Scouting, Volume 39, Number 5, May 1951 Page: 26
40 p. : ill. ; 28 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Bif ^baftald
Asst. Director, Health & Safety
Can Your Scouts "swim across Lake Erie1'? A
Troop near Lake Erie did it. Not from one shore
to another, but by swimming an equivalent dis-
tance in a system of accumulated credits.
Your Troop can do the same. Each Scout swims
the number of laps he can without strain and un-
der safe conditions. By building endurance through
training and practice, the swimmer gradually in-
creases his distance. The total distance for each
member of each Patrol is added up and credited on
a big chart once a week.
Total accumulated yards for the Patrol are
posted on a big picture of Lake Erie (or any lake
or river you care to use). This is done by moving
that Patrol's emblem across the water in propor-
tion to -total distance covered by all its members.
At Home in the Water
Boys should be trained to use the long glide in a
basic stroke. The elementary back, side, breast and
overhand "Trudgen" strokes should all be done
slow and easy in distance swimming. The scissors
kick can be used in all four strokes. It's the most
natural of all kicks, more nearly like walking. For
most people it is easier to learn and gives more
power than the breast or flutter kicks.
Except when "lap swimming" in a pool or re-
stricted area, a boat equipped with a pole, and
rowed by a swimmer, goes along with each indi-
vidual doing distance swimming.
Nearly every boy can learn to float in a vertical
position. When one says "I'm a sinker," tell him
"If your chest expansion is large enough you can
float." Watch him throw his chest up and head
back! Floating, resting while finning and sculling
with the hands, treading water — practicing these
makes swimming easy.
Swimming silently with dog paddle or modified
breast stroke is fun. It's a good way to close a
swim period. Boys like it.
Rapid disappearance is good training in water-
manship. This should be done from both vertical
and horizontal positions. Have a contest; eliminate
the last one down, but make him keep on practic-
ing so he'll do better next time.
Water Fun Games
Games are some of many water activities which
help fulfill these purposes of Scouting's aquatic
program:
1. Make Scouts at home in and on the water.
2. Teach Scouts to be able to take care of them-
selves in and on the water.
3. Teach Scouts to be able to aid others in and
on the water.
4. Help Scouts have fun in and on the water.
Balloon Volley-Bali
Any number can play, from two to twenty on
each side, depending on the size of the area. A net,
volley-ball or most any kind, is stretched across
the pool at a point where the water is no more than
waist deep. If no net is available, a piece of rope
stretched three or four feet above the water will
do. Regular volley-ball rules are used.
The fun comes when a player tries to get through
the water fast enough to reach the balloon before
it touches water. You can run, swim, jump or dive
but have you tried to run in waist deep water?
26
SCOUTING
BOY SCOUT SECTION
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Boy Scouts of America. Scouting, Volume 39, Number 5, May 1951, periodical, May 1951; New York, New York. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth329196/m1/28/: accessed April 24, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Boy Scouts of America National Scouting Museum.