varsity vision - Yocona Area Council

The
VARSITY VISION
Newsletter
FOR VARSITY SCOUT LEADERS
UTAH NATIONAL PARKS COUNCIL™
BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA®
www.utahscouts.org/varsity
visionScout
news letters
The Varsity Scout reaffirms
his adherence to scouting/varsity
the traditional
Oath, Law, motto, and slogan.
August 2014
“The difference between who you are and who you want to be is what you do”
Scout Oath or Promise:
Vol. 17 No 8
Scout Law:
On my honor I will do my best
To do my duty to God and my country
and to obey the Scout Law;
To keep myself physically strong,
mentally awake and morally straight.
A Scout is...
Trustworthy
Helpful
Courteous
Obedient
Thrifty
Clean
Loyal
Friendly
Kind
Cheerful
Brave
Reverent
The “Black Hole” of White Canyon
* * * * *
Sandboarding the Dunes
Table of contents
Subject
All 27 Program Features
can be seen at the following
internet site
http://www.scouting.org
/scoutsource/boyscouts
/resources/varistyprogr
am.aspx
Scout Oath or Promise and Scout Law . . . . . . . .
Report of WAHOO 2014 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
My report on Operation ON TARGET 2014 . . . .
Common Courtesy on the Hiking Trail . . . . . . .
The ”Black Hole” in White Canyon . . . . . . . . . .
Varsity Vision Leader Specific Training . . . . . . .
Sandboarding at Little Sahara Sand Dunes . . .
Is Your Dutch-Oven Holding You Back? . . . . . .
Make a “Paracord” Watchband or Bracelet . . . .
Coach’s Conference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
“Take a Shot” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
A Lesson on “Attitude” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
BSA “The Training Times” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Disclaimer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
David Archuleta “ON TARGET” letter . . . . . . . .
Page
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VARSITY VISION NEWSLETTER
August 2014
Steel, 2 Man Saws, an “A-frame”
building & walking. As the last
event of the rendezvous there
was a WAHOO Relay (John
Coulter Relay) to test the skills
learned during the rotations. All
teams received a reward for
their efforts.
Varsity WAHOO 2014
Written by Kevin Golding
On June 5 -7 an excited group of
Varsity Scouts and their leaders
converged
on
Beaver
High
Adventure
Base
ready
for
participation in the 4th annual
WAHOO Encampment.
Friday Nights Campfire Program included a visit from Al
Thacker, of the Tiny Tim's Toy Factory, sharing stories of
making toys for children and the miracles that come around
because of serving the children. Also visiting was Gary
Dollar, representing the BSA Western Region Varsity
Committee; he spoke on the topic of being prepared for what
is going to come before us. The BHAB Staff shared their
songs and skits. And a pirate story as well. Lamarr Jones
shared his story telling talents with us for a laugh or two.
Thursday, June 5, started out with a Service Project of
helping sand and stain wooden toys for Tiny Tim's Toy
Factory. 100 + cars
were
sanded
and
stained in a little over
1 hour. These cars will
be assembled and
sent to children in
Africa where they
may only get 1 toy in
their entire life.
To cap off the evening, we had a
Commitment Trail experience.
The Scout Law was presented
with a scripture added to the
principle of the Scout Law. At
the last station there was a wood
“A” frame walking
token given to help remember
the commitments and goals we
had made for ourselves. This wood token was a piece of wood
from the construction of the Payson, Utah LDS Temple.
In the evening there was Leave No Trace activities
organized to help all remember the responsibilities we have
when we are in the out-of-doors. After the sun went down
we all met for songs and skits. Each unit participated in a
song or skit. The program was fun and relaxing for all. The
campfire program was topped off with a U. S. Flag
retirement.
Saturday morning was again filled with a flag ceremony and
activities. Flint Knapping (arrowhead making) was available on
Friday, June 6, was filled with activities and events. A
patriotic Flag Ceremony started the day, with C.O.P.E., Team
Building, Climbing & Repelling, .22 Rifle, Muzzle Loaders,
Frisbee Golf, Bike Riding, Kubb, G.P.S. Course, and On Target
filled the day.
Saturday.
Atlatl spearing
As lunch time arrived all were filled with food. Then we
loaded up for home knowing that we had all been fed and
challenged physically, mentally, and spiritually.
Two man sawing
Thanks to all that made the WAHOO experience possible
for us to enjoy.
Friday afternoon was jam packed with a Mountain Man
Rendezvous. Participants tried their hands at Muzzle
Loaders, Atlatl (Spear Throwing), Hawks & Knives, Flint &
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VARSITY VISION NEWSLETTER
August 2014
activity between peaks. Most Varsity Teams were on lower
hills that could be driven to or easily hiked to. Many signals
came from the valley floor to us. The longer signals we
attempted were not successful because of all the smoke in
the air.
2014
Operation “ON TARGET”
Written by: Ken Cluff
It was just great to see the excitement of my guys as they
became more proficient with their signal mirrors. I think it
even got to a point where they were signaling back to house
windows and auto windshields on the valley floor. The boys
really got into the activity. We would make a cell phone
contact and then all of us would point our mirrors at that
contact. The young men had a blast all working together.
WOW, I have just experienced a
totally unreal Operation ON
TARGET experience this past
month on July 19th 2014 in and
around Utah County. There were
Varsity Scout teams on just about
every
major
mountain
peak
30 plus years of
surrounding the valley. I and my Operation ON TARGET
team were on the southern end of
Lake Mountain away from the microwave towers so we could
get excellent HAM and cell phone reception. The mirror
signaling was to begin at 11:00am but we were getting cell
phone calls before then.
We were late getting to the top because of several wrong
turns this 80 year old Varsity Scout leader took. There are
several dead-end roads going up the south side of Lake
Mountain. I had never
ridden an ATV to the top
from the south side.
One wrong turn cost us
an hour and the other
wrong turn was about the
same.
I should have
been looking and paying
closer attention to my
I told the guys we were on the wrong
GPS.
We actually got
trail and needed to turn around.
settled in on top at about
11:30am.
My Assistant Coach VanLeuven zeroing in on
Mount Nebo to the south.
All the boys and the adult leaders had their own cell phones
so that made a huge difference. I gave
up on the HAM radio. It seemed like
the Salt Lake people wanted it all to
themselves. I could hear them talking
about personal experience of past years
and it went on and on. I think in the
future we would be wise to spend our
efforts on cell phone communication
Father and son
rather than the limited access to HAM
enjoying
the ride
radio and using HAM operators.
We ended our stay on the top of Lake
Mountain about 1:30pm and headed back
to a little grove of Quaking Aspen trees
with lush green grass to have our lunch.
My assistant read the letter form
President Erying to the rest of us. The
Henry B. Eyring
boys were impressed with the many hard
peaks President Erying and his father
hiked to in his youth.
I tried several times to check in on the assigned HAM
frequency but was unsuccessful. It seems like the HAM
crowd wanted it all to themselves. Every time I attempted
to check-in someone would talk over me. That was okay
however because I had a dozen or so wanting to talk to me
on my cell phone. Also, the boys with me had their parents
that would like a mirror contact signal from them as well.
My favorite signal mirror for
33 years and counting.
I had a list of Scout leaders
that called me beforehand
because I am the Varsity Vision
Newsletter Editor and they
wanted to make sure I
coordinated a signal to them.
Our UNPC “On Target” website
was not working properly so it
was useless for coordinating
I read the letter from David Archuleta he
sent to the Varsity Scouts for this
Operation ON TARGET activity. This is
an especially good letter I think because
David is not much older than our Varsity
Scouts who will be going on their own
Mission in just a few years. He told the
3
David Archuleta
VARSITY VISION NEWSLETTER
August 2014
Varsity Scouts in his letter that he loves the mountains and
there isn’t a greater place to receive inspiration and feel
close to God in His creations. David went on to say: “I have
felt times in my life where I thought I couldn’t make it. I’ve
been discouraged that I wasn’t as strong as other people,
but I know that God is mindful of us and He sends others in
our path to cheer us on so that we know we can keep going.
We need each other, and as we take this journey back to our
home with our Father in Heaven we remember that we can’t
do it alone— There is a team member, even our big brother,
Jesus Christ— that we need to rely on so that we can get
back there together.” You are encouraged to read his full
letter on Page 12.
Common Courtesy on the Trail
Written by Ken Cluff
It is important to recognize that others' idea of recreation
may be different than our own in Varsity Scouting, and to
show both courtesy
and patience.
Cyclists should ride
in control on shared
trails while hikers
should be prepared
to step to the side
of the trail to give
cyclists as much
room as possible.
Horse riders get
the right of way in virtually every circumstance, but need to
also understand that riding on public lands means sharing and
that means being in a less controlled environment than a
private arena.
As we were eating our lunch we shared some personal
feelings with each other. What did you learn from this
activity? How can a mirror be used as a signal? Can a mirror
be a signal on its own or does it need a source of light?
What if there was light but the mirror was covered with
mud? Would it provide a clear signal? How does this relate
to being worthy to use priesthood power?
The young men talked about some meaningful things they
experienced that morning. All-in-all we had a totally unreal
experience and were able to make about 23 mirror contacts,
not including the auto or boat windshields flashing to us.
Motorized users should slow when passing hikers and cyclists
and take extra measures to avoid spooking horses. Nonmotorized users have to remember that motorized users
have as much claim on public land as those trying to "get
back to nature".
Pets should be well behaved and kept under control, while
those without pets need to realize that a back country trail
is not a city sidewalk so they should expect dogs to have a
little more free rein.
One of many returning signals for the day
President Erying said: “You and I can help travelers who are
stumbling along pathways in their journey, I promise each of
you, as you follow inspired direction in this, the true Church
of Jesus Christ, that you and those you assist—can be
delivered safely to our heavenly home.”
Most differences in recreation are merely a matter of
personal choice; they are not moral or ethical questions. An
ATV does not, inherently, tear up the land any worse than a
horse, a bicycle, or even hiking. Hikers and cyclists are not
inferior to ATVers.
A little common courtesy and patience for those whose idea
of recreation differs from our own can go a long way in
preventing problems.
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VARSITY VISION NEWSLETTER
August 2014
When I think of a “Black Hole”, I think of a place that
gravity goes to die and no light escapes. Anyplace called the
“Black Hole” has to be amazing.
They tell me the
subterranean nature and long, dark, cold swims, through a
maze of sculpted sandstone narrows is pure pleasure. I
guess at 80 years old, I better think about throwing this
hike out of my “bucket list”, dang!
The “Black Hole” in
White Canyon
Written by: Ken Cluff
Our older Varsity Scouts consider high adventure the
highlight of their outdoor Scouting experiences. We need to
plan and safely carry out high-adventure treks. Encourage
your Varsity Scout youth to seek out these programs; it's
what keeps them high on Scouting and in the Church. High
adventure challenges and inspires our young men, and
broadens their leadership skills. This is why we Varsity
Scout Coaches make high-adventure opportunities, such as
this Black Hole in the White Canyon (example), a priority,
promoting participation by team members who are qualified
for these elite outdoor activities.
The Black Hole of White Canyon is a two-mile slot canyon,
which curves through beautiful red-rock sandstone. National
Geographic named this trail one of the “World’s Best Hikes.”
This isn’t just an ordinary slot canyon — you have to swim
through it.
Flash Floods are a serious consideration when hiking the
Black Hole. If any water is flowing in White Canyon turn
around immediately. White canyon drains a massive area and
thunderstorms 40 miles away may cause a flash flood. Do
not take this warning lightly!
This “White Canyon” is a slot canyon hike I always wanted to
do when I was younger. So many Scouters have told me
about their fantastic experiences in the Black Hole. I took
several groups of boys through the Zion Narrows and will
never forget the unique nature of that 18 mile hike.
I
remember how the
boys did everything
they could to keep
from getting their
shoes wet.
They
would walk on one side
of the Virgin River or
That looks like Kip Buckner
the other and then
Located near Hite Marina in southern Utah, the hike begins
on the side of Highway 95 at mile marker 56.7.
From the
trailhead parking lot (N37° 47' 58", W110° 18' 18") follow
the well defined trail north approximately 250 yards. Locate
a side canyon, which leads east to the floor of White Canyon.
There is usually a BLM sign warning of sure death somewhere
in the vicinity of the side canyon. Scramble down the side
canyon to the floor of White Canyon. There are no major
obstacles in the side canyon. Once in the canyon, the sandy
riverbed quickly turns into narrow slots filled with dark, cold
water.
pole vaulting with
their hike staff to keep dry. However, they soon learned
the water got waist deep from canyon wall to wall.
The subterranean nature and long, dark, cold swims, through
a maze of sculpted sandstone narrows is pure pleasure
Follow White Canyon downstream, don't bother trying to
keep your shoes dry since they will be wet in a short
distance despite your best effort. With careful route
finding most obstacles’ can be easily overcome with some
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VARSITY VISION NEWSLETTER
August 2014
ingenuity. The better your boys solve these minor problems
the easier the route becomes.
the highway. You’ll emerge from the canyon at mile marker
54.7. Either leave a shuttle vehicle there, or hike the two
miles back to the trailhead.
The first major drop can be bypassed by down climbing an
easy to locate chimney on the left side or by climbing over
the rocks on the right side. Both methods require a small
amount of climbing skill.
The second major drop is best
defeated by staying in the watercourse, but it can also be
bypassed on the south (left) side. The third major drop
leads into the actual Black Hole and is usually overcome by
using a rope as a hand line and scrambling down a large crack
to the canyon floor.
Due to flash flooding concerns, as well as often risky, wet
scrambles, all slot canyon hikes carry a potential for danger.
Always check the weather before heading out, and don’t
consider hiking unless there is no chance of rain. And always,
without fail, notify others about your trip.
The best high-adventure treks are planned, led, and carried
out by youth. The purpose of Scouting is to help youth grow
and mature, and learn how to be prepared.
Another
purpose of these high-adventure activities is to provide
positive experiences to help your young men to mature and to
prepare them to become responsible and caring adults.
After this you have reached the main attraction and the
part of the route that is actually considered the Black Hole.
The canyon is narrow, twisting and hauntingly beautiful
through this section. Stroll down canyon 100 feet to a small
down climb and the beginning of the swim.
It’s almost unbelievable to swim through the maze of
sandstone formations as sheer cliffs rise above you on both
sides. The pools are all unique with some shallow enough to
wade through and some so deep, you can slide or jump from
the ledge above into the water. Each pool is so different
from the last, you don’t know what to expect around the
next bend. It’s the thrill of the unknown that makes this
particular hike so fascinating.
Varsity Vision
Leader-Specific Training
BSA National has officially approved the
Varsity Vision Leader-Specific training
course as fulfilling the requirements for
Varsity leader-specific training. Leaders
still have to attend Outdoor Skills
training and Youth Protection to qualify
for the "Trained" patch. There are a
growing number of Varsity Vision
training courses. Our goal is for them to
be held regularly in every district and at
the Stake or multi-Stake level.
The water is cold year round so a wetsuit is highly
recommended, even in the middle of the hottest summer. I
would also recommend bringing a flotation device such as a
dry bag or small swimming noodle to hold on to for when you
get tired.
This hike gets its name from the
deepest and longest swim. This
pool is known as the “Black Hole”
— a dark corridor of sandstone
that ends in a 90 degree turn,
making it appear that there is no
way out. The darkness and chilly
water are somewhat scary, and
another obstacle complicates the
swim
even
more:
Floating
driftwood.
New Varsity Scout coaches and youth leaders are invited to
go to this overnight experience, one that fulfills Varsity
leader-specific training requirements for the adult leaders,
but allows for you and your Varsity Scout team leadership to
learn together. Plus you get to learn from actual Varsity
leaders and youth team leaders.
The canyon is twisting
& hauntingly beautiful
Sample of Varsity Scouting program topics covered...
In 2003, flash floods brought a thick layer of driftwood to
the pool. In order to get through the Black Hole, you must
push your way through a heavy layer of wood.
It can be
technical at times and requires one to swim and wade for
long distances in cold water.
•
•
•
About 1.5 miles from the Black Hole, you will exit the canyon
to the south (left). Cairns are set up to guide you back to
6
How to be a Varsity Scout Team Captain and/or
Varsity Scout Coach
How to plan for and manage a High Adventure
and/or Sports program
How to make your own activity pin requirements
VARSITY VISION NEWSLETTER
August 2014
•
•
•
•
making it the perfect beginner’s sport. On the downside,
sandboarders can’t use a chairlift. They have to walk back
How to achieve the requirements of the Denali
award
How to be successful and win as a Varsity Scout
team
How to plan your ultimate adventure to earn your
Varsity Letter
How to create a vision of what your team can look
like
There are three courses scheduled this third quasrter:
Porter Rockwell District on August 15 & 16th
Maple Dell on September 12 & 13th
Lazy River on October 17 & 18th
Start your run from the top of a Sand Mountain
You are encouraged to attend any one of these courses,
everyone is welcome to attend. The cost is $10 and includes
food and course materials.
up, and returning to the top for another run — It’s like a
Stair Master with sand! What would really be nice is to have
a UTV to carry the boys
back to the top. They
would need to use a seat
belt and helmet while
riding in the UTV as a
passenger.
You should bring your Scout uniform, tent, sleeping bag,
weather-appropriate clothes, flashlight, and personal
hygiene items. Anything you would need on a typical
overnight campout.
Sand Mountain is a wall of
UTV side-by-side
sand climbing nearly 700
feet, is the primary focal
point in the area. The sand dunes, on the southern side of
Sand Mountain have plentiful 100 foot high sandboarding
bowls. Varsity Scouts always want to go up for a second run.
What goes down must huff and puff back up. The climb
takes it out of you.
Sandboarding at Little
Sahara Sand Dunes
Written by: Ken Cluff
At 60,000 acres, there’s a lot to see the in Little Sahara
sand dunes area. But some Varsity Scout teams make the
drive there for one reason: sandboarding the dunes. You get
all the thrill of SNOWBOARDING at a fraction of the cost.
That’s sandboarding. But there are trade-offs when
swapping white powder for tan sand.
The adults find a sandy
seat
and
silently
supervise,
meaning
Varsity Scouts can do
pretty much anything
that won’t get them
hurt. And they do:
tossing discs to team
mates 500 feet away
and 100 feet below, They will try every possible way to get
down the dunes by boarding, sledding, running, cart-wheeling,
front-flipping, and even sand swimming.
On the upside, friction makes sandboarders go slower,
Two hours later, everyone is wiped. Sand dunes that were
screensaver-perfect on arrival are peppered with hundreds
of footprints—traces of all the effort expended getting
back to the top. But before you call this a Leave No Trace
violation, remember that by morning, winds will erase all
evidence of your teams’ presence, leaving a fresh canvas
behind.
Little Sahara sand dunes near Delta, Utah
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VARSITY VISION NEWSLETTER
August 2014
Occasionally, we’d revise our plan and camp at a different
spot so that there’d be enough light to set up our camp.
Usually though we’d reach our destination and drop our
backpacks with some relief and stiffness.
Is your Dutch-Oven
Holding You Back?
Written by: Mat Greenfield
The ensuing noise was about the same as when we car
camped, but the activity looked quite different. Boys would
be busy setting up their lightweight tents, and unrolling their
foam pads. Later they’d be busy cooking over small stoves as
buddy pairs, and making trips to a nearby stream to filter
pump clean water and take back to camp to wash dishes. The
evenings tended to be quieter on those backpacking camps,
sleeping bags seemed to beckon more quickly, and only brief
conversations between buddies delayed the snoring.
I like Dutch oven dinners. One of my favorites is boneless
pork ribs in a bbq sauce. I like cobbler too -- apple, cherry,
peach -- whatever! Sometimes when I think of camping,
that’s the sort of thing I have in mind, good food, a campchair, and a cot to sleep in. My wife and I like to take our
family camping that way. Enjoying the family in the beauty of
the outdoors is a choice experience.
The next morning I would notice buddy pairs working
together quietly to prepare a simple breakfast and repack
their gear. The route back to the car often took a circuitous
path, perhaps via a lake, peak, or other notable landmark.
The buddy pairs would take turns navigating, guiding us along
a pre-planned route, with the Senior Patrol Leader coaching
and helping as needed. The adults would typically hike at the
back of the group, making sure that no-one was left behind.
When I was a Scoutmaster, some of our unit camping trips
were the same sort of thing. We’d roll up to our campsite in
a fully packed SUV and unload boys, sleeping bags, threeburner stoves, cots, large canvas tents, and all the other
away-from-home luxuries we had brought along.
The boys would have a great time playing and exploring in the
outdoors, often scattering over the canyon or meadow in
which we were camped. Rounding them up to erect tents
sometimes took a while, but that was okay because dinner
usually took an hour or more to prepare. Our evenings would
be spent playing capture-the-flag and poking sticks into the
campfire. The adults would try to interject some spirituality
into the camp by sharing a spiritual thought or story, and
sometimes we’d coax the boys into singing a few songs.
As the car came into view, boys would sometimes hoot and
cheer at the thought of taking off their packs and boots,
but there was a real sense of accomplishment felt
throughout the group. Depending on the length of the drive,
the chatter on the way home would be short-lived, with most
of the boys falling asleep.
In the morning, the Dutch ovens would produce a cheesy
hash brown/sausage combo (referred to as ‘Mountain Man’ by
our Troop), and since the cooking and clean up took so long,
we’d generally load everything back up and head home.
On reflection, the hiking camps were significantly better
experiences for the boys and the adults. The extra pressure
of carrying our gear, navigating to our destination, and
cooking in buddy pairs added an air of adventure to the
event. The patrol method was more obviously in effect, and
Scouting skills were more needed and used.
Other camps were different. We’d park at a trailhead and
unload boys with backpacks. There would be a nervous,
expectant feeling in the air, especially on the part of the
newer Scouts. With the buddy system firmly in place, we’d
embark on a trail, a pair of the older Scouts leading us with a
map and compass as their guide.
I’m convinced that patrols, individuals, and the troop overall,
grow stronger through hiking in a way that is hard to achieve
with car camping. So, next time you think about packing your
Dutch-ovens maybe you could leave them at home and
experience a different kind of camp-out.
I can recall times where the hike we had planned was too
long, where packs were too heavy and night falling too fast.
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VARSITY VISION NEWSLETTER
August 2014
Make a “Paracord”
Watchband or Bracelet
4. Pass both cords though the pins and under the watch. Loop
both ends twice around the male end of the buckle. Make any
adjustments in the length of the band to match the wrist
measurement. The band will stretch about another inch after
completion because of the tightening and pulling on the
wrapped cord, making for a comfortable fit.
A paracord watchband
makes a great gift or can
be used as a survival tool.
Unraveled, it provides
about 10 feet of handy
paracord for fixing tent
lines or tying together
broken gear. You can even use the line inside the cord for
fishing line.
5. Pass the long
and short cords
back through the
pins and under
WHAT YOU’LL NEED
•
About 10′ of 550 paracord (If you’re working on a
smaller watch, you can use a smaller buckle and 325
paracord.)
•
5/8″ side-release buckle
the watch.
6. Begin to wrap the long end of the cord as shown. Push and
tighten the wraps as you go along.
1. Melt both ends of the
paracord with the lighter.
While they are still hot,
carefully flatten both
ends with the bottom of
the lighter. This will make
it easier to pass the cord
through the watch or
bracelet. The best size
watch has about 5/8″ between the lugs (where the pins go).
7. When you reach the watch and your wraps are tight, pass
the cord through the pins and under the watch. Continue
2. Wrap the paracord
around a wrist comfortably
and mark it. This will be the
length of the watchband.
3. Loop the cord through the
female end of the buckle
and draw tight. You should
have 20″ of cord on the
short end. The long end is your working end.
wrapping and tightening the paracord until you reach the
male end of the buckle.
8. Using the hemostat, reach under three loops of cord, grab
the end of the remaining cord and pull the cord underneath
the three loops. The cord that you just pulled through should
then be cut close and melted flat. Leave enough cord to hide
it under the fourth loop. Do this for both the male and
female ends.
9. Your paracord watchband is now complete.
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VARSITY VISION NEWSLETTER
August 2014
As I thought about this I thought how often we as scout
leaders are afraid to take the "shots" necessary to make the
program work. How often do we take ourselves out of our
comfort zone to do a particular activity which would affect
boys’ lives?
Coach’s Conference
Written by Ken Cluff
One of our major areas of responsibility as a Varsity Scout
Coach is to have meaningful "Coach’s conferences" with each
of our young men at least
every 3 months.
We
“listen” to him and guide
the conference to help him
set his own goals and to
solve his own problems. We
can't isolate our boy’s
problems or direct his goalsetting process if we don't
“listen” to him. Here are several barriers to “listening” that
can be problematic during conferences.
It reminds me of an "On Target" horseback trek that the
coach in my ward asked me to go on a few years ago so he
would have the 2nd leader. You would need to know that
horses and I have never been or ever will be friends; I don't
even like cowboy hats! But for the good of the boys, I went.
We ended up with 3 or 4 boys that were inactive as well as
others who had never ridden horses. The coach had a great
campfire story that really climaxed the evening. Everybody
had a great time - except me. (I only fell off of the horse
once), BUT we impacted boys’ lives. I am grateful that I made
myself go, because we certainly hit our mark with this trip.
Many of us think that counseling is a job of persuasion and
that persuasion means talking all the time. Just remember,
you can't help the boy set his own meaningful goals or solving
his own problems if you do all the talking.
A Lesson on Attitude
Many of us over prepare for what we are going to say. Then
we use our listening time as a waiting period until it's our turn
to talk again, listening then becomes passive and unproductive
for both of us.
Written by Ken Cluff, 1988
My Varsity Scout team was on the "Survival of the Fittest"
relay race near Delta, Utah. The relay race was a 22 mile trek
Many of us have listening "filters". We don’t hear what we
need to hear. We may even be so busy with our own thoughts
that we fail to hear valuable signals that the boy is sending.
We can listen faster than we can speak. When we are in a
listening mode, don't "tune out" and "day dream", figuring we
know what the boy is going to say.
Then we lose
concentration, we miss valuable clues and signals about the
boys needs and objectives.
Set a trap with out loosing a finger!
involving running, biking, swimming, canoeing, rappelling and
many other events. It was a grueling race that challenged the
young men’s mental and physical abilities.
“Take a Shot”
By: Paul Burges
At one point in the event the racer was given one match to get
a fire started that his fellow Varsity Scout team members
had prepared. In the meantime another team had used our
fire lay and as a result our team had to hurriedly prepare
another fire lay to continue on in the race. We lost some
valuable time in the process.
Today I went to my bank’s drive-up window. As I sat and
waited I noticed a sign on their wall, which showed an archery
target with 2 arrows in it, with the captions "You miss 100%
of the shots you never take."
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VARSITY VISION NEWSLETTER
August 2014
V21 and will, along with Youth Protection Training and
Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills, qualify a coach as
I told the boys we could challenge that other team and get
them penalized 5 minutes for lighting our fire lay. One young
man spoke up and said: "NO! They didn’t do it on purpose, it
was an accident.”
“trained.”
This is great news as reported last month in this Varsity
Vision newsletter by Andy Gibbons he said:
BSA National has officially approved the
Varsity Vision Training course as fulfilling
the requirements for Varsity LeaderSpecific Training.
Leaders still have to
attend Outdoor Skills training and Youth
Protection to qualify for the "Trained"
Andy Gibbons
patch. There are a growing number of
Varsity Vision training courses. Our goal is
for them to be held regularly in every district and at the
Stake or multi-Stake level. The response to the course has
been very favorable. The key will be quality control.
I was dumbfounded and upset, "What do you mean, let's get
even." The young man said: "Brother Cluff, let’s don’t cause
any hard feeling, we’re having so much fun.”
Later I related this story to some other Varsity Coaches and
closed by saying, what a terrific lesson on attitude I learned
from this Varsity Scout young man.
“Thanks Bryon for the lesson you taught me that day.”
What we are all about...
Spring 2014
The Training Times
The Varsity Vision Newsletter provides
Scouting leadership motivation and inspiration as
well as a dialogue on needs, direction and policies in
the Utah National Parks Council™. The newsletter
Staff assembles and distributes useful new ideas,
practical tips, enthusiasm and the VISION of
Stand-Alone Varsity Scouting.
Opinions and ideas expressed herein are
those of the editors and contributors and do not
necessarily reflect official BSA policy.
The
Varsity Vision Newsletter is non-profit service
publication to promote Scouting leadership
excellence throughout the Utah National Parks
Council™ and is distributed 12 times a year through
Training Leaders, not just running training courses
New Unit Leader Courses
this web site:
www.utahscouts.org/Varsity Scouts/Varsity Vision
If you have been reading The Training Times for the past
couple of years you know the volunteer training committee
has been working on updating the instructor guides for all of
the training courses for unit leaders, as well as creating
some new courses to fill existing gaps. Several of these new
or updated guides have been released or will be this spring
and early summer.
“The Varsity Vision Training”
Comments and suggestions can be
e-mailed to me at
kencluff@comcast.net.
This new course is designed for Varsity Scout adults and
youth in areas where there are large numbers of Varsity
Scouts. A version for areas where there are fewer Varsity
Scouts, or ones lacking the resources to put on the full
Vision course, is under development. Both courses will use
I would like to hear from you.
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August 2014
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