Non-swimmers

[dparker]

I am an ASM for our Troop and we have run into some issues with a couple of our boys. They are brothers, but both seem to be vexed by the same problem: They can't seem to learn to swim. I take this as a failure on my part for not getting them to the right teachers and I really don't want them to be held up in their advancement because of this.

They have both been to Scout camp and the counselors there give up or the boys get frustrated and give up. I have had Swmming MB counselors try to work with them one-on-one, to no avail. The boys really don't spend much time in the water, so I guess it isn't that important to them. They really do try, but can't seem to get the knack of it.

Any suggestions? With winter rapidly approaching, I know my time is growing short.

[wagionvigil]

Seems you are doing the best you can. Remember you cannot waive the swimming requirements in this case. There is no Health or safety reason. Possibly as they get older they will be able to do it.

[dparker]

Seems you are doing the best you can. Remember you cannot waive the swimming requirements in this case. There is no Health or safety reason. Possibly as they get older they will be able to do it.

Agreed! I really want them to learn the skill as I believe everyone should know how to swim. The older boy is 17, so Eagle is out of the question now, but would still like him to learn. They younger boy is 12 and I still have a chance with him to make it.

[Rick Tyler]

We are in western Washington, where swimming isn't all that popular (at least compared to my original home in southern California... I can't believe how many Washington high schools don't have pools). Every year we have to deal with one or two scouts who cannot swim.

We send them to the local parks department swimming program for help. Local swim teams might be able to help you if your parks department doesn't teach swimming. One unfortunate boy who had a lot of muscles and no fat sank so quickly that he finally had to take private lessons. Ultimately, they all learn
to swim and complete Second and First Class swimming.

I wouldn't have a clue how to teach swimming using troop resources.

[wagionvigil]

Every Winter in March my District has SCout Swim at a local High SChool Pool. this is not a recreational swim but a learning swim. Second year Webelos can do Aquanaut Or learn how to swim. SCouts can come as troops and do their Swim test for camp, Learn to swim or take Swimming or Lifesaving Merit Badges. We also offer some of the BSA Lifeguard requirements. This runs 4 Wednesday evenings 5-7 and each boy is charged 1.00 per week to pay for the pool. The First hour is Webelos and Swimming MB the Second Hour is Lifesaving and Boy Scouts. We type up a list for each troop as to swimmer classifications and give them to take to camp with them. It really makes camp check in go a lot quicker. This is a great way to improve swimming skills. I usually have plenty of help aand we have had the same 10 or 12 people doing this for at least 15 years.

[dparker]

Every Winter in March my District has SCout Swim at a local High SChool Pool. this is not a recreational swim but a learning swim. Second year Webelos can do Aquanaut Or learn how to swim. SCouts can come as troops and do their Swim test for camp, Learn to swim or take Swimming or Lifesaving Merit Badges. ...

Excellent idea! If I could get the district to go for this, that would provide a great resource. I will bring this up at the next Roundtable and see what they think. The OA puts on a "Road to First Class" in the fall, but this would be equally beneficial, especially given the MB classes offered. It would take a serious committment by the district leaders, however.

[wagionvigil]

All of our instructors are BSA Certified as either BSA Life Guards or Scout Life Guard Instructors or Aquatic Instructors.
Just a Suggestion for your 17 year old. Get him involved in a Venture Crew. He can stay active until 21 and Work on his Ranger Award since Eagle looks out of the Picture. Many Troops in this Area are Chartering a Crew for their older scouts. So they have a Troop and Crew that do Activities Together but also separate.

[scoutmasterbob]

You could concentrate on all the other advancement requirements and perhaps as the scouts get older, they may out grow the thing that keeps them from swimming.
The more you push the harder they will fight, let them try to over come the problem in there own time. It works.

As stated in earlier threads, the swimming is a req. that cannot be waived, without a health issue.

It would be a shame for a scout to miss out on the eagle award just because he can not swim.

[BM_Crawford]

Perhaps the kids have ADHD (I'm not being sarcastic I'm being serious) They may need to learn things differently try getting a councilor who is entergetic spontaneous and CREATIVE! Creativity is a MAJOR part of the learning program, especially if they might have ADHD.

A councilor should never just give up on a kid if thats the case than I dont feel they diserve to work in this program because its ALL about the kids!

[Lynda J]

My dad taught me to swim before I could walk. My brother (now 51) could never learn to swim. If he got in the water he immediately sank to the bottom. My folks put him in all kinds of classes. He simply never could swim. As sad as it is there are some people that simply can not swim.

[BM_Crawford]

That is sad, I'm like you Lynda and I love to swim I just feel its outrageous for a teacher to just give up.

[cballman]

the major problem with scout camp and other camps is that most kids can swim and the rest are pretty much left in the cold. but when a scout or anybody cant swim is due to being afraid of the water and it is hard to overcome the fear. it might take quite a while to overcome the fear but it can be done with a lot of time and patience. I recently had a child that couldtnt pass the swimmers test at camp last year but at a swimming party that I was teaching the aquanaut pin this child came and asked me to work with him that night on swimming and guess what this child passed his test and the next week at camp this year he also passed it again. also look at where the kids are trying to pass the test> in a pool where they can see the bottom or in a lake where something could nibble on their toes. guess what that has a lot to do with passing the swim test.

[scoutmasterbob]

Keep in mind that we are not asking the boys to be olympic swimmers. all we are doing in most cases is to complete the BSA swimmers test.

Jump feetfirst into water over the head in depth, level off, and begin swimming. Swim 75 yards in a strong manner using one or more of the following strokes: sidestroke, breaststroke, trudgen, or crawl; then swim 25 yards using an easy, resting backstroke. The 100 yards must be completed in one swim without stops and must include at least one sharp turn. After completing the swim, rest by floating.

Just the basics to get past first class. Hiking or Cycling MB can be subsituted for the swimming MB for Eagle Advancement.

If a boy either chooses not to complete the test or cannot complete the test, he can not participate in water activities with the troop. This includes rafting, canoeing and of course swimming just to name a few.

I feel that this is a safety issue. When we take our troops camping, how often are we camping somewhere with water nearby? If a scout can do the BSA swimmers test and he falls in the water there is a good chance he can get himself out without help.

I am not saying that it guarrantees the scout safety but it helps.

[dparker]

Bob, I am not sure if you are responding to me or not (limitation of the forum software, I guess), but I was not questioning the validity or necessity of the requirements. In fact, I completely agree that every able-bodied Scout should complete these requirements. My intention was to find some other methods to help the boys learn. I don't consider myself terribly creative, so I thought the members here might have some ideas.

If your post was not directed at me, then nevermind!

[evmori]

My district also runs a Swim Program every January at a local high school. Everything from basic swimming for Webelos to Lifesaving for Scouts is taught. There are BSA certified life guards. Most of the instructors are merit badge counselors like myself. It's a great program and attendance each year is great! We usually have to turn Scouts away!

[cballman]

Dparker

If you have access to a pool or lake that is warm than try to find someone who is a Lifeguard BSA or red cross certified. the first step is to figure out if the boys are scared or they dont care. if they are just scared then just get them in the water not over there head and just play and splash around. In the last 5678 years involved in scouting I have had to help with these poor kids and have seen that most kids have never been around the water and their parents are scared to death to see them in the water. yes i have had to have one of my other leaders take parent away from the water so that i could help the kid. yes that is harsh but parents will tell the kids that they cant do it and the kids believe that.

[scoutmasterbob]

dparker, I was not directing my remarks to you.
I have heard too many scout leaders say that there should not be swimming rquirements, required , to get the first class rank. They say if a boy wants to do swimming, he can choose to do it as a MB rather than making him do it for first class.

I dont think that is right. Every boy should know how to swim. Water activities are a big part of scouting and it is common sense that everyone should be able to swim.

I agree with you that there are some boys that need a more "creative" way of teaching them to swim.
But the end result is that they need to swim. I think it is important that they all do.

[wagionvigil]

In the older days of scouting up until the late 70's there were many boys that did not make Eagle because of Swimming and Lifesaving. I know many of these Life Scouts and they do not resent not being an Eagle. They understand how important the swimming requirements are and Should be required not optional required today.

I had two boys recently with the same problem and now are both swimmers. We used our winter swimming month to do one on one. We also arranged transportataion so Mom and Dad were not there and it really worked.

[dparker]

I appreciate the replies that have been given so far. Roundtable is Thursday and if I can make it there, I will bring up the idea of a district event for swimming. I don't think the parents are the limiting factor in this particular case. The two boys are Hmong and the parents have no problem sending their boys to Scouts, but don't really motivate the boys at all in Scouts. I don't think the mother (who speaks limited English) completely understands the program and the father works long hours and seems to take a hands-off approach to Scouting.

The two boys have several friends in the troop and enjoy camping, so I try to fill in as an adult Scouting influence in their lives.

[BM_Crawford]

Good to hear! I hope everything works out with you !