Kayaking Merit Badge

[optimist]

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danarae
Scout

Joined: 06 Jul 2004
Posts: 1

Posted: 06 Jul 2004 09:52 pm Post subject: Kayaking Merit
Badge

Is there a book or pamphlet for this?

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optimist
Advancement Chairman

Joined: 27 Jun 2004
Posts: 122

Posted: 07 Jul 2004 08:10 am Post subject:

No, not specifically. The BSA does not publish booklets which
help with the earning of awards like they do with merit
badges. However, the Canoeing and Whitewater merit badge
pamphlets should have some helpful information.

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Firefish
Life

Joined: 05 Jul 2004
Posts: 145
Location: Beaver, Pa
Posted: 16 Jul 2004 08:57 am Post subject:

Is there a kayaking merit badge?

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BM_Crawford
Life

Joined: 12 Jul 2004
Posts: 131
Location: PA W/F Council
Posted: 16 Jul 2004 10:09 am Post subject:

I dont think there is otherwise they would offer it at my
summer camp cause I know they have kayacks. And if they
offered it I'd have it (just cause I LOVE aquatic merit
badges. Very fun! lol)
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Brian Crawford
Troop 251

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optimist
Advancement Chairman

Joined: 27 Jun 2004
Posts: 122

Posted: 16 Jul 2004 02:56 pm Post subject:

Kayaking is part of the award program, not a merit badge.

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Firefish
Life

Joined: 05 Jul 2004
Posts: 145
Location: Beaver, Pa
Posted: 17 Jul 2004 09:51 am Post subject:

Bm_crawford you would probably like sea scouts then cuz it
sound like there main thing is boating thing look at the
equirements for the ranks

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Firefish
Life

Joined: 05 Jul 2004
Posts: 145
Location: Beaver, Pa
Posted: 18 Jul 2004 01:19 pm Post subject:

I wish there was a kayaking merit badge

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BM_Crawford
Life

Joined: 12 Jul 2004
Posts: 131
Location: PA W/F Council
Posted: 18 Jul 2004 08:27 pm Post subject:

Huh thanks, I'll look into it!
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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 10:55 pm Post subject:

You know, Firefish, there could be a Kayaking Merit Badge.
I'll post something on the MB Development Board for people to
post ideas.
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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 06:55 am Post subject:

good idea kobalt

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Kobalt
Star

Joined: 12 Jul 2004
Posts: 98
Location: Louisville, KY
Posted: 19 Jul 2004 10:07 am Post subject:

Here's the link to the Merit Badge Discussion Topic:

http://www.meritbadge.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=50
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John Baunach
Troop 42
"If it were easy, it would have been done before." -Jeana
Yeager, co-pilot of Voyager

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buffalo2
Scout

Joined: 22 Jul 2004
Posts: 2
Location: Across the river
Posted: 23 Jul 2004 10:56 am Post subject:

Might be worth a look at the Whitewater MB pamphlet? Some good
stuff in there

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wagionvigil
Counselor

Joined: 21 Jul 2004
Posts: 189
Location: PA
Posted: 24 Jul 2004 04:36 pm Post subject: Whitewater MB

This is just like Kayaking so take it. For those close to
western pa. Wilderness-voyaguers in Ohiopyle PA. offer
Whitewater MB on the Yough. They are the Oldest rafting
company on this side of the Mississippi.
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Firefish
Life

Joined: 05 Jul 2004
Posts: 145
Location: Beaver, Pa
Posted: 24 Jul 2004 04:52 pm Post subject:

we are planning on doing that to
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Peter Cahill
Troop 469
A Fighting Irish

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wagionvigil
Counselor

Joined: 21 Jul 2004
Posts: 189
Location: PA
Posted: 03 Aug 2004 08:41 pm Post subject: Kayaking BSA
Requirements

LISTED BELOW ARE THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE BSA KAYAKING SWIM
SUIT PATCH!
Before fulfilling the following requirements, successfully
complete the BSA Swimmer test.
Do the following:
Describe various types of kayaks and how they differ in
design, materials, and purpose.
Name the parts of the kayak you are using for this exercise.
Demonstrate how to choose an appropriately sized kayak paddle
and how to position your hands.
Do the following:
Tell what precautions must be taken for a safe trip afloat.
Demonstrate how to select and properly fit a PFD.
Explain the importance of safety equipment such as PFD's, air
bags, grab loops, and helmets.
Demonstrate your ability to aid yourself and others in the
event of a capsize:
Capsize your kayak in water at least seven feet deep, perform
a wet exit if necessary, and swim the boat to shore.
With assistance, if needed, ready the capsized craft for use.
Show how to approach a capsized paddler in your kayak and tow
him to shore.
While upright in your kayak, right a capsized kayak, empty it
of water, and assist the paddler aboard without returning to
shore.
As a solo paddler, demonstrate the following:
Entering and launching a kayak from shore or dock.
Landing or docking and exiting a kayak.
Forward stroke
Sweep stroke
Reverse sweep
Draw stroke
Rudder stroke
Back stroke
As a solo paddler, do the following:
Paddle forward in a reasonably straight line.
Move the kayak sideways to the right and to the left.
Pivot 360 degrees to the right and left.
Stop the kayak.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Page updated on: April 16, 2004
_________________
Action Center D Rappel Tower Director 2001 and 2005 National
Jamborees
Northeast REgion Area 4 Venturing Chairman
Wagion 6 Lodge Advisor 96-99
"If you ain't A bear you're a Meal"

Last edited by wagionvigil on 05 Aug 2004 03:29 am; edited 1
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[optimist]

Messages moved from MeritBadge.com

optimist
Advancement Chairman

Joined: 27 Jun 2004
Posts: 122

Posted: 04 Aug 2004 05:57 pm Post subject:

Nice job! Here are a few thoughts that you may want to
consider.

Instead of "various types of kayaks" I recomend a specific
number, such as "three different types of kayaks" or whatever
number you feel would work well.

Are PFD requirements different for different classes of
whitewater? (Sorry if I'm showing my ignornace on this subject
)

Of course, this badge would need the standard three wet badge
requiements:

1. Show that you know first aid for injuries or illnesses that
could occur while canoeing, 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.

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wagionvigil
Counselor

Joined: 21 Jul 2004
Posts: 189
Location: PA
Posted: 04 Aug 2004 06:01 pm Post subject:

What I posted is Official BSA to get the Swim Suit Patch for
Kayaking. As You see they already have it set up. All they
need to do is proceed
_________________
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Northeast REgion Area 4 Venturing Chairman
Wagion 6 Lodge Advisor 96-99
"If you ain't A bear you're a Meal"

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optimist
Advancement Chairman

Joined: 27 Jun 2004
Posts: 122

Posted: 04 Aug 2004 06:15 pm Post subject:

You tricked me

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wagionvigil
Counselor

Joined: 21 Jul 2004
Posts: 189
Location: PA
Posted: 04 Aug 2004 06:17 pm Post subject:

not really I put in the subject line
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Wagion 6 Lodge Advisor 96-99
"If you ain't A bear you're a Meal"

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cballman
Second Class

Joined: 27 Jul 2004
Posts: 18
Location: Nicholasville KY
Posted: 04 Aug 2004 08:58 pm Post subject: requirements

instead of req.#1 reading show the various small bits for
first aid why cant it be made to say " Scout must have
completed the First Aid Merit badge?

then req. #2 could read "Scout must have completed the
Swimming merit badge before starting this badge"

Why would this not work since most of the First aid badge is
pretty much what we need to use in an emergency?

then for thw swimming merit badge since you have had to have
some training for float emergencies then I think it would be a
better req. than just the swimmers test.
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Charlie Ballman
ASM Troop 41 Lexington KY

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optimist
Advancement Chairman

Joined: 27 Jun 2004
Posts: 122

Posted: 05 Aug 2004 07:28 am Post subject:

You are correct, it could say that, but this kind of
requirement is something the BSA avoids if at all possible.
I'm not sure why this is, what they have against having
prerequisites for merit badges, but they do. I only know of
three merit badges that have prerequisites. They are:

Emergency Preparedness merit badge - requires First Aid
merit badge.

Whitewater merit badge - requires Canoeing merit badge.

Woodcarving merit badge - requires that you earn the Totin'
Chip.

I don't want to make the program terribly complex but I do
feel that all knowledge is earned in steps and some steps have
a logical order thus there is a need for prerequisites. Let's
take CPR as an example.

Ten merit badges have CPR requirements but they only require a
basic knowledge of CPR. Of these ten merit badges, eight are
aquatics related. If CPR is so important for aquatics safety,
why not make full certification a requirement at some point? I
think the most likely candidate for a CPR certification
requirement is Lifesaving merit badge. After all, isn't CPR an
intergal part of saving lives?

Of course, CPR certification is a requirement of the BSA
Lifeguard award. However, like all awards, this award is an
extra activity outside the main advancement program. I would
venture to say that for every one person who earns BSA
Lifeguard, dozens earn Lifesaving merit badge. Since it's
relatively rare, the BSA Lifeguard award has little impact on
the day to day activities of a troop but many troops have a
few older boys who have earned Lifesaving merit badge.

This same line of thought can be used for making other
prerequisites for merit badges, but once again, we don't want
to make the program too complex. Even so, some are pretty
obvious. The reason First Aid used to be required for First
Class is because it was the foundation upon which so much was
built. Swimming is also a foundation merit badge in my mind.
Why it's not a requirement for Lifesaving merit badge I
couldn't hazard to guess.

So yes, cballman, reqs #1 and #2 could say exactly what you
said but the BSA doesn't do it that way.

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cballman
Second Class

Joined: 27 Jul 2004
Posts: 18
Location: Nicholasville KY
Posted: 05 Aug 2004 09:52 pm Post subject: MERIT BADGES

Optimist for once I have had someone tell me that they agreed
with me I am an Eagle Scout from 1977 so to help with the
program now I have had to go through many changes to help but
also push for First Aid and Swimming merit badges because I
think they are Nessecary. sorry cant spell
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Charlie Ballman
ASM Troop 41 Lexington KY

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optimist
Advancement Chairman

Joined: 27 Jun 2004
Posts: 122

Posted: 06 Aug 2004 07:44 am Post subject:

As a Scout leader, we are there to provide guidance. One of
the things I have always emphasized in the troops I have
worked with is the importance of getting First Aid and
Swimming merit badges ASAP. It' not a rule since that would be
a violation of BSA rules but my method of encouraging that to
happen is simply by expecting it. I have had Scouts (and
parents) that have balked and gone their own way without much
detriment to themselves but it always seems to me like the
Scouts who do these foundation merit badges first do better in
the program in the long run.

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RWSmith
Counselor

Joined: 13 Jul 2004
Posts: 55
Location: Charlotte, NC
Posted: 06 Aug 2004 10:04 am Post subject:

optimist wrote:
As a Scout leader, we are there to provide guidance. One
of the things I have always emphasized in the troops I
have worked with is the importance of getting First Aid
and Swimming merit badges ASAP. It' not a rule since
that would be a violation of BSA rules but my method of
encouraging that to happen is simply by expecting it. I
have had Scouts (and parents) that have balked and gone
their own way without much detriment to themselves but
it always seems to me like the Scouts who do these
foundation merit badges first do better in the program
in the long run.

Bulls Eye.
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ADC, Apache District

If you can read this, thank a teacher... If you can read it in
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wagionvigil
Counselor

Joined: 21 Jul 2004
Posts: 189
Location: PA
Posted: 06 Aug 2004 10:19 am Post subject:

Suggesting and requireing are two totally different things and
alot of troops do not realize this. We can suggest but we
cannot require
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cballman
Second Class

Joined: 27 Jul 2004
Posts: 18
Location: Nicholasville KY
Posted: 06 Aug 2004 11:56 pm Post subject: first aid and
swimming

In our troop we dont make the kids do any merit badge but we
strongley suggest that at summer camp the kids get their
swimming merit badge. because it is a classsroom setting
kinda. we had kids that was scared of the water in the lake
but when I took my swim test and I had to swim the same test
with some kids so that they werentso scared but also Yes I am
a BSA Lifequard. and we also have a rule in our troop that
only a Certified Lifequard can only sighn off on the swimming
req. for Tenderfoot, Second class, and first class. it might
not be totally Kosher but it has worked for us since I came in
the troop 4 years ago.
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Charlie Ballman
ASM Troop 41 Lexington KY

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BM_Crawford
Life

Joined: 12 Jul 2004
Posts: 131
Location: PA W/F Council
Posted: 07 Aug 2004 08:59 am Post subject:

Let me get this right you mean a BSA Lifegaurd adult leader
right? Because scouts CANNOT sign off on ANY requirements. But
I can see your idea and how it would be a good idea only if
the BSA Lifegaurd is an adult.
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Brian Crawford
Troop 251

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Rick Tyler
Scout

Joined: 07 Aug 2004
Posts: 7
Location: Redmond, Washington
Posted: 07 Aug 2004 09:44 am Post subject:

BM_Crawford wrote:
Let me get this right you mean a BSA Lifegaurd adult
leader right? Because scouts CANNOT sign off on ANY
requirements. But I can see your idea and how it would
be a good idea only if the BSA Lifegaurd is an adult.

Actually, Boy Scouts can sign off on rank requirements if they
are authorized to do so by the Scoutmaster. In our troop, we
actually discourage adults from teaching and signing off on
rank advancement because we feel that senior scouts learn as
much by teaching and testing as the younger scouts do in
learning the skills.

The only requirements which are reserved for adult sign-off
are participation, service hours, scout spirit, Scoutmaster
conference, and Board of Review. Oh, yeah... and First Class
cooking. The committee found so many scouts only doing part of
the FC cooking requirement that the committee directed that
only the Scoutmaster and Asst. Scoutmasters can sign off on
this. Also, of course, no youth member of BSA can be a Merit
Badge counselor.

Before they can sign rank advancement a scout in our troop
must attend a special JLT session where the Scoutmaster
teaches them how to teach and test skills, and must be at
least a Star scout. The only exception to this is for Troop
Guides and Instructors, who only need to be First Class.
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Yis,

Rick Tyler
ASM, Troop 571
Chief Seattle Council
Troop MB Chancellor and Admiral of the Troop Fleet

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wagionvigil
Counselor

Joined: 21 Jul 2004
Posts: 189
Location: PA
Posted: 07 Aug 2004 01:40 pm Post subject:

SPL ASPL and Patroil leaders have historically always been
able to sign off on requirements. That was the purpose of
separate Patrol meetings. I know alot of troops have Patrol
Meeting during their Regular meeting so the PL has the new
scout go through a couple required knots and signs them off.
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Guneukitschik
Life

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

Don't forget...It's still the Scoutmasters responsibility at
the Scoutmasters Conference to make sure that he feels that
the Scout has fulfilled the requirements. Any of the leaders
should be providing guidance and training when required to
make sure that nothing is being missed.
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