Spice up your summertime program..

[1st Mate]

I am hopeful that your pack is planning scouting fun all summer long and not just a week of day camp. Here is one idea of things to do FOR FREE this summer. Contact you local Sea Scout Ship and take your Cubs to the water for a course on Boating Safety. We just invited all the packs and troops in the council who are interested to arrange a vist with us. We can do a number of different programs and if weather conditions are right and the conditions for Safety Afloat are met we can take them for a sail.

But we have plenty we can show them at anchor to keep them entertained for a few hours.

There are lots of other things you can do this summer as well, just remember that scouting is a year-round program.

[lushrm]

Thanks for the idea, I would have never thought of it!

We are meeting in a week to finalize the plans for our summer program (including some back up activities).

[Scouting Mom]

...if weather conditions are right and the conditions for Safety Afloat are met we can take them for a sail.
Doesn't G2SS prohibit sailing for Cub Scouts?

[1st Mate]

There are restrictions if they cannot pass a swimming test. Such as having a lifeguard onboard, and we 2 certified Lifeguards on the Ship's roster. More than likely though we will keep the cubs on the land or on docked boats and focus on boating terminology and boating safety with them.

[Scouting Mom]

There are restrictions if they cannot pass a swimming test. Such as having a lifeguard onboard, and we 2 certified Lifeguards on the Ship's roster. More than likely though we will keep the cubs on the land or on docked boats and focus on boating terminology and boating safety with them.I think it's wonderful that you offer to teach the Cubs, but I also believe you need to check the rules again...

From the Guide to Safe Scouting: Aquatics Safety; Safety Afloat, 6. Skill Proficiency...
For Cub Scouts:Canoeing, kayaking, rowing, and rafting for Cub Scouts (including Webelos Scouts) are to be limited to council/district events on flat water ponds or controlled lake areas free of powerboats and sailboats. Prior to recreational canoeing and kayaking, Cub Scouts are to be instructed in basic handling skills and safety practices.
Now I realize that that doesn't specifically mention sailing, but the "age appropriate guidelines" here: http://www.scouting.org/pubs/gss/ageguides.pdf does...

Like I said, I think it's great, but I'd hate to see the boys get all excited and someone comes down on you for breaking the rules and the boys get their hopes dashed.

[1st Mate]

You are correct that there are safety precautions that must be considered before doing any outdoor activity and the Guide to Safe Scouting must be reviewed and all bold faced policies adhered to.

In the case of boating the rules are written for specifically for small boat activities where the scout is either operating the boat, or it is refering specifically to very small craft such as canoes kayak and rafts which even in perfect wheatherconditions can tip over.

The boats we operate are MUCH larger (day cruisers) and the Cub Scouts will not be operating them they will be passengers. They are operated by Sea Scouts and leaders who have all passed our State's Boating Safety Course, as well as Safety Afloat, and Safe Swim Defense.

IF we take the cubs sailing they will have to take the prescribed safety orientation (as passengers no operational course will be required since there will be a trained crew on board).

The only restriction specific to sailboats in the Guide to Safe Scouting is that non swimmers be in a boat with a Certified LifeGuard. We are staffed to meet that requirenment. And we are in inland waters.

In addition we have a supply of Type II PFDs for all passengers on our boats (Our crew wears Type III). The difference being that Type II will float a person face up. One added safety precaution is provided by Mother Nature. In that the area we sail though wide averages only 3ft deep. IN fact the counties park District uses our area for their summer sailing Classes which teaches children from age 8 and up how to sail, and many of them solo sail on this lake. (That of course is not something we would do with Cub Scouts)

Bear in mind that the Guidelines to Age Appropriate activities is exactly that ...a guideline, it is not a set of policies but a merely a quick reference to consider when planning an activity. In our case the activity is that of passenger. We also carefully follow the BSA Sweet Sixteen of Safety in all our activities.

But I really do appreciate your bringing the topic up. With careful planning and knowledge of the BSA safety policies it is still possible to offer great adventure while still providing a gerat deal of safety for the participants

[BoatDaddy]

Here is another great summer activity for your Cub Scout Pack.

In addition to the fun, it qualifies your Pack for a number of awards.

Its Treasure Hiking - geocaching for Packs.

Find out more at www.treasurehiking.com.

[Den5Pack457]

I know it's only December, but it's time to start considering summer activities. Our council has just released the dates for camps, and hopefully; we can start pitching the camps, now, to encourage the scouts to attend.

This was a great thread last year. I was hoping some of you may have lessons learned or other things to consider based upon this past summer???

[WB Bear]

Good Point! Planning ahead is so very crucial in providing a fun, exciting and effective program.

[Apache Bob]

Thought that I would add one more summer time activity that our Pack has used for several years.
We call it Watermelons and Waterguns.
We start with the waterguns first. The only rule is that if a person is not holding a watergun you cannot shoot them. That goes for adults also.
After about one hour we start cutting the watermelons. By then everyone is hungry and the kids wearing out.
Then it is clean up and home.
We have made the event a recruiting tool also by asking the every Cub Scout try to bring a friend and his parents to the event. We have gotten several new Cub Scouts and parents this way.

[Den5Pack457]

Mmmm... that sounds good. I'll have to add that one to the list this summer. :)

[Nuts4Scouts]

As an FYI about watergun fights -

From the Guide to Safe Scouting - Unauthorized and Restricted Activities

The following activities have been declared unauthorized and restricted by the Boy Scouts of America:

Pointing any type of firearm (including paintball, dye, or lasers) at any individual is unauthorized.


I believe watergun wars would fall into this category.

[Den5Pack457]

Wow. I was more stoked about the watermelon myself. For our kick-off picnic, the hit was the Frozen T-Shirt Contest.

T-Shirts are thoroughly soaked the day before and folded up like you would put them away in a drawer. Place them in the freezer overnight.

For the contest, every Den grabs a frozen T-shirt and the first Den where everyone is able to put the T-shirt on all the way on wins. The dens can do anything to try and get their shirts apart. Some sit on them trying to warm them up, some have poured bug juice or water on them trying to get them to melt. Have them use their imagination as to how they will get the shirt undone and on.