Kayaking Merit Badge Development

[optimist]

Messages moved from MeritBadge.com

Kobalt
Star

Joined: 12 Jul 2004
Posts: 98
Location: Louisville, KY
Posted: 18 Jul 2004 10:57 pm Post subject: Kayaking Merit
Badge Development

Since the BSA already has merit badges for Canoeing, Sailing,
Rowing, Motor Boating, and Water Skiing, they might as well
have one for Kayaking. This topic will be an open post for
those who would like to develop this award into a merit badge.
You are free to post your ideas. Get started!
_________________
John Baunach
Troop 42
"If it were easy, it would have been done before." -Jeana
Yeager, co-pilot of Voyager

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BM_Crawford
Life

Joined: 12 Jul 2004
Posts: 131
Location: PA W/F Council
Posted: 18 Jul 2004 11:01 pm Post subject:

I like that idea it would be alot of fun!
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Brian Crawford
Troop 251

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Kobalt
Star

Joined: 12 Jul 2004
Posts: 98
Location: Louisville, KY
Posted: 18 Jul 2004 11:08 pm Post subject:

I'd say that we model the badge after the Canoeing Merit
Badge. I'm never kayaked before (which is why I'd be happy to
see this badge), so I'd like some input from experienced
kayakers. We could keep the Universal Three Requirements for
Aquatic stuff:

1. Show that you know first aid for injuries or illnesses that
could occur while kayaking, including hypothermia, heatstroke,
heat exhaustion, dehydration, sunburn, insect stings, tick
bites, blisters, and hyperventilation.

2. Do the following:
a. Identify the conditions that must exist before performing
CPR on a person. Explain how such conditions are recognized.
b. Demonstrate proper technique for performing CPR using a
training device approved by your counselor.

3. Before doing the following requirements, successfully
complete the BSA swimmer test. Jump feetfirst into water over
your head in depth, swim 75 yards or 75 meters in a strong
manner using one or more of the following strokes: sidestroke,
breaststroke, trudgen, or crawl; then swim 25 yards or 25
meters using an easy resting backstroke. The 100 yards or 100
meters must be swum continuously and include at least one
sharp turn. After completing the swim, rest by floating as
motionless as possible.

What do you know? Three requirements down.
_________________
John Baunach
Troop 42
"If it were easy, it would have been done before." -Jeana
Yeager, co-pilot of Voyager

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Firefish
Life

Joined: 05 Jul 2004
Posts: 145
Location: Beaver, Pa
Posted: 19 Jul 2004 06:57 am Post subject:

sounds fun

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optimist
Advancement Chairman

Joined: 27 Jun 2004
Posts: 144

Posted: 19 Jul 2004 08:53 am Post subject:

I'm going to play devil's advocate here...

If the BSA already has a Kayaking BSA Award, what purpose is
served by creating a Kayaking Merit Badge? Will the merit
badge requirements be more extensive than the award
requirements? Will the award be discontinued when the merit
badge is created?

If you haven't read the requirements for the award, click on
the following link:

http://www.meritbadge.com/awd/kayaking.htm

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PeachNehiFloat
Scout

Joined: 05 Jul 2004
Posts: 2

Posted: 19 Jul 2004 09:01 am Post subject: RE: Kayaking
Merit Badge

My thoughts are : Since there is presently a Whitewater Merit
Badge, the BSA probably would state that the requirements
could be similiar. Do remember that there used to be a
combination rifle/shotgun shooting merit badge and now they
have been separated into two separate badges. Good luck!

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Kobalt
Star

Joined: 12 Jul 2004
Posts: 98
Location: Louisville, KY
Posted: 19 Jul 2004 10:03 am Post subject:

No proble, optimist. It's good for people to play the DA every
once in a while. I was thinking that perhaps the award would
evolve into a merit badge. It's kind of strange that kayaking
is not thought of as highly as every other aquatic sport.

Peach, that's what I was aiming for. Get requirements from
other MBs, like Whitewater and Canoeing, and definately from
the Award itself.
_________________
John Baunach
Troop 42
"If it were easy, it would have been done before." -Jeana
Yeager, co-pilot of Voyager

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Canoeist23
Tenderfoot

Joined: 08 Aug 2004
Posts: 9
Location: Staten Island,NY
Posted: 09 Aug 2004 10:14 am Post subject:

What you could even do is do an option on whitewater MB where
it can be completed with a canoe or kayak. Just like the Rifle
shooting merit badge with 3 types of guns.
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Tim Quinn
Patrol Leader, Timberwolves
Troop 222

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Guneukitschik
Life

Joined: 02 Aug 2004
Posts: 162
Location: Waynesboro, PA
Posted: 09 Aug 2004 10:30 am Post subject:

that sounds like a good idea, then you give the option to the
scout!
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http://www.bsatroop88.org

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ICanCanoeCanU
Second Class

Joined: 05 Aug 2004
Posts: 20

Posted: 09 Aug 2004 10:00 pm Post subject: Kayaking Merit
Badge Development

I thought the National Council was already seriously
considering this? Yes, I absolutely think this should be a MB.
One of the summer camps our troop attends offer a class in
kayaking but reminds scouts that this is not a MB, what a
shame. Kayaking is quite popular in New York with lots of
great locations offering special programs for scouts, in fact
several close states as well. The requirements should be
similar to the other water boat badges. Next one,
wakeboarding?

Last edited by ICanCanoeCanU on 10 Aug 2004 01:58 pm; edited 1
time in total

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Guneukitschik
Life

Joined: 02 Aug 2004
Posts: 162
Location: Waynesboro, PA
Posted: 10 Aug 2004 06:50 am Post subject:

I am actually surprised that there is a Water Skiing Merit
Badge, with the fact that a power boat must be used in order
to complete the task. Because in the Guide to safe scouting
there are a ton of things that scouts cannot do and most
involve some type of motorized equipment such as motorcycles,
car races, atv's, etc.
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http://www.bsatroop88.org

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ICanCanoeCanU
Second Class

Joined: 05 Aug 2004
Posts: 20

Posted: 11 Aug 2004 05:50 am Post subject: Kayaking

This badge is offered at one of the summer camps we attend,
the camp staff operates the boat. This camp also offers
motorboating, where the scouts do learn to operate a small
motoboat. The only prerequisite for either of these, like all
the other water badges, is that the scout passes the swim test
given at check in.

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[hisdad]

Hi, I am a very long time kayaker... and canoeist. Mainly whitewater competition slalom and down river racing.

Yes, kayaking should be either a badge of its own or as an option in a combined badge "Paddle Sports" (just like skiing became Snowsports)

Anyway, it will need areas of specialization -- river/lake or Sea.
BTW I'm a Whitewater MBC.

[longhorneagle]

Their is a whitewater merit badge

[scouter01]

kayaking it self should be a badge. just add some first aid and its pretty much the same as canoeing, just with kayaking.

[alex gregory]

Kayaking, specifically flat water and sea kayaking that use similar boats and skills, is HUGE. In the Pacific NW the kayak easily surpasses the canoe in popularity, and for good reason; the kayak is far superior to a canoe. I have spent a lot of time in both, and while I agree that canoeing is lot of fun, a kayak is more stable, faster, quicker, and easier to handle (especially in surf or choppy water). Kayaks are already adopted by many scouting programs and included in other merit badges. Indeed, the kayaking award is a pre-requisite for the whitewater sports badge for those scouts who choose the whitewter kayaking option over whitewater canoeing.

The requirements of the exisiting award can easily be expanded to the same level of challenge required for the canoeing badge. If the concern is creating too many merit badges than simply change canoeing to paddle sports, and add kayaking as an option.

Kayaking deserves merit badge status as opposed to merely being an award. With all the reasons in favor of a kayaing MB, why the delay?

If anyone reading this knows what if anything is being done to give kayaking merit badge status, please let me know.

[smtroop168]

a response from the National guys on Kayaking MB:

Kayaking – I think there was one proposed many years ago, and instead the BSA went with a non-merit badge program called Kayaking BSA.