official Operation On-Target Site

Orienteering

Cover the material in the Orienteering program feature. Plan a challenging orienteering activity. Earn the Orienteering merit badge.

Rock climbing and rappelling

This can be one of the most challenging adventures. Teams need the help of a qualified instructor and must follow Climb On Safely procedures. Advancement activities may include earning the Climbing merit badge.

Roller hockey

Cover the material in the Roller hockey program feature. Advancement activities may include earning the Skating or Sports merit badge.

Shooting sports

Cover the material in the Shooting spots program feature; a qualified instructor is a must. Plan a high-adventure outing or hold a tournament. Advancement activities may include earning the Shotgun Shooting, Rifle Shooting, Archery and Sports merit badges.

Snow camping

Cover the material in the snow camping program feature. Conduct a snow camping activity, hold a Klondike Derby or hike. Advancement activities could include earning the Emergency Preparedness merit badge.

Soccer

Teams may join a league for a season (at least three months) or play other Varsity Scouts. An advancement activity could be earning the Sports merit badge.

Softball

Teams may join a league for a season (at least three months) or play other Varsity Scouts. An advancement activity could be earning the Sports merit badge.

Survival

Teams may go beyond what is learned in the Wilderness Survival merit badge. This adventure should be to work together with members of the team to solve problems and live in harmony with one another. Support activities may include having the team take an American Red Cross wilderness first aid course.

Swimming

This activity may include swimming skills such as earning the Swimming or Lifesaving merit badges, or include earning BSA Lifeguard but this activity focuses on the skills of competitive swimming and endurance such the Mile Swim BSA or a swimming meet for the Sports merit badge.

Tennis

Cover the material in the tennis program feature; hold a tennis tournament. An advancement activity could be earning the Sports merit badge.

Triathlon

These long-distance competitions consist of three phases, usually bicycling, swimming and running. Winter variations could consist of cross-country skiing, snowshoeing ad speed skating. Advancement activities could include have the team earn the Personal Fitness, Athletics, Sports, Cycling, Skating or Snow Sports merit badge.

Volleyball

Cover the material in the volleyball program feature. Plan a volleyball activity with other as a coed event or with other Varsity Scouts, or participate in a volleyball league. An advancement activity could be earning the Sports merit badge.

Waterskiing

Find a qualified instructor to coach the team for this activity. Support activities could include learning and demonstrating BSA Safety Afloat and conducting a safety session for a Boy Scout troop. Advancement activities could earn the Water Sports or Sports merit badges.

Whitewater canoeing

Cover the material in the whitewater program feature. An ultimate adventure could be planning a trip down a whitewater river. Advancement activities could include earning the Whitewater merit badge and learning and demonstrating BSA Safety Afloat.