1. 20050149.ppt 1

2. 20050149.ppt 2 Challenges of Teacher-Age Boys 14-16 Challenges of Teacher-Age Boys 14-16 The Teacher age is a “turning point” of life for young men.

3. 20050149.ppt 3 Characteristics of a Teacher-age boy 14–16 Physical  Pronounced bodily developments  Increase in strength and reaction  Wants more formal team activities and participates in group sports; looking for group acceptance  Desires more Challenge & Risk (High Adventure)

4. 20050149.ppt 4 Characteristics of a Teacher-age boy 14–16 Mental  Ability to think abstractly, to set goals, and plans for his future  Begins to question the world around him  Desires to develop character and personality

5. 20050149.ppt 5 Characteristics of a Teacher-age boy 14–16 Spiritual  Begins to define one’s self in terms of opinions, beliefs and values  Challenge of authority, and even doctrine  Pulls away from family and looks for other mentors or adults A church study several years ago found that parents have the greatest impact on 12 and 13 year old boy in how he behaves and exercises his agency. However, as young men approach 14 and 15 and grow toward manhood, major influence in his life becomes his leaders and his peers – particularly his YM leaders.

6. 20050149.ppt 6 Characteristics of a Teacher-age boy 14–16 Social  Begins to form personal identity  Begins to compare one’s self to other peers  They feel the need to belong  They begin to question adult authority; being independent of parent’s influence

7. 20050149.ppt 7 Inactivity Highest Among Teachers Inactivity Highest Among Teachers We are losing more youth to inactivity: 1-11 yrs old(-28%)=72% 11-13 yrs old(-4%)=68% 13-15 yrs old(-18%)=50% 15-17 yrs old(-8%)=42% We are losing more youth to inactivity: 1-11 yrs old(-28%)=72% 11-13 yrs old(-4%)=68% 13-15 yrs old(-18%)=50% 15-17 yrs old(-8%)=42%

8. 20050149.ppt 8 Vitalizing the Teacher’s Quorum? Given the characteristics and challenges facing Teacher-age young men, what can we do as leaders to make sure that our voices remain louder than Satan’s? What do we really want to have happen in the lives of our young men of age 14 and 15 ?

9. 20050149.ppt 9 Goal of the Teacher’s Quorum? Retain the Active Reclaim the Less Active Grow the Quorum What can we do as Leaders to help the quorum presidency accomplish these goals? Answer: Help YM Have Spiritual Experiences Through a STRONG ACTIVITY PROGRAM!

10. 20050149.ppt 10 Aaronic Activity Program for Teachers  If you build it—they will come!  If you don’t—they will go elsewhere.

11. 20050149.ppt 11 President David O McKay “The spirituality of a ward will be commensurate with the activity of the youth of that ward.” Why?

12. 20050149.ppt 12 YM Activities “Aaronic Priesthood activities should strengthen testimonies and foster personal growth. They should be based on the purposes of the Aaronic Priesthood. They also should provide opportunities to apply the principles taught in Sunday quorum meetings and feel support in living them.” General Handbook of Instructions, Book 2, p. 186. General Handbook of Instructions, Book 2, p. 186.

13. 20050149.ppt 13 How do we vitalize the Teacher’s Quorum? Through a Fun, Priesthood-Centered Activity Program in the Teachers Quorum which Includes Varsity Scouting

14. 20050149.ppt 14 Section 2: Varsity Scouting – A Laboratory for Applying Gospel Principles

15. 20050149.ppt 15 President Monson “Scouting teaches boys how to live, not merely how to make a living. How pleased I am that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1913 became the first partner to sponsor Scouting in the United States. We’ve remained strong and firm in our support of this great movement for boys and of the Oath and the Law which are at its center.” -- Elder Thomas S. Monson -- Elder Thomas S. Monson October 1982 President Thomas S. Monson 1 st Counselor, The First Presidency Longest tenured member National Executive Board, BSA Since 1969

16. 20050149.ppt 16 Why Scouting in Church? 33% of LDS YM serve full-time missions. 94% of LDS Eagle Scouts serve missions. 33% of LDS YM serve full-time missions. 94% of LDS Eagle Scouts serve missions.

17. 20050149.ppt 17 Why Scouting in Church? When properly applied, [Varsity] Scouting acts as a laboratory for boys with dedicated leaders serving as trained laboratory instructors, monitoring and encouraging the application of the purposes of the Aaronic Priesthood by providing action experiences that appeal to quorum members. “On My Honor”, Thane Packer pg.10

18. 20050149.ppt 18 Importance of Activities/Monthly Outings 5 Steps of Learning Process  Exposure  Repetition  Understanding  Conviction  APPLICATION

19. 20050149.ppt 19 Importance of Activities/Monthly Outings Application There are action limitations in whatever we try to teach on Sunday. We do better when our Sunday lessons are fortified, through the experience of doing at another place and time. This is where Scouting becomes the laboratory for Aaronic Priesthood holders.

20. 20050149.ppt 20 Importance of Activities/Monthly Outings “True the restored gospel exposes us to truth. True the Church provides us with repeated exposure. True the Church provides us with an array of tools and methods to help us understand. True the Lord grants us the blessing of the Holy Ghost to convince us that certain things are true. But the bottom line in the teaching and learning of the gospel are found in the opportunities to apply the gospel.” (Thayne Packer)

21. 20050149.ppt 21 Trained, Inspired Leaders are Key For the inspired and trained leader, 2 games are being played: capturing the boy’s interest at the same time finding opportunities to help strengthen the boys’ testimonies. In the hands of an inspired, dedicated, and trained leader; [Varsity] Scouting is an effective tool to help young men accomplish the purposes of the Aaronic Priesthood.

22. 20050149.ppt 22 Testimonial - Stake President Testimonial - Stake President (double-click black box)

23. 20050149.ppt 23 Testimonial – Parents Testimonial – Parents (double-click black box)

24. 20050149.ppt 24 Testimonial - Varsity Scout Testimonial - Varsity Scout (double-click black box)

25. 20050149.ppt 25 Varsity Scouting for Teacher’s Quorum? What is Varsity Scouting? How does it differ from Boy Scouts? How does it meet the challenges of the Teacher- age boys?

26. 20050149.ppt 26 An Effective Varsity Program Includes Well-Planned Activities with Priesthood Purpose  The role of Varsity Coaches (Teacher Advisors) is to train and guide varsity scout youth leaders to run their teams with a priesthood purpose. A Varsity Coach mostly teaches from the SIDELINES.  Varsity Scout youth leaders plan and carryout activities with the guidance of the Coach.  Use the Varsity Scout Interest Survey VIS and the Resource Survey for Varsity Leaders to match interest of boys with experience of adults as advisors.

27. 20050149.ppt 27 An Effective Varsity Program Includes Activities with 5 Areas of Emphasis  Advancement  High Adventure / Sports  Personal Development  Service  Special Programs and Events

28. 20050149.ppt 28 An Effective Varsity Program Includes Progress Towards Eagle

29. 20050149.ppt 29 Team Organization / Adult Shadow Leadership Team Committee Coach Captain Adventure Program Mgr Service Program Mgr Personal Dev Program Mgr Special Events Program Mgr Squad Leaders (Big Quorum) Advancement Program Mgr Scribe QuartermasterHistorian BuglerLibrarian Instructor Adult Leaders Varsity Scouts Adventure/ sports Service Personal Development Special EventsAdvancement

30. 20050149.ppt 30 Varsity Scouting “I do not believe that Varsity scouting is on trial in the church, nor is boy Scouting, Cub Scouting, or Exploring[Venturing]. But rather it is my firm belief that bishops, and the ward leaders, the advisers, scoutmasters, coaches, and Explorer [Venturing] advisers are on trial. The program will work if they will work and become trained and put into effect the things they have been trained to do.” Vaughn J. Featherstone (Feb. 11, 1982)

31. 20050149.ppt 31  Implementation of the Varsity Scout program  Become Trained in Varsity Scouting  Blending well planned, fun, safe Varsity Scouting and Duty to God programs and activities How do we plan and organize fun, effective Aaronic Priesthood/Varsity Scout activities?

32. 20050149.ppt 32 How to get Varsity Program Started  Contact Stake YM Leadership  Contact Unit Commissioner  “Fast Start” Video  Manuals / Guidebooks  Monthly Roundtable  Specific Leader Training (Sept. 10, 2005)  Wood Badge  FUN!

33. 20050149.ppt 33 Manuals / Guidebooks

34. 20050149.ppt 34 Varsity / Teacher’s Quorum Integration   First, make sure that Teacher’s Quorum President is TRAINED in their Duties, PRESIDES in all meetings of the Quorum, and actively carries out duties.   Second, make sure that the Team Captain / Senior Patrol Leader is Trained in his responsibilities and is leading the Team / Troop (under the direction of the quorum president)

35. 20050149.ppt 35 Varsity / Teacher’s Quorum Integration  The Varsity Scout Unit must not operate independent of the quorum.  Planning for Team is done during Teacher’s Quorum Presidency Meeting “Scouting is part of the Quorum Presidency’s responsibilities. Each scout unit should have a … [Team Captain] or Senior Patrol Leader who is nominated by the bishopric and sustained by quorum members. This leader is usually the quorum president.” (LDS Scouting Handbook, pg. 3) “At least once each month, after the foregoing matters have been considered, the quorum presidency meeting is used to make plans for the quorum’s scout unit. If youth and adult leaders are not already present, they are invited to the meeting at this time.” (Church Handbook of Instructions, Book 2 –Section 2, pg 184-185)

36. 20050149.ppt 36 Section 3: Duty to God

37. 20050149.ppt 37

38. 20050149.ppt 38 Elder Hales “I promise you that your achievement of the Duty to God Award will provide you with a living testimony that will sustain you throughout your life.”

39. 20050149.ppt 39 Duty to God “The Duty to God program helps young men accomplish the purposes of the Aaronic Priesthood. It helps them develop skills and attributes that are needed to succeed in life.”

40. 20050149.ppt 40 Importance of Monthly Outings Application There are action limitations in whatever we try to teach on Sunday. We do better when our Sunday lessons are fortified, through the experience of doing at another place and time. This is where Scouting becomes the laboratory for Aaronic Priesthood holders.

41. 20050149.ppt 41

42. 20050149.ppt 42 Duty to God and Scouting Many Scouting requirements can fulfill goals and requirements of the Aaronic Priesthood Duty to God Program. So run a consolidated program! “On my honor, I will do my best to do my Duty to God …”

43. 20050149.ppt 43 Duty To God & Scouting If you plan carefully… You can accomplish many Duty to God Requirements through Scouting. Scouting/Duty to God Mapping Docs at: www.DutytoGod.com

44. 20050149.ppt 44 Example Consolidated Program Quorum Activity Plan Deacon Quorum Activity Plan MonthLesson/ActivityAchievement JAN Purposes of the Aaronic Priesthood/First Aid Quorum Lesson #22 Mutual: Basic first aid skills PDS-2ED-5 Quorum Lesson #1 Mutual: First aid QA-1, 4 Quorum Lesson #2 Mutual/Combined YM/YW: Frisbee Golf SD-4CSD-4 Quorum Lesson #15 Mutual: First aid CSD-1 First aid merit badge Campout: Snow camp, survival skills, snow shelters. PD-7 FEB Testimony of Christ/Physical Fitness Quorum Lesson #38 Mutual: Physical Fitness PDS-10PD-2 Quorum Lesson #5 Mutual:Physical Fitness SD-1,2 Physical Fit. MB Quorum Lesson #6 Mutual/Combined YM/YW: Youth Olympics CSD-2, 9, 11 Campout: Physical activities, run 1¼ miles, relay race PD-1, 7, 8

45. 20050149.ppt 45 Tracking Duty to God Variety of tools and approaches Individual vs. group Vertical vs. horizontal Formats Printed (PDF) Document file Excel spreadsheet Stored on Web (DutyToGod.org) Handouts show examples

46. 20050149.ppt 46 Role of Parents Parents have the primary responsibility to help your sons succeed. Become familiar with the guidebooks and review them with your sons. Help them set and accomplish goals. Talk with them about their progress, compliment their efforts and sign completed goals.

47. 20050149.ppt 47 Role of Parents, Leaders, Quorum Pres. Conduct Role Play – New Quorum Member Visit

48. 20050149.ppt 48 Other Duty to God Ideas  Conduct Semi-annual Duty to God Firesides with Parents.  Use FHE as a tool to fulfill Duty to God  Read Letter to Elder Dellenbach on Duty to God

49. 20050149.ppt 49

50. 20050149.ppt 50 Testimonial - Former Varsity Scout Leader