From MeritBadgeDotOrg
Varsity Resources include the Varsity Scout Program, Letter, Letter Bar,
Activity Pins, Denali Award, Varsity Scout Advancement and Merit Badges.
Varsity Scouts is similar to Boy Scouts but for boys age 14 but not yet 18.
Varsity Scout Letter with Letter bars and activity pins on the bottom-front of a Boy Scout sash.
The following twenty-seven Varsity Scout Activity Pins and requirements correspond to the Varsity Scout team high-adventure/sports program features.
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.
- 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.
| The official source for the information shown in this article or section is:
Varsity Scout Handbook, 2000 Edition (BSA Supply No. 34827A)
|
See also
Varsity awards:
Team Advancement Leaders:
Help with these requirements
- Varsity Team Program Features Pamphlets No. 1, 2, 3 (34837, 34838, 34839)
External links
