Resources For Swimming MB

[Mad Dog]

Does anyone know where you can do the in-water requirements for the swimming merit badge other than camp? We have a few boys who wouldlike to get the badge completed prior to camp. I have tried the local Y but to no avail. We are in Northern New Jersey. We could also go to Rockland County New York. As always any help is appreciated.

[wagionvigil]

Local high SChool with a Pool??? You still need at Swimming MB Counselor.

[FrankJ]

The requirements can be done in a pool. Find a swimming merit badge counselor & ask for suggestions.

[Mad Dog]

I found a local MBC who usually rents a pool for his troop. Unfortunately he has stopped returning my calls and emails so I am looking for alternatives. The head of the Y swimming prigram was a MBC but is no longer and did not seem interested in registering again.

[wagionvigil]

COntact your service cebnter for a list of counselors

[FrankJ]

If you cannot find a counselor, mabe you could recruit one. Do you know any swim team coaches or lifeguards over 18? The requirements are not that difficult, most competant swimmers could handle them.

It sounds like the Y manager would let you use the pool; just a time issue for him?

I a liitle far south so this is the limit of my usefullness

[Lynda J]

Talk to the senior lifeguard at your local Y. Also talk to that person about being a MBC. We couldn't find a counselor for Music. I talked to our Middle School band director. Guess what he was thrilled to be ask. It has also worked out well both ways. He now has a better understanding of Scouting. When there are tryouts set for weekends, if we have anything involving our troop going on he will set any Scout as early in the morning as he possible can. This way the boys aren't losing out of either.
Remember the only way to find out if someone can do it ask. If you don't ask they can't say YES. If you don't ask then it is you that is saying NO. And you really have nothing to lose.

[evmori]

Does your district run a winter swim program? Contact your local school district & see if they have rec swim times at their pools.

[deweylure]

The local YMCA is a good place to start for use oif the pool or a Park district.

Deweylure

[Chief J]

Agree, the Local Y is a great place to start. We usually rent the YMCA Pool at least 2-3 times a year for swim parties and swimming merit badge and lifesaving. Our cost is about $90 an hour with lifeguards provided.

Best Regards,
Chief J

[Mad Dog]

The local YMCA could not accomodate us so I contacted the YWCA. They use the same buiding and pool. The aquatics director is no longer a registered MBC but would go over the requirements. She would also do private lessons for 30/hr if necessary. Then I found an MBC who said if I had a signed note form the aquatics director that the requiremenst had been met he would sign off on the badge.

[cballman]

lets try a different approach instead of trying to find someone why not make one from your troop. the BSA lifeguard course is offered at summer camps nationwide. then you would have your own MBC. just a thought. then you could take the kids to the YMCA/YWCA and just pay the admission fee and not someone else.