The

VARSITY VISION

Newsletter

FOR VARSITY LEADERS NATIONAL PARKS COUNCIL™ ®

www.utahscouts.org/varsity /varsity vision news letters

December 2010 Constantly escalate your goals Vol. 13 No. 12

The Varsity Scout reaffirms his adherence to the traditional Scout Oath, Law, motto, and slogan. Because he has advanced beyond , the Varsity Scout, in addition, accepts and lives the Varsity Scout pledge, which is:

As a Varsity Scout I will: live by the Scout Oath, Law, motto and slogan; Honor the dignity and worth of all persons; Promote the cause of freedom; and do my best to be a good team member.

Cross-Country Skiing Program Feature

Table of contents Subject Page

Varsity Scout Pledge ...... 1 Cross-Country Skiing Program Feature ...... 2 Back Country Safety ...... 2 All 27 Program Features Coach’s Corner “Bad Idea” ...... 3 E-List Signup can be seen at the following Web “Who are we talking to?” V.S. Chairman Report. 4 Sites To get this Varsity Vision Ski the Greatest Snow on Earth ...... 4 2011 Operation “ON TARGET” ...... 6 newsletter sent to you Vol. 1 automatically every month, 2011 ...... 8 http://www.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/ go to the Utah National VarsityTeamProgram-V1.pdf “Virtue is its own reward” ...... 9 Parks Council™ website at Scouting Vendors ...... 9 http://www.utahscouts.org Vol.. 2 Cross Country Ski Equipment Rental ...... 10 and enter the e-list sign-up http://www.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/ ALL-STARS “Alive Again”...... 10 icon on the left side of the VarsityTeamProgram-V2.pdf Try Something New This Summer ...... 10 home page. Follow the Eagle Scout Scholarships Available ...... 11 instructions given there to Vol. 3 High Adventure Planning Website ...... 11 register. http://www.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/ Coach’s Corner “You’re Training Patch”...... 12 VarsityTeamProgram-V3.pdf Family Odyssey-Family Wood Badge ...... 12 Coach’s Corner “Brick by Brick”...... 12 Index of all Varsity Vision Newsletters for 2010 . 13

December 2010 VARSITY VISION NEWSLETTER

The boots you’ll use with three-pin bindings will be low Cross-Country Skiing and light as running shoes. Gaiters are used to keep the snow out of your boots. Your ski poles should be long enough to reach from the floor to fit snugly beneath your armpit. Adjust the

length of the wrist strap until you can put the weight of your arm Program Feature on the strap without gripping the pole

One thing to keep in mind is that winter can be very unforgiving; you can’t “wing it” like you often can in summer when weather conditions don’t normally demand the same kind of precise planning.

The big difference is the cold, of course. If you’re not Your Program Feature book is full of information properly prepared, cold can stop you even faster than its necessary to have a safe experience in the great outdoors. opposite weather conditions Techniques are discussed along with equipment and exercise Always know where you are. Maps of summer. There is less programs specifically designed to meet the challenges of cross- compass and especially a GPS will room for error when it’s cold, country skiing. pinpoint your location. wet or freezing, or all three.

Cross-country skiing is a Winter will require great winter adventure. The additional groundwork, equipment is simple, durable, and above and beyond simply easy for a beginner to use, yet the dressing warmly. Some challenge of the sport keeps even the types of preparation may be best skiers interested year after year. obvious; other elements may be more subtle. This Varsity Your Varsity Scouts will program feature blends need no more than an empty field or several activities to provide a a snowy park near home to learn the basics. Once you’ve challenging but enjoyable mastered the basics, skis may well become an essential part of event. your cold weather camping gear carrying you deep into remote wilderness for the best winter treks of your life. Mastering the skills necessary to deal with the challenge of winter also helps provide a confidence boost that To get started, you’ll need skis, bindings, boots, and can help you deal with other challenges in life. poles. It’s wise to rent gear from an outfitting store the first few times you go skiing. That way you can learn about quality, fit, and design before investing in equipment of your own. Back-Country Unlike downhill skis, skis for cross-country use are long, narrow, and often quite flexible. Safety Your skis should be just long enough to reach from the floor to the wrist of your arm stretched overhead. Most modern day skis Before any Varsity Scout team engages in a backcountry trekking experience, youth and adult leaders for the are constructed Cross-Country skiing at of fiberglass Sundance ski resort activity should have an appreciation for the potential hazards layered around they might encounter and should be sure steps are taken to cores of foam or wood. reduce risks. Adherence to the following points will help Varsity Scout teams avoid most significant risks in the backcountry. Bindings are attached to the top of each ski to hold your ski boot in place. The Qualified Supervision majority of cross-country skiers use a All backcountry experiences must be supervised by a three-pin binding consisting of three pins mature, conscientious adult at least 21 years of age who protruding upward from the metal plate accepts responsibility for the well-being and safety of screwed onto the ski, and a movable bail. everyone in the Varsity Scout team. At lease one Holes near the front of the sole of a boot additional adult must accompany the team. The lead adult made to fit the binding slip over the pins, is responsible for ensuring that someone in the team is currently trained in first aid. American Red Cross and the bail snaps down to bind the sole Boon-docking through Utah’s Wilderness First Aid Basic, a 16-hour course that includes backcountry, what a BLAST! in place. The heel of the boot is free to CPR, is recommended. move up and down as a skier kicks and

glides across the snow. 2 December 2010 VARSITY VISION NEWSLETTER

surprises. Details of the itinerary should be shared with parents and a designated contact person. If the itinerary is changed, one of the leaders shares the change with the contact person who, in turn, shares it with parents. If you are going deep into the backcountry one of the leaders should carry a means of electronic communication in case of an emergency.

Monitor Conditions The Varsity Scout leaders are responsible for making good decisions during the trek. They continually assess conditions including weather, terrain, group morale, and water supplies, and group physical condition. If adverse conditions develop, the Varsity Scout team is prepared to stop or turn back. Varsity Scout boys braking fresh snow on the Fairview skyline Discipline Keep Fit Each Varsity Scout knows, understands, and respects the rules and procedures for safe backcountry trekking and Varsity Scouts and Leaders need to have a Personal has been oriented in backcountry safely. The reasons, as Health and Medical Record—Class 2 or Class 3 for any well as the rules and procedures, should be shared to trek lasting longer than 72 hours. When accidents occur, encourage compliance. Youth and adult leaders must be they are frequently related to unknown physical conditions strict and firm, showing no favoritism. Ask if there are any or are the unexpected result of some known physical questions and respond to them or seek the correct answer problem. The lead adult should review the medical record from a knowledgeable person. Point out that the lead for each participant and adjust the backcountry experience adult must ensure that someone in the group is currently and activities to reduce potential risks associated with trained in first aid. individual health conditions. Good safety requires an understanding of the risk of individual health conditions.

Plan Ahead The backcountry experience should match the maturity, skill level, and fitness of team members. Permits must be obtained to use some public or private land. “BAD IDEA” Training in the principles of Leave No Trace is essential for Coach’s Corner both safety and consideration of other visitors to the area. An eagle was flying high above a mountain. Gear Up With his keen eyes he saw a dead rabbit on a large A qualified youth or adult leader ensures that the piece of ice floating with the current on a river far below. Varsity Scout team has the proper equipment and clothing Further downstream he could see a steep waterfall. He for the backcountry trek. Every team member must have a swooped down and landed on the ice and looked over first-aid kit and the means to carry and treat water. The leader reminds everyone to bring and take prescribed the food. He glanced downstream to see how far away the waterfall was and decided that he had enough time to rest there standing on the ice before taking off again with his food. He rested there until he was very close to the waterfall’s edge. He went to pick up the rabbit in his claw and fly away to eat the food but he discovered that both claws were frozen to the large chunk of ice. He tried frantically to fly, but he could not free himself from the ice. The eagle went over the waterfall with the large piece of ice and fell to his death.

Bad habits like , drugs, and alcohol Utah’s back-country is full of perfect ski trails are like this. We may think that we can quit these things medications. Team members should be trained to use at any time, but when we try to quit we discover that we specialized equipment such as climbing gear, scuba gear, are trapped when it is too late. That is why it is best we skiing gear etc. never start any bad habits in the first place. Communicate Clearly and Completely All Varsity Scouts should know what to expect and what is expected of them. Youth and adult leaders should communicate with each other to avoid unpleasant

3 December 2010 VARSITY VISION NEWSLETTER

to because they want to see their son receive an award. Or maybe they see it at a regular skills demonstration day where Who Are We Talking To? the parents and CORs join together in a competitive activity like by Andy Gibbons orienteering or geocaching. Utah National Parks Council™ VS Chairman Probably the best of this kind of event is where the boys get to show off for everyone. This makes the success of We need to talk to everybody the team visible. Another good idea is to call on prominent about because not people (like the CORs) and ask them to do something. Stand everyone knows who we are and how the them up in front of the group or get them involved up to their Varsity program works. Stop and think elbows in having fun with the boys. about it: One of the reasons it is so easy to keep the Scout and Cub programs going is The point is that we need to let people see the Varsity that parents, CORs, and everybody gets program at work, and we need to use these occasions to into the act. They know the mechanics of informally train the people that we depend upon in their role in the program, and they know the role they the success of the Varsity team. If we don’t tell them, they won’t are supposed to play because they see it all happening. It’s a know. So I want to ask the question again: Who are we talking familiar drill—courts of honor, scout committees assignments, to? and, of course, the .

With Varsity it’s different. We don’t tend to have a lot of public events where parents, committee, and CORs get involved. But we need more of that. The reason is that these get-togethers are a kind of training session for the very people who have a role to play in keeping the Varsity Scout team Ski the Greatest running smoothly. Snow on Earth Stop and think about how many informed and motivated people it takes to keep a Varsity team going. We did a problem solving exercise at a conference of Varsity Scout Cross-country skiing on groomed trails is very popular district representatives last September at Tifie Scout Camp. We here in Utah. In addition, we have hundreds of roads and trails made this list of the people who take part in the success of a in our National Forests and BLM lands which are ideal for cross- Varsity team: country skiing. We have mountain top routes, tracks through

• Parents • Committee members • Coaches and assistants • Boys • Bishops/Church leaders • Counselors/Assistant Church Leaders • District Varsity people (other coaches, Huddle Chairs, specialists, friends, etc.) • Stake Presidents • Counselors • High Council members • The members of the sponsoring organization generally Skiers on the Bonanza Trail between Brighten and Park City.

Each of these people needs to know something snow-dusted red rock; historic trails... even some of our snow- specific about the Varsity program, its aims, its methods, and covered golf courses are open to Cross-Country skiing. Varsity needs to take part in its regular cycle of activities. Each of them Scout backcountry skiers should be well-prepared, and should needs to know what we need from them and what their role is in check weather and avalanche forecasts prior to setting out. All making the team work. It may not be formal, sit-down training, my years of snowmobiling (30+ years) in Utah's backcountry I and it may have to come from you, the Coach. found it has some of the most accessible and greatest snow on earth. Maybe it is best delivered person-to-person through conversations. This can happen at Varsity events parents come 4 December 2010 VARSITY VISION NEWSLETTER

Making winter outdoor activities a part of your Varsity Scouting equation may seem like an ordeal, and many leaders Success strategy: Whenever possible invite another balk at the mere thought of cross-country ski tours. While Varsity Scout team or the older Venture boys to come along for getting ready and out of the door may take a few minutes longer the outing. This way, everyone gets along better. with your Varsity Scouts, the experience is well worth the effort. Here are some ideas that may help make the outing more Prepare at the Trail Head enjoyable for everyone and reduce the stress factor to a minimum. After all you’re planning, it might be tempting to hop out of the car and start down the trail. But a few minutes spent stretching, establishing ground rules, and set the tone for the day will pay off. First, look over the map of the trail with all your boys and discuss the length and points of interest along the way.

Some good rules of thumb:

• Stay on the trail. There is no such thing as a short cut, especially in unfamiliar terrain. • Pack it in, pack it out – litter, that is. • Be courteous to other skiers and allow plenty of room for people to pass you. My boy’s cross-country skiing at Sundance with Mount • Identify natural hazards such as avalanche areas, and Timpanogas in the background. open water and creeks. Alert fellow skiers if you run into or see signs of any. • Drink small amounts of liquids frequently. Even when it is Pick the right place cold outside and you are not feeling sweaty or thirsty, your body is losing liquids to breathing and perspiration. First things first: You want to introduce your boys to the • Pay attention to discomfort. It’s better to stop and adjust challenges of cross country skiing, so the most important step clothing, or put on a patch of moleskin to avoid getting a is to find an appropriate location – one that won’t intimidate your blister later. Pay particular attention to each of your boys – Varsity Scouts but at the same time challenge the more the difference between too hot or too cold is not much! experienced. Open up the parka, loosen the scarf, or take off mittens to adjust body temperature. Always bring plenty of clothes. 1. Start small. You don’t have to scale a mountain or drive half • Find a comfortable pace, even if it feels slow. If you’re a day to have a memorable ski tour. There are often lesser- breathing too hard to talk, you are going too fast. known, fun and exciting trails less than half an hour away from • Don’t worry about getting there. Enjoy where you are. home. • Success strategy: Don’t rush it! Strive to savor the moment and focus on what’s around you rather than simply pass 2. Look for places with through on your way to the “goal.” Set examples by built-in diversion, such as pointing out birds or animal tracks, or stop at interesting cornices to jump out over. snow formations, icicles or snowed in trees to encourage a leisurely style of skiing. Most importantly, let your Varsity 3. Contact the local Scouts explore, even if it means not reaching the goal you chamber of commerce, had in mind. convention and visitor’s centers, or regional tourism Make it Fun offices for maps and brochures that feature area For some of your boys, the experience of being in trails and tours. nature is rewarding enough, but others need a bit more than interesting birds or trickling water to stay excited and motivated. 4. Choose areas that offer Here are some ideas for trail games. a variety of options, from Varsity Scout team on the Skyline above Fairview. short, flat and easy ski -Follow the leader: Give each boy an opportunity to take the trails to more strenuous lead, break trail, set the pace, schedule breaks and water stops. ones with lots of elevation changes so you can work what is the -Wildlife watch: Encourage everyone to look for animal tracks best for the day and the team’s energy level. and birds, animal droppings, meal remnants and so on. 5 December 2010 VARSITY VISION NEWSLETTER

-Story telling: Tell a progressive story that passes from skier to The Homestead Cross-Country Ski Center, near Midway, skier. Utah has12 km of groomed trails, rentals available.

-Guessing games: Have each boy predict how many trail Brian Head Resort, East of Cedar City, 42 km of trails - 10 km markers you will see, or how many other skiers you will pass groomed, rentals available, night skiing. along the trail, etc. Ruby's Inn, Is located near Bryce Canyon National Park, 50 km Take Breaks of groomed trails, rentals available, night skiing.

National Forest Service Ski Areas, State-wide Forest Service, Establish a schedule for stopping along the way for 801-625-5306, La Sal Mountain Area, 435-259-SNOW, 435- short breaks, maybe every 20 minutes or at predetermined 259-7155 landmarks (the first stream crossing, when you get to the lake, at the top of the hill, etc.) That way, your Varsity Scout boys

2011

Boulder Mountain in the spring have doable goals to stop for, and less of a tendency to ask for stops. When you do stop, take inventory of how everyone is feeling. Feet OK? Need more sunscreen? Are you drinking plenty of water? Encourage everyone to adjust clothing to stay comfortable. Try to have a final destination where you can stop to enjoy the view. It might be the top of a mountain peak, a Believe it or not, it is time to start thinking about next lakeside, or a cabin. Wherever it is, celebrate the achievement year's Operation On Target! We had an incredible year in 2010 by dropping your packs, taking a group photo, and having (the biggest ever) and we plan on having an even greater something to eat. This is also a good time to have a Coach’s experience in 2011. We had over 100 units participate last Corner and revisit all the things you have seen and the year, and many units made over 30 contacts with other units. moments you want to remember. Ask everyone to contribute Here is the basic information for On Target 2011: their favorite sights so far. 1. The actual event will be on Saturday, July 16 from 11 Finish the Journey am to 2 pm. 2. We will have a Kickoff Seminar for those who need help Back at the trail head, take the time to stretch and with mirrors and signaling on Saturday, May 21 from 9 unwind, cool down and get comfortable. Change your clothes am to 10 am at the Grandview Stake Center, 1600 and footwear, and have a refreshing snack before heading North 1880 West in Provo. 3. Our "social" in 2011 will be "online" rather than at a home. church. I will send out an email after the event informing everyone of the winners in our competition Places to go areas. We found that it was very difficult for most units to get down off the mountain and still have enough Soldier Hollow, 2002 Winter Olympic facility, located in the energy to get cleaned up and travel to a distant church Park City/Heber area, 23 km of trails. for the "social". We appreciated those who made that effort this past summer. Wasatch Mountain State Park, the park is located in the Heber Valley area. The park offers a 10 K Nordic ski track with We learned a lot from our 2010 experience. We found diagonal stride and skating lanes, groomed on the golf course. It that our "system" was too cumbersome with so many units includes both flat and hilly terrain. Nordic ski rentals are participating. We so much appreciated all the effort of our available at the park. coordinators, but we found that there was a major logjam on the ham frequencies with so many of us trying to communicate. We Sundance Nordic Center, Located up North Fork of Provo are going to take a new approach in 2011. We will still use ham Canyon, 15 km of groomed trails, rentals available, night skiing. operators, but we are going to make much greater use of cell phones. I have found that many units made many of their contacts using cell phones. We will amplify that effort this 6 December 2010 VARSITY VISION NEWSLETTER coming year. We will also "decentralize" our ham efforts, 8) Ed Jones and the Valley station personnel will still be hopefully eliminating the need for all of us to go through a available to help with emergency communications. central relay station. 9) Having a ham operator with you in 2011 will be helpful but Here is a summary of our 2011 game plan: not essential. If you want to have a ham with you, contact someone in your ward or neighborhood, or go to the ham 1) All recruiting will be by word of mouth and email, with section at www.ontargetunpc.com and recruit your own. registration online at www.ontargetunpc.com. Michael, Ed, and Larry spent countless hours in 2010 trying to link with units. We are going to let you do that 2) There will be one Valley Station, located in the CENTER of yourselves this year. I will keep the list of hams current so the valley, within sight of most of the peaks surrounding the that you will know who is available. valley. Ed Jones will be our Valley Station coordinator. We will not have a visiting dignitary in 2011 other than Ed 10) We will not be attempting a council-wide communication Jones. We still plan on having a dignitary write a letter for this year. the scouts that can be used in a mountain-top ceremony. 11) We will still list units that are not located on peaks 3) Although parents will still be welcome at the Valley Station, surrounding Utah County, and we will still encourage all we would encourage all participating units to teach a few units to signal those units located outside the valley area. parents how to use the mirrors and have them congregate at their local church parking lot to signal their sons. They 12) As mentioned earlier, there will be no organized Ice can also talk to their sons and leaders on cell phones, not Cream Social in 2011. Hold your own or wait for the needing to rely on the ham communication lines. "online" social sometime during the week following the event. 4) There will be one mystery station in 2011. It will be located on a mountain peak, and will be manned by Susan Taylor I am ready to start receiving 2011 registrations! As of (K6MOM), Michael Taylor (myself), and Rod Fisher. We today (November 12), there is just one unit registered. That unit will have large mirrors and will be a "force to reckon with". is the Mystery Station Unit, and we are already making You will definitely be able to see us when we send our preparations for a great Mystery Station! signal your way. I hope to start hearing from you soon, and we look 5) There will be a greatly simplified listing of partipating units forward to an incredible experience on July 16th! on the council On Target website. You will easily be able to see who else is participating, where they are located, Much appreciation for all you do in Scouting, and how you can reach them (cell phone). Michael Taylor 6) In 2011, we are going to try a very different ham radio Utah National Parks Council On Target chairman communication system. We are going to designate 12 ______"Power Peaks". These 12 peaks will have an experienced ham operator and large mirrors. Each of these 12 peaks Email address: [email protected] will be their own "net control". They will each have their Cell phone: 801-404-2323 own designated ham simplex frequency, and will handle LDS website: www.ldsfacts.net their own ham traffic independently. Net controllers on BSA website: www.ontargetunpc.com Power Peaks will help other non-Power Peak units contact Ham callsign: K7BYU each other on other simplex frequencies. Power Peak designations will be made on a first-come, first-served basis. Those who would like to be right in the middle of all the action can let me know at [email protected] and you can pick your Power Peak. We have picked the tallest peaks surrounding the valley to be our Power Peaks. They are Lone Peak, Box Elder Peak, Timpanogos, Cascade Mountain, Provo Peak, Spanish Fork Peak, Loafer, Mount Nebo, Lake Mountain, and Lowe Peak. With the addition of the Mystery Station and Valley Station as Power Peaks, this brings the total to 12. If you have larger mirrors and a great ham operator, email me and sign up as a Power Peak participant.

7) We will have a listing of all participants and the cell phones that they will have on the peaks. Units are encouraged to call each other on the cell phones. We suggest that each unit have at least two cell phones, preferably with different cell phone providers, to maximize their ability to communicate. The use of cell phones will relieve alot of the ham network pressure we experienced in 2010.

7 December 2010 VARSITY VISION NEWSLETTER

Wood Badge - 2011

Wood Badge Registration for Wood Badge began on November 1, 2010.

Course Course Course Registration 201120112011 Dates Location Director Link “Advanced adult training for all Varsity Scout leaders”

May 5-7 Aspen Lincoln W2-591-11-2

So you ask “what exactly is Wood Badge?” & 12-14 Lakes Jacobs Acct #872

Basically it is training in group leadership skills. There May 12- Maple Dell Reed W2-591-11-3 are two parts to Wood Badge: the practical part and the 14 & Scout Mellor Acct #873 application period. The practical is a 6 day experience 19-21 Camp consisting of living with a group of adult scout leaders in an May 23- Mutual John W2-591-11-1 outdoor/Scouting environment while being exposed to leadership and Scouting skills applicable in the development of 28 Dell Miller Acct #871 both men and youth. Through this living/working experience June 6- Pine Russ W2-591-11-4 you develop a knowledge and understanding of leadership 11 Valley Feller Acct #874 skills; what they are, how to use them, when each is appropriate plus an intense personal motivation to apply them in the best Blue way at your youth job back home. July 11- Mountain Brent W2-591-11-5

16 Guest Johansen Acct #934 After the practical outdoor experience, a minimum of Ranch six months elapse before your final certification. During this period you follow through on the commitment you made in the Tifie July 25- Dean W2-591-11-6 course of your practical experience and are evaluated on your Scout 30 Kesler Acct #935 performance. Throughout this application phase you are Camp assigned a counselor who acts as a resource person, as an evaluator and as your Scouting friend. You need to fully July 25- Frandsen understand what you learned from the practical course and that 30 Scout Dave W2-591-11-7 you can apply it to the betterment of your youth job. Reservati Larsen Acct #936 on Tifie August Dennis W2-591-11-8 Here are some thoughts shared this past Scout 8-13 Dunn Acct #938 summer by several Wood Badge participants Camp

August Maple Dell • “Wow, where do I find the words to say Edgar W2-591-11-9 18-20 & Scout Tooley Acct #939 thank you? You will never be able to know 25-27 Camp how much you have affected my life for the good.” August 25-27 & Keith W2-591-11-10

• “My prayer and desire was answered Septem Park Caldwell Acct #940 because of your talents, testimonies, work ber 1-3 and service. I am so thankful to have been Septem Maple Dell Lynn W2-591-11-11 blessed to be here at Wood Badge. My ber 1-3 Scout Schofield Acct #941 testimony has been strengthened. Thank & 15-17 Camp you!” Septem Tifie ber 15- W2-591-11-12 • “Wood Badge changed my outlook on Scout Jeff Wirtz 17 & Acct #942 Scouting. I have been converted! Truly Camp 22-24 converted!! I have felt the spirit many times over these six days and have been taught October Heber Debbie W2-591-11-13 20-22 & Valley McDonal important principles. Thank you! Not only Acct #943 for me but in behalf of the boys I serve.” 27-29 Camp d

October Mutual Brent W2-591-11-14 20-22 & Dell McAllister Acct #944 27-29

8 December 2010 VARSITY VISION NEWSLETTER

“Virtue is its own Reward” Scouting Vendors Written by Jerry Johnston

The Church has released its guidelines for its new Duty High Adventure is everywhere! Maybe your Varsity to God Award, and the changes are being cheered. In the past, Team would like to do a high adventure experience where no the award was set up like Boy Scout merit badges – complete one else has gone before. But you also need experienced help with a checklist of requirements to fulfill and a shiny medal of to go. The following is a list of vendors that are dedicated achievement for fulfilling them. partners of the Utah Nation Parks Council™ and they provide Varsity Scout programs that are tailored to your team’s needs. The new award holds to the maxim “virtue is its own reward” and Wasatch Area offers a series of goals instead of • CLAS Ropes, (2 & 3 day high adventure) specific tasks. It emphasized three • Water World Utah, (scuba) things: learn, act and share. • 12 Finger Adventures, (anywhere canyoneering) • BYU Outdoors Unlimited Just as an athlete must be • UVU Outdoor Center taught basic fundamentals, then put those fundamentals to use until they Central Utah become second nature, the new • Carbon County Recreation, Green River trips, horse Duty to God Award stresses spiritual trips, and climbing. fundamentals that – with some effort • – will eventually become part of the Price River Outfitters fabric of a young man’s life. In fact, South Central Utah most caring people already follow the process without much • thought. They learn to read, for instance, and then they read to Rockin R' Ranch (Antimony) gain knowledge. Finally, they use what they’ve learned to help • Allways Rafting (Sevier River) others – to teach them how to read, perhaps, or instruct them in • Escalante Canyon Outfitters (Escalante) history, literature and religion. • Ruby's Horseback Adventures (Tropic) • Goblin Valley State Park (Hanksville) Learn. Act. Share. • Lake Powell Campgrounds (Bullfrog) • Glen Canyon Recreation Area Camping (Hanksville) And the reward they get for such efforts isn’t a medal, but a gleam of goodwill down inside for doing good works. As Southwest Utah Brian Head Mountain Biking (Parowan) one who works with the young men in our ward, I’m excited • about the new Duty to God Award. In fact, I wish we could learn Zion Country Action Tours • to apply it to other parts of our lives. Zion Rock and Mountain Guides • Desert Adventures (Las Vegas) Too often, I feel, we do something to benefit others • Havasupai Reservation spiritually but expect to be rewarded materially; pay your tithing and get extra dough. But in my trial-and-error life, I’ve found Moab (South East Area) that spiritual contributions are usually rewarded with spiritual blessings. Sacrificing for others doesn’t always boost your • Moab hiking trails income. What it does do is teach you perspective. Suddenly, • Moab biking trails knowing you are pleasing God and having a feeling of serenity • La Sal Trails/Mount Peale (Blanding, Monticello) inside seem much more valuable than having a yacht on Lake • Tahoe. Hiking Abajo Peak (Blanding, Monticello) • Lake Powell Area Hiking Trails (Hanksville) The Duty to God Award will get boys off on the right • Book Cliffs Hiking (Green River) foot with the right attitude. It will teach them what matters most • Temple Mountain Biking Trail (Green River) and show them that while service doesn’t always lead to recognition, it can lead to things much sweeter. Now, if the rest Uinta Basin and High Uintas of us can just find a way to catch the same vision. • Uinta High Adventure Base (Evanston)

• Holiday Expeditions (Green River Biking and Rafting, Vernal)

• Dinosaur Expeditions (Vernal) • Flying J Outfitters (Duchesne) • U Bar Wilderness Ranch (Duchesne)

9 December 2010 VARSITY VISION NEWSLETTER

Cross Country Ski Equipment Written by Curtis Anderson [email protected] ALLALLALL-“““BrickALL“Brick---STARSSTARSSTARSSTARS by BrickBrick””””

“AliveCoach’s Again” Corner This is an exciting time for Varsity Scouting and you, but Last sometimes, month I told after you yearsin this of newsletter involvement the name with “ALL-STARS”Scouting we was don't going appear to be to retired be too and excited never used about again it all. in ourThink Utah about National it. Things Parks are Council™."changing" However,right now! I made a mistake and this information is not correct. Next year is a new Scouting year. Varsity Scout teams areIn the setting past greatthere adventureshas been confusion in motion; in all the of mindsus are of Cross Country skiing is one of my great passions. Just Varsitylooking Scouters forward to in new the councilcamping between adventures, All-Stars new events, and On- so everyone knows Dr. Inouye and I have created a great Belaynew experiences! and which one was the official Varsity Scout training inventory of Cross Country ski equipment. We have about 40 program. We have voted as a committee to consolidate the pairs of skis, poles and boots. Our gear is heavy duty stuff and two programs, This is keeping where we the are... All-Star we brand struggle name, to keep which the is the boots are boots and not shoes. The skis have scale betterscouting known, trail andfresh the and On-Belay interesting activity for the format, "old" boys, which bottoms and are wider for our Utah powder and best for non- emphasizeswho've "been-there-and-done-that-and-got-the-T-shirt" high adventure and the standard eleven groomed backcountry experiences of which Utah National Parks leadershipbefore. Take skills pride listed in in the the fact BSA that literature. we don't Most just repeatimportantly, the Council™ is blessed in abundance. With most of the gear you thesame On-Belay old stuff format - or of willincluding we? both In adult the faceand youth of all leaders these can carve pretty good telemark turns. aschanges, participants it's in a the bit scary.activity is It's retained hard to in make the new changes All-Star plan.because This of the activity fear that will no notmatter be what considered we do nothing the official will The only blackout dates are the Sanpete biathlon “leadershipbe different, training” or that if programwe make for changes, our Varsity it will Scouts. be different! th week-end on January 29 2011. The skis are kept here at my We all agree that we're here for the boys, that character, store: Rasmussen Ace Hardware, 435 S. Main, Gunnison. They ethics, Nationalvalues, and Youth citizenship Leadership are necessary Training to (NYLT) make our and can be reserved at this email address: [email protected] Nationalfuture better Advanced and that Youth each LeadershipVarsity Scout Experience is important. (NAYLE) However, it would not be fair for some team or crew to reserve are the official training syllabuses for our youth in Scouting. the entire inventory for a week-end and then finally only need a Timberline "Our training Varsity uses Scout the boys NYLT are syllabus important." for the I think first levelabout of few select pairs. We ask that when a reservation is made that trainingall the Boythings Scouts I could and have older. done, should have done, wish I we know an exact number of pairs that the unit will need had said, wanted to try, thought of changing, or need to be including foot sizes and approx weights of the boys and doing, butNAYLE have hasnot! been tried and tested at Philmont over leaders. That way we can help several units in one week-end. the past several years and is now ready to come out. Our We have approx 40 sets including boot sizes from 5-13. Dr. council is Someone providing a once location said, for "If the you National want BSA something to put on to a Inouye and I are anxious to help boys get outdoors and enjoy NAYLEchange, course. do something This coursedifferent." is theI am “next reminded step” that to NYLTthe the wonderful world of winter. Our assumption is that our (Timberline)only brick walls we shouldthat were encourage ever in my our way youth were to ones attend that (it I is renters will have been well trained, especially by reading and openbuilt tomyself, youth brick throughout by brick, the and Western then proceeded Region of to the smack United studying the Program Feature chapter as well as the Fieldbook States.)my head The against. course To will solve run this beginning dilemma on there approximately are two and other resources. We certainly cannot assume any liability Augustobvious 1, 2011.choices: National to leave BSA the is wallstill workingin place on (find a date. someone Youth for what happens after the equipment leaves our place. willelse register to blame), through or take the that National wall apart website. and build The something fee will be $350new. (same It's a aschallenging Philmont.) job and Prerequisite I don't want is havingto do it attended alone. We charge only $12.00 per day per set. Some NYLTLet's. build something big. Got any bricks? weekends get booked up early. The money goes back into improving the gear. My personal wish though is that every Varsity Scout get into the mountains in winter and learns to enjoy this wonderful place our Creator has given us to live in. Try Something New Thanks, Curtis E. Anderson This Summer! [email protected]

Did you know that the Great Salt Lake Council offers a variety of guided backcountry treks? For many years, they have provided guided canoeing trips in Yellowstone National Park at 10 December 2010 VARSITY VISION NEWSLETTER

Shoshone Lake. Last year, they added a guided backpacking trip through Yellowstone waterfall Fall County via High Adventure the Bechler Trail. High Adventure

They also added amazing Planning Uinta Experience AKA “The Goat Trek: using pack goats on the north slope of the Uinta Range. By now you should know how many High Adventure For 2011, they are activities your Varsity Scout Team would like to have next year. excited to add a These include activity nights, overnighters, Saturday, 2-6 day guided backpacking & fishing trek in adventures. Now your team needs to start finalizing your Yellowstone’s great fishing at Hell’s calendar plans. Planning, Preparation & Participation for a High Roaring. Adventure experience is essential for your program to work.

Try something different this There are hundreds of ideas at this web site: summer. Join the Great Salt Lake Council for an amazing backcountry experience. www.utahscouts.org VarsityScotuing www.saltlakescouts.org (801) 582-366 Resources for Varsity Scout Leaders 3 High Adventure Planning Guide

Select your high adventure experience. You can either select the type of high adventure program you are looking to do or you can choose by region. Use the resources listed to put together your plan. Camp locations and vendors are listed Applications for the 2011 National Eagle Scout on each page along with hiking and biking trails. Association (NESA) Eagle Scout scholarships are now available on www.nesa.org. These are the only scholarship applications acceptable in 2011. All applications must be printed and Eagle Scout Scholarships Available mailed to the national office, postmarked no later than midnight on January 31, 2011.

Scholarship applicants must be Eagle Scouts graduating high school and entering college in the year for which they apply for a scholarship. Scholarships are awarded only to those who graduate from high school in the calendar year in which scholarships are presented.

2010 NESA Scholarship Recipients FROM UTAH NATIONAL PARKS COUNCIL™

$48,000 Mabel and Lawrence S. Cooke Academic Scholarship • Eric Reuben Smith, Provo, UT.

$3,000 NESA Academic Scholarship • Ryan William Lesser, Orem, UT.

$1,000 Hall/McElwain Merit Scholarship Taylor Michael Rowley, Duchesne, UT This is an amazing web site… Anyplace you have ever dreamed about going in the state of Utah is listed here. It is mind boggling the amount of information you can find; I have spent hour’s just learning new things about our state. Places to go and things to do, history and geology is right there at your finger tips. Your Varsity Scouts want High Adventure; this is the place to find it. You can also Google these places and find additional information about them. It is just amazing.

11 December 2010 VARSITY VISION NEWSLETTER

This is where we are... we struggle to keep the scouting You’re Training Patch trail fresh and interesting for the "old" boys, who've "been-there- and-done-that-and-got-the-T-shirt" before. Take pride in the "Success in training the boy depends largely on your fact that we don't just repeat the same old stuff - or will we? In own personal example." Robert Baden-Powell the face of all these changes, it's a bit scary. It's hard to make He said it, I didn't, but how it still rings true 100 changes because of the fear that no matter what we do nothing years later. Talk to your Varsity Scout Coach and fellow will be different, or that if we make changes, it will be different! Scouters about continuing their training. The "TRAINED" We all agree that we're here for the boys, that character, ethics, tab (patch) shows your Varsity Scout boys and their parents values, and citizenship are necessary to make our future better that you care. It gives your boys a sense of pride and trust and that each Varsity Scout is important. in you and your abilities. You cannot teach what you do not understand and experience isn't found in any book or this "Our Varsity Scout boys are important." I think about all Varsity Vision newsletter. Lean on each other and share the things I could have done, should have done, wish I had said, your knowledge with others. I am thankful that others have wanted to try, thought of changing, or need to be doing, but shared with me. And in turn I am thankful to be among have not! those who now have the ability to share. Be the example that willingly shares their knowledge and skills with others. Someone once said, "If you want something to change, do something different." I am reminded that the only brick walls that were ever in my way were ones that I built myself, brick by brick, and then proceeded to smack my head against. To solve this dilemma there are two obvious choices: to leave the wall in FAMILY ODYSSEY place (find someone else to blame), or take that wall apart and build something new. It's a challenging job and I don't want to Dear Scouters and Families, do it alone. Let's build something big. Got any bricks?

Registration for the Utah National Parks Council's 2011 Wood Badge with Family Odyssey will open on November 1, 2010. If you or anyone you know would like to come next summer, please see the brochure. You can visit our website at http://bit.ly/FamilyOdyssey for details and to watch the slide show from last year. We are now organizing next summer's Family Odyssey staff. Let us know if you'd like to come help The Varsity Vision Newsletter provides Scouting leadership out. It's a wonderful Scouting experience for your whole family. motivation and inspiration as well as a dialogue on needs, More information is available at http://bit.ly/FamilyOdysseyStaff. 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 Hope to hear from you soon, Scouting.

Doug and Becky Barlow Opinions and ideas expressed herein are those of the Family Odyssey Coordinators editors and contributors and do not necessarily reflect official BSA (801) 361-7721 policy. The Varsity Vision Newsletter is non-profit service publication to promote Scouting leadership excellence throughout the world and is distributed 12 times a year through this web site:

www.utahscouts.org/Varsity Scouts/Varsity Vision

“““Brick“Brick by BrickBrick””””

Coach’s Corner This is an exciting time for Varsity Scouting and you, but sometimes, after years of involvement with Scouting we don't appear to be too excited about it all. Think about it. Things are "changing" right now!

Next year is a new Scouting year. Varsity Scout teams Comments and suggestions can be are setting great adventures in motion; all of us are looking E-mailed to the Editor at: forward to new camping adventures, new events, new [email protected]. We would like to hear from you. experiences!

12 December 2010 VARSITY VISION NEWSLETTER

Varsity Vision Newsletter - 2010 INDEX

JANUARY 2010 “ON TARGET” message from Michael #2 SEPTEMBER 2010 Robbie Bosco letter to “ON TARGET” Boys Snowboarding Activity Feature Teaching with High Adventure Volunteers Urgently Needed MAY 2010 Dutch oven Cooking Program Feature Ice Fishing Archery Program Feature Snow Sport Merit Badge Reducing Our Impact Dutch oven Breakfast Coaches’ Corner How to use this newsletter Personal Development – Career Education Operation “On Target” report Message from our UNPCVS Chairman Dutch oven Dinner Winter Activities Guide to Safe Scouting ON TARGET Checklist Operation “On Target” recaps Our Family Storyteller Geocaching Merit Badge Planning Training Conference Calling for your Videos “New” Unit Leader Award of Merit Listen Carefully Heber Valley Jamboral ON TARGET Fly-over Dutch oven Cobbler Code of Responsibility while Snowboarding “New” Duty to God 2010 Centennial Camporall 25th Anniversary Varsity Scout Patch ON TARGET Kickoff Seminar Eagle and the Prairie Chicken Questions and Answers Triathlon Dutch oven Dinner Wood Badge 2010 Join the UNPC Band Benjamin Franklin said Philmont training for Varsity Coaches 5 Field of Emphasis Dutch oven Omelet Philmont Varsity Scout Training Archery Mental Checklist FEBRUARY 2010 Trekking Poles Letter from Baden Powell dated 4-13-1926 Don’t Miss Out “ON TARGET” Model Design & Building Varsity Idol Competition OCTOBER 2010 Five Fields of Emphasis Wood Badge Commissioner Invitation Big Event Rendezvous Tifie Training Conference Report Roundtable Ice Breaker ON TARGET Expectations Mechanical Abilities Varsity Leadership Training 2010 National Outdoor Award Philmont for Varsity Coaches JUNE 2010 Auto Mechanics Reuniting of the Orangemen Fast Start Video Operation On Target 2010 Prepare for your “On Target” hike Safety Training Required “Red Castle Lake” “On Target” with President Beck Coach’s Corner Centennial Quality Award 2010 Orange Reunions Project Car – 1969 Ford Torino Questions & Answers Get in the Game of Geocaching Glossary of Automotive Terms Coach’s Corner “Be like Me” Huddle Ice Breaker New Gun & Firearms Safety Policy Heber Valley Mountain Man Rendezvous Walking Stave 2010 Centennial Camporal Reuniting handout flyer “On Target” Letter from President Monson Brain Teaser Per-For-Mance Guide Kickoff a Big Success Answers to Automotive Terms Per-For-Mance Scorecard Coaches Corner Building Blocks Teach Mechanics Quality Commitment Form Silly Mistakes Quality Commitment Interpretation Final Countdown NOVEMBER 2010 Hiking Safety Tips MARCH 2010 Five Fields of Emphasis Snow Camping Program Feature Hiking Essentials NYLT & NAYLE Youth Training Photography Program Feature Centennial Camporall Keep Warm by Keeping COLDER “It’s March” Message from Andy Gibbons Goose Story 2010 Quality Unit Goals Amateur Radio “ham” You’re Stave My First Snow Cave Operation “ON TARGET” 2010 You’re Varsity Team Homeostasis Scouting is outgrowth of Quorum President Monson’s “On Target” Letter Fuel Your Body Historical Merit Badge Program Coach’s Corner “How Did You Do Today” Roundtable “Ice Breaker” JULY 2010 Food & Water Tell Your Story with Pictures Historical Merit Badges Five Fields of Emphasis Operation “On Target” 2010 Gee Whillickkers “My Winter Camp” HAM Radio License Where are we going? Southern Utah Camporall Vitalizing Varsity Scouting Frontiersman Program Feature Questions & Answers National Photo Contest Ask the “Prez” 2010 Northern UNPC Centennial Camporall Geocaching Pinewood Derby Race Outstanding Training Letters to the Editor Varsity All-Stars 50 Contacts Varsity On Belay Brainteaser DECEMBER 2010 Wood Badge – Invest in Yourself Kayaks, A Perfect Fit th Special 100 Anniversary Awards “On Target” Questions and Answers Cross-Country Skiing Program Feature Centennial BSA Silver Dollar Radio Communications BSA Postage Stamp Five Fields of Emphasis Back Country Safety Historic Merit Badge Requirements Chartering three units Coach’s Corner “Bad Idea” Provo Freedom Festival Triathlon Report “Who are we talking to?” V.S. Chair. Report “On Target” Map Ski the Greatest Snow on Earth APRIL 2010 2011 Operation ON TARGET AUGUST 2010 Wood Badge 2011 Orange All-Star Singers “Virtue is its own reward” Triathlon Program Feature Annual Program Planning Scouting Vendors Reuniting of the Orange Huddle Training Conference Cross-Country ski equipment rental “ON TARGET” Geocache Time Capsule Canoe Camping No Bake Power Bars Southern Utah Varsity Centennial ALL-STARS “Alive Again” Roundtable Huddles Operation ON TARGET Try Something New This Summer Five Fields of Emphasis Coach’s Conference Eagle Scout Scholarships Available “ON TARGET” message from Michael #1 Heber Valley Centennial Camporall High Adventure Planning Website Getting Even Energy Bars New Merit Badge “Inventing” Coach’s Corner “Your Training Patch” The VS Committee & its Work “Detailed” Annual Planning Agenda Family Odyssey – Family Wood Badge Centennial Camporall Glossary of VS Terms Coach’s Corner “Brick by Brick” Varsity Big Event Contents of Team Calendar Varsity Scout All-Stars Index for the full year of 2010 Varsity Scout On-Belay 13