Jan. 2014- Little Philmont Chattanooga, TN Varsity Scouts

1. Jan. 2014- Little PhilmontChattanooga, TNVarsity Scouts

2. Introduction https://www.lds.org/callings/aaronic-priesthood/video-gallery?lang=eng

3. Challenges of Teacher-Age Boys 14-15 • The Teacher age is a “turning point” of life for most young men.

4. Characteristics of a Teacher-age boy 14–15 • Physical • Pronounced bodily developments • Increase in strength and reaction • Wants more formal team activities and participates in group sports; looking for group acceptance • Desires more Challenge & Risk (High Adventure)

5. Characteristics of a Teacher-age boy 14–15 • Mental • Ability to think abstractly, to set goals, and plan for his future • Begins to question the world around him • Desires to develop character and personality

6. Characteristics of a Teacher-age boy 14–15 • Spiritual • Begins to define one’s self in terms of opinions, beliefs and values • Challenge of authority, and even doctrine • Pulls away from family and looks for other mentors or adults • Church studies show that parents have the greatest impact on a 12 and 13 year old boy in how he behaves and exercises his agency. At 14 and 15 major influence in his life often becomes his leaders and his peers.

7. Inactivity Statistics- United States • We are losing young men to inactivity: • Deacons ~80-90% active • Teachers~50-60% active • Priests ~20-30% active

8. Goals of the Teacher’s Quorum • Retain, Reclaim, and Convert Each Young Man • What Tools Do We Have? • Duty to God • Varsity Scouting (14-15 yrs old) • For the Strength of Youth • Preach My Gospel • Youth Curriculum

9. Scouting and Missions • ~30% of YM serve full-time missions • ~90% of Eagle Scouts serve full-time missions

10. Leadership Responsibilities “The bishop and his counselors oversee Scouting where it is authorized by the Church.” (Handbook 2, Section 8.3.1, pg. 59) “Each member of the bishopric oversees the Scouting program for the Aaronic Priesthood quorum he oversees. Members of the ward Young Men presidency generally serve as Scout leaders. Or the bishopric may call assistant quorum advisers as Scout leaders, with members of the Young Men presidency called to serve as assistant Scout leaders.” (Handbook 2, Section 8.13.4. pg. 59) “All adult Scout leaders should register before they begin their service and should receive proper training in their responsibilities.” (Handbook 2, Section 8.13.4, pg. 59)

11. How do we vitalize the Teacher’s Quorum? • If your young men complain about scouting, what needs to change? • Need a fun, Priesthood-centered activity program

12. Trained, Inspired Leaders are Key • For the inspired and trained leader, 2 principal efforts are being made: capturing the boy’s interest at the same time finding opportunities to help strengthen the boys’ testimonies. • In the hands of an inspired, dedicated, and trained leader; [Varsity] Scouting is an effective tool to help young men accomplish the purposes of the Aaronic Priesthood.

13. Varsity Scouting for Teacher’s Quorum • Where Do I Start? • www.ldsbsa.org • Varsity Play Book (http://www.ldsbsa.org/pdf/resources/Varsity%20Play%20Book.pdf) • Varsity Scout Coach Start-Up (http://www.ldsbsa.org/pdf/resources/Varsity%20Scout%20Coach%20Start-Up.pdf) • Contact the Stake Young Men’s Presidency • Specific BSA Leader Training (e.g. Fast Start Training) • Boy Scout Handbook/Varsity Scout Handbook • Church Handbooks (Scouting, Handbook 2) • ldsscouting.com/varsity/varsity.html (not an official, church-approved website)

14. Learn the Lingo Troop/Patrol Team/Squad Scoutmaster Coach Patrol Leader Captain Program Managers Why?

15. Varsity Scouting Is Different • Each “Team” member has a responsibility • Five Program Managers (for each field of emphasis) • Adult counterpart for each youth role • Team Committee/Program Managers • Use Parents/Nonmembers • The Uniform • Scout shirt (with orange shoulder loops) • Courts of Honor • Team T-Shirt (used for most meetings and activities)

16. Adult Leaders Varsity Scouts Scribe Librarian Bugler Quartermaster Instructor Historian Team Organization / Adult Shadow Leadership (can vary by size of quorum) Team Committee Coach Captain Advancement Adventure/ sports Personal Development Service Special Events Advancement Program Mgr Adventure Program Mgr Personal Dev Program Mgr Service Program Mgr Special Events Program Mgr Squad Leaders (Big Quorum)

17. An Effective Varsity Program Includes • Advancement • Additional Varsity Scout Awards (e.g. Varsity Letter, Denali); No Varsity-specific ranks • Young men can lose interest when advancement is the only focus • Adult leaders can lose enthusiasm when advancement is the only focus • High Adventure / Sports • Quarterly adventures of shorter duration (2-4 days) • Annual High Adventure of longer duration (Usually Monday-Saturday) • Soccer, basketball, cycling, hiking, etc. • Go to a sporting event of quorum member or local sports team • Personal Development • Home teaching, seminary, combined activities, dances, etc. • Service (appropriate balance needed) • Special Programs and Events (e.g. camporees, hike-o-rees)

18. An Effective Varsity Program Includes • Well-Planned Activities with Priesthood Purpose • Yearly and Quarterly Calendars • Communicate with Parents • The role of Varsity Coaches (Advisors) is to train and guide varsity scout youth leaders to run their teams with a priesthood purpose. A Varsity Coach mostly teaches from the sidelines. • Varsity Scout youth leaders plan and carryout activities with the guidance of the Coach. • Use the Varsity Scout Interest Survey VIS and the Resource Survey for Varsity Leaders to match interest of boys with experience of adults as advisors.

19. Varsity / Teacher’s Quorum Integration • The Varsity Scout Unit must not operate independent of the quorum. • Planning for Team is appropriate during Teacher’s Quorum Presidency Meeting “Scouting is part of the Quorum Presidency’s responsibilities. Each scout unit should have a … [Team Captain] or Senior Patrol Leader who is nominated by the bishopric and sustained by quorum members. This leader is usually the quorum president.” (LDS Scouting Handbook, pg. 3) “[Q]uorum presidency meeting may be used to make plans for the quorum’s Scouting unit . . . . If youth and adult Scouting leaders are not already present, they may be invited into the meeting for discussion. . . . The quorum president continues to preside over this part of the meeting.” (Handbook 2, Section 8.9.3, pg. 56)