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The following meetings help carry out the purposes and functions of an Aaronic Priesthood Varsity Scout Team:
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Midweek activity night. The Varsity Scout program is intended to be held weekly on ward YM-YW activity night.
These weekly meetings should generally include:
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Participation in combined YM-YW activities
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Monthly Team Meeting, a business meeting where Team business is conducted, including the presentation
of, recommendations for, discussion of, approval of, and evaluation of specific Team activities.
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Activities which are planned and conducted by program managers.
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Team Leaders Meeting. This should be conducted at least monthly as a part of Teachers Quorum Presidency
meeting. The Presidency should use this time to specify particular activities to be held in the coming weeks and to make sure that plans and preparations have been made for these
programs. Attendance should include the Bishopric First Counselor, members of the Quorum Presidency/Captain/Co-Captains, and Advisors/Coaches.
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Monthly Camp. To keep a high adventure emphasis, Varsity teams are encouraged to camp monthly (achieve Great Salt
Lake Council BSA Year Round Camping Award). Generally, camping for Varsity Scouts is a means for some high adventure end, as opposed to the teaching of camping skills.
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Yearly Planning Clinic (or Leader Seminar). Usually conducted once a year in the fall (or additionally, after a
major change in Captain/Team leaders) to prepare for a new year of activities. A Planning Clinic will likely be more enjoyable and productive to the boy leaders involved if it is
done as an overnighter in a summer home or the like. Preparations are largely the responsibility of the Coaches. This seminar usually includes some training on roles and
leadership, activities to bind the group together, and the laying out a calendar for the coming year. Attending are Team youth leaders and Coaches, the Team Committee Chairman, and
the Bishopric Counselor (if he is not also the Team Committee Chairman). In small teams, all youths may be invited. A successful Planning Clinic provides a clear road map for
the coming months and enables the youth Team officers to begin assuming leadership of their own team and activities.
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Team Committee meeting. The Team Committee is the adult support for the Team and is critical to the functioning of
an effective Varsity program. It should meet monthly. To the extent possible, fathers of team members should be asked to serve on the committee, and should be assigned
as adult program supervisors for their sons' program manager assignments.
At each Team Committee meeting, the Coach should review the calendar at least through the next round of activities pertaining to
each program supervisor and identify objectives for the next activity which their corresponding young man will be leading. These adult program supervisors should be trained to
understand that their role is to help their Varsity scout succeed in his leadership assignment and not to take the leadership away from the boy.
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Parents/Awards Nights. These should be held on a Team basis at least quarterly to give recognition to the young men
for achievements and to keep parents informed of Team plans and activities. These meetings should recognize that Varsity Scouts generally prefer less formal recognition ceremonies
than younger scouts, but still perform the function of scout Courts of Honor.
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