Today, the Church announced that it will discontinue Varsity and Venturing Scouting programs in the Church in the United States and Canada, effective January 1, 2018. Instead, Young Men activities will focus on spiritual, social, physical and intellectual goals outlined by the Church.
This is part of the Church’s ongoing effort to evaluate and improve its service to families and young people worldwide.
Currently, Varsity and Venturing Scouting is only available in the United States and Canada through Boy Scouts of America and Scouts Canada. The Church’s new activity program can now be used worldwide for young men 14-18 years old. Read the announcement letter from the First Presidency. The new guidelines for the Teacher and Priest Activity Program can be found at YMactivities.lds.org.
In the United States and Canada, Cub Scout and Boy Scout programs will continue to be chartered through local wards and branches for young men 8-14 years old. Young men over the age of 14 who want earn the rank of Eagle Scout or Queen Scout are encouraged to do so and can continue to be registered as Scouts.
The purpose of the Young Men’s 14-18 activity program is to build young men with strong testimonies in the Lord Jesus Christ, help them magnify their priesthood duties, and prepare them to fulfill their divine roles. Activities will provide opportunities to be with youth, connect them with heaven, and let them lead.
Wards and branches may begin using the Church’s new activity program as early as June 1, 2017. The simplified program does the following:
- Provides fun, meaningful activities that provide opportunities for balanced personal growth and development.
- Allows youth and their adult advisers to more fully focus on priesthood-related activities.
- Meets local needs.
More detailed information can be found at YMactivities.lds.org and in the frequently asked questions.
What will happen to Monson’s BSA edifice? The Boy Scouts of America ‘broke ground Wednesday, June 15, 2016, for it’s new state-of-the-art Thomas S. Monson Leadership Excellence Complex at its Summit Bechtel Scout Reserve in West Virginia. It is named after the president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the complex recognizes Scouting’s special relationship and 100-year partnership with the Church. It also honors Monson’s ongoing commitment to the values of Scouting. He has been a selfless volunteer and cornerstone of Scouting for many years. In fact, he has been a member of the National Executive Board since 1969, and is also a recipient of the organization’s Silver Beaver and Silver Buffalo Awards, as well as the Silver Fox and Bronze Wolf, international awards. Those are all amazing accomplishments that show his enduring dedication to our movement.’ NOT ANYMORE. And nothing is free$! :o( Who is running the LDS church now?? Can’t be silver buffalo Monson.
The Church continues to support Scouting and Cub Scouts. It’s just the Varsity and Venturing programs that are being discontinued because the wards never really used the BSA version of them, anyway. The new activities help the 14-18-year-olds focus more on spiritual, intellectual, social, and physical goals.
For boys wanting to advance through the ranks of Star, Life, and Eagle, they have to be active in their scouting unit and hold one of the specified positions of responsibility in their scouting unit. How will that happen for the older boys?