Scouting, Volume 64, Number 2, March-April 1976 Page: W8
58, [16], W1-W24 p. : ill. ; 28 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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AQUANAUT
JULY ACTIVITY BADGE
NOTE: Aquanaut is one of four optional activity badges
which may be used to fulfill a requirement for the Ar-
row of Light.
Webelos Scouts could explore the
depths and the heights this month.
With their den, they will be working on
the Aquanaut activity badge. With the
pack, they may join in the Cub Scout
Model Rocket Derby, firing real rock-
ets (providing, of course, that the
pack schedules a rocket derby as the
highlight of the July 4th Picnic theme.)
The Aquanaut badge is one of the
most important in Webelos Scouting
for three reasons. First, it will help
boys develop the skills and confi-
dence to be comfortable and safe in
and on the water. Second, it will help
them develop skills in various sports
that can be enjoyed for a lifetime. And
third, swimming, snorkeling and diving
skills will prepare boys for summer
camp in a Scout troop.
i
Rocket Derby. If your pack plans a
rocket derby for its main activity this
month, be sure your Webelos Scouts
get their rocket kits in plenty of time
to get ready. The Akela I rockets are
available in individual kits and packets
of eight (Nos. 1654 and 1655 respec-
tively) through your Scout distributor.
No doubt the pack committee will
make arrangements to secure the
rockets.
Webelos Scouts and Cub Scouts as-
semble their own rockets from the
kits, using directions provided. No
carving is required. They could as-
semble them during a den meeting or
at home with dad, whichever the We-
belos Scouts wish.
Plans for conducting the Cub Scout
Model Rocket Derby will be found in
the July theme of Cub Scout Program
Helps.
Den Activities. The goal of a Webelos
den this month should be to have all its
members complete requirements for
the Aquanaut badge.*f this is not pos-
sible, at least make sure all can pass
the swimming requirements by the end
of July.
The den activities suggested below
are for a den with several nonswim-
mers or poor swimmers. If your Webe-
los Scouts are all reasonably good
swimmers right now, you may want to
schedule more boating, snorkeling
and lifesaving practice and less in-
structional swimming.
If possible, hold all den activities at
a pool or waterfront. For help in secur-
ing a place, check your unit commis-
sioner or the district's health and
safety chairman.
Safety must be stressed at all den
events in and on the water, even if you
have a denful of strong swimmers. Use
the Safe Swim Defense shown on
pages 72-73 of the Webelos Den
Leader's Book.
Activity 1 — Have an evening or Satur-
day of swimming instruction and water
games (Cub Scout Program Helps and
Webelos Den Activities). Invite the
den's fathers to help instruct and join
the fun. Begin the event by checking
each boy's swimming ability; don't
take his word for it.
If the pack is having a Model Rocket
Derby, be sure kits are distributed to
the boys by now.
Activity 2 — Continue instruction, if
necessary, inviting fathers again.
Practice the rescue methods shown in
the Webelos Scout Book — reach,
throw and row.
Check progress on the boys' model
rockets. If some boys have not started
assembling them, consider doing it at
next week's den activity.
Activity 3 — Continue instruction for
poor swimmers. Invite a snorkeling
expert to teach the basics of mask, fin
and snorkel. (To find an instructor,
check at a YMCA, swimming club or
community recreation department.)
Stress the importance of the buddy
system in snorkeling as well as swim-
ming.
Activity 4 — If feasible, have an after-
noon or evening of rowboating on a
lake or river. Invite fathers to assist.
Stress good technique and boat safe-
ty, as shown in the Webelos Scout
Book. End the day with a wiener or
hamburger feed.
Activity 5 — Continue swimming in-
struction as needed, and play water
games. Check boys' progress on
model rockets. Plan and practice pack
meeting demonstration of Aquanaut
skills. If your den will be color guard
for the opening ceremony at the pack
activity, appoint the guard.
DROWNPROOFING. This technique
for staying afloat indefinitely may give
confidence to boys who fear the water
and don't believe they can float. It has
five steps:
1. With lungs full of air, float facedown
with back of neck on surface.
2. Get ready for a downward thrust by
arms and legs.
3. As you raise your head to surface,
exhale through nose and mouth.
4. Keep head straight and push down
with hands. With mouth above water,
inhale slowly.
With lungs again full of air, drop
head forward and immediately thrust
downward and backward with hands.
5. Relax, with head, arms and legs
dangling, and hold all air while you
float forward and upward. Beginners
should rest about three seconds here
before doing Step 1 again; experts
rest 10 seconds. Avoid bobbing above
or below the surface.
W8
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Boy Scouts of America. Scouting, Volume 64, Number 2, March-April 1976, periodical, March 1976; New Brunswick, New Jersey. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth353694/m1/82/: 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.