Cub Scouts canoeing

[clay]

I want to take my boys canoeing. I was reading what and what not we can do. I have a small pond (3 acres)in the back yard, can I take the boys (webelos) for a day of fishing and canoeing. I would like to work on aquanaut with rescuing, is there a patch or pin that they can get for canoeing, and is this ok. Thanks

[OneHour]

clay ... checked into this not too long ago but in G2SS, you should carefully read the Safety Afloat section, particularly item #6

 

"6. Skill Proficiency

All persons participating in activity afloat must be trained and experienced in watercraft handling skills, safety, and emergency procedures.

 

For unit activity on white water, all participants must complete special training by a BSA Aquatics Instructor or qualified whitewater specialist.

 

...

 

Except for whitewater and powerboat operation as noted above, either a minimum of three hours' training and supervised practice or meeting requirements for "basic handling tests" is required for all float trips or open-water excursions using unpowered craft.

 

For Cub Scouts: Canoeing and rafting for Cub Scouts (including Webelos Scouts) is to be limited to council/district events on flat water ponds or controlled lake areas free of powerboats and sailboats. Prior to recreational canoeing, Cub Scouts are to be instructed in basic handling skills and safety practices."

 

 

I had to check into it since one of the fathers in my son's Den also had the similar thought. If I remembered it correctly, Webelos are the only Cubs who can do canoeing and only in a council or district event on flat water ponds and everyone has to be trained by the District or by Council on canoeing. http://www.usscouts.org/safety/g2ss.html

Also, the liability is too great at Cub Scout age. If I were the leader, I wouldn't take on that liability and I didn't.

 

For Aquanaut, I took my Den to the local pool and worked with them. At our Pool they allowed us to borrow their rescue float, poles, and ropes. Now, the one fun thing that I did to show them that there is a use for knot-tying skills was to show them how to tie an one-handed bowline. I went to the deep and became the drowing victim. They toss me a rope and I quickly tied the bowline and had them pull me to shore. They were amazed and you should have seen how quickly they learned the bowline so that they could be the "drowing victim." By the way, they also learned to use the clove hitch to anchor one end of the rope before they throw. By the way, you will have to have the same Safe Swim trained adult leaders and requiment as presribed in G2SS during the Aquanaut session as well. Good luck.

 

1Hour(This message has been edited by OneHour)

[CubsRgr8]

I suggest you skip the canoes and fish from shore or the dock, but make sure there there's at least one Safe Swim trained adult present.

 

OneHour - did the presence of the pool's lifeguards fulfill the Safe Swim requirement? Or did you have additional Pack adults present?

[OneHour]

We didn't have to have BSA lifeguard since it was in a public pool with lifeguards.

 

"Pool and Surf Swimming

The Safe Swim Defense applies to swimming at the beach, private or public pool, wilderness pond, stream, lake, or anywhere Scouts swim. ...

 

Pool--If the swimming activity is in a public facility where others are using the pool at the same time, and the pool operator provides guard personnel, there may be no need for additional designation of Scout lifeguards and lookout. ..."

 

However, you will need to have at least one person trained in Safe Swim and Safety Afloat per:

 

"Before a BSA group may engage in swimming activities of any kind, a minimum of one adult leader must complete Safe Swim Defense training, have a commitment card (No. 34243) with them, and agree to use the eight defenses in this plan."

 

I was the trained Safe Swim and Safety Afloat person for the event; however, I had the Webelos parents and leaders there as well. We had around 23 Webelos performing their Aquanaut requirements. We had it first thing after the pool opened, once at the beginning of the summer and once at the end of the summer and we had the pool all to ourselves. I had them do the swim tests first to pick out the swimmers vs. beginners vs. non-swimmer before we went into the "deep end" test (floating, etc.). I did it twice because I usually advise the parents of the non-swimmers and beginners to enroll their cub in Red Cross or similar swimming lessons during summer so that they can be retest at the end of the summer. This is especially good for the 2nd year Webelos. They would be readied for the scouting swimming requirements.

 

As a matter of fact, there are three pins that I had my Webelos Leaders repeat at least twice during the 1 1/2 year as a Webelos ... aquanaut, outdoorman, and readyman.