by Reasonable Rascal » Fri May 06, 2011 5:15 pm
Perhaps I should reword this: I "require" in the sense that I tell them they are signed up for it unless there is an overriding reason not to. Swimming is not a part of the Trail Begins (first year camper) program here, and in fact has never been a part of the first year program for any camp I have attended as an adult, and that's 5 different states. There is a reason the 80 available slots for Swimming fill up before May 1: unless you are fortunate enough to have a certified counselor (we aren't) it's either summer camp or drive 100+ miles each way for at least 2-3 sessions to find one.
I realize there are alternatives for Swimming but we live in the Mojave desert. I don't discourage either Hiking or Cycling but activity on that level can be life-threatening here much of the year for those who are not in very good physical condition. May 6 and it is 102 degrees here already. I have seen 2 boys who are native to this area complete Cycling. Non-native means years before you are effectively acclimated to the temps around here and can function strenuously at the level required.
Had it not been Scouting I'd likely have never learned to swim well enough to do more than puddle around. But neither do I tell the boys that it's either Swimming or nothing. I had a boy last year who could not swim, and another who got hypothermic during his swim test and was basically discouraged from trying again (per Staff). The difference is between a mountain stream/dammed lake (Camp Hi-Sierra) and a pool such as Geronimo offers. Likewise I have had boys struggle to make it, requiring a 2nd year attempt because of altitude changes. We sit at 550', and camp is at 5,600' this year (6,200 last). Another boy couldn't get enough wind in his lungs to get blue swimmer so he could finish his Lifesaving.
Last but not least we have a trailer full of canoes we don't use because I want the requisite safety measures in place first. The last SM esqued life jackets actually being worn, safe swim defense and other measures regularly and I cringed mightily when the boys went "cliff diving" off a rocky island into what looked to be deep enough water (they said). When I took over I said no canoeing until we had a safety plan and boys who knew how to swim, proper life jackets, and adults who were properly trained. We now have 2 adults certified in paddlecraft safety as well as 4 for safe swim defense.
RR
Boys can save lives when Scouting first saves them.
