(CNN) The Mormon church says older teens in the United States and Canada will no longer take part in two Boy Scouts programs, starting next year.

The announcement, made Thursday, is significant. The church and the Boy Scouts of America have had a relationship for more than a century. It was the first partner to sponsor Scouting in the United States, and to this day remains the nation's largest sponsor.

Approximately 330,000 Mormon youths are served by the Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts program.

Starting its own activities program

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said it will begin a new activities program for boys ages 14 to 18. It said the BSA's Varsity and Venturing programs, both of which aim to prepare teens for adulthood, were difficult to implement on the local level. Venturing is open to boys and girls. The Varsity program "challenges boys who want a rugged outdoor experience."

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