Varsity Scout Pledge going away in favor of Scout Oath, Scout Law

You’ve heard that all Scouting programs will adopt the Scout Oath and Scout Law over the next two years. But does that include Varsity Scouts?

Yes indeed. That means the Varsity Scout Pledge is going away, beginning tomorrow — June 1, 2014.

Varsity Scouts will instead use only the Scout Oath and Scout Law. One big place this will be noticed within Varsity Scouting is in the requirements for the Denali Award.

Requirement No. 5 of the Denali Award currently reads: “Satisfy to the team captain that you know and live by the Varsity Scout Pledge.”

Beginning June 1, 2014, requirement No. 5 will read:

“Demonstrate that you possess Scout Spirit by understanding and living by the Scout Oath and Scout Law. Tell how you have done your duty to God and how you have lived each of the twelve points of the Scout Law in your everyday life.”

By the way, for those who haven’t seen the Varsity Scout Pledge, here it 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.

As you can see, Varsity Scouts pledged to live by the Scout Oath and Scout Law in their soon-to-be-retired pledge. So this change shouldn’t cause many ripples within Varsity Scouting.

Other changes to the traditional Boy Scout program will occur in 2016, and those changes will apply to Varsity Scouts. So stayed tuned.

Thanks to Member Experience Team Leader Peter Self for the info.

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