Boy/Varsity Scout Insignia Left Front Denali Award

Denali Varsity Award??? Saw it at a BSA national supply store, but can find anything on it.

Originally, I could not find anything on the award, either from the BSA's Boy Scout Program Division nor from the Supply Division; however, a professional Scouter did dig up some information for me (thank you VERY much, Robert!!) and provided me with a copy of the award design...

Denali Varsity Scout Award

and a flyer which has a little bit more information on the Award. I don't have a copy of the new Varsity Scout Guidebook, but here's in part what the flyer states:

"Also included is information about the new Denali Award, which is available only to Varsity Scouts who have already earned the Varsity Scout letter. Requirements for this award can be found in chapter 11 of the new Varsity Scout Guidebook."

Here's more information on the Varsity Denali Award:

Mike Carter correctly wrote:

"The Denali Award is available to Varsity Scouts who complete six requirements.

• (1) Be registered as a Varsity Scout.
• (2) While a Varsity Scout advance one rank toward Eagle, or earn an Eagle Palm.
• (3) Hold a Varsity Scout leadership position.
  • (4a) While a Varsity Scout serve as a leader of an activity in two of the five fields of emphasis.
  • (4b) While a Varsity Scout participate in an activity in the remaining three fields of emphasis.
• (5) Satisfy to the team captain that you know the Varsity Scout Pledge.
• And (6) complete a team board of review with a district/council representative.

Yep. I have revised my page, which is linked to the USSSP's site, with the most current information as relayed to me by Robert and I've verified with the folks at the BSA's Boy Scout Programs Division.

"The Denali Award itself is an handsome medal, but there is no knot or ribbon mentioned in Boy Scout publications. However, someone in our Council office said that there may be a "Varsity" bar available in the future, similar to the "Ranger" Award bar, that could be worn in non-formal settings. I think that would be both appropriate and nice."

That is exactly what the guidance so far from the BSA's Uniform and Insignia Committee is: the top bar of the medal which states "Varsity" will be able to be worn above the left pocket as the Ranger (and Youth Leadership in America Award "Leadership") bars are to be worn. Normally, the BSA doesn't consider square knot insignia until such time as more than 400 holders of the award exist or can exist as it did with the William T. Hornaday Award medals. An appropriate knot design has NOT been submitted by the Boy Scout Program Division, so if someone out there has an idea, they might want to postal mail it to them as a suggestion.

"In our area, leaders are pleased to see the development of a Varsity award that is more attractive and substantive than the Varsity Letter. We anticipate that many Varsity Scouts will pursue the Denali. This should promote advancement to Eagle and encourage more emphasis and participation in the Varsity program.

The Award also has a really cool name. Of course, the name comes from the native Eskimo word for Mount McKinley. At 20,320 feet, McKinley is North America's highest mountain and the crown of the 600-mile-long Alaska Range. The indigenous Athabascan people dubbed the massif "Denali", or the "Great One," and it more than lives up to the name. From base to summit, the mountain's vertical relief is greater than that of Mount Everest. McKinley is located within Denali National Park, a park on an Alaskan scale: six million acres-a plot of land larger than the state of Massachusetts-interrupted by just one road. And at that, the road is gravel and all but closed to private vehicles."

I am always happy when Scouters assist me in making sure that the information I provide as part of The Tree is accurate and reflects the most current thinking on the part of both the professionals at National as well as volunteers out in the field.

Thanks again to Robert (I don't post the last names of professionals who provide me information unless they give me permission to do so and I know I'm not endangering their employment) and to Mike Carter for the information given; and thank you to Randy for asking the original question!!

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