Scouting, Volume 61, Number [6], September 1973 Page: 26
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CANOE EXPEDITION
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WITH A H4CK (J)
Related Advancement
Skill Awards: □ Camping □ Cook-
ing □ Swimming □ Hiking
Merit Badges: □ Camping □ Ca-
noeing □ Cooking □ Fishing □
Hiking □ Lifesaving □ Swim-
ming
Progress Awards: All
Scout Literature Resources
Scout Handbook
Scoutmaster's Handbook
Fieldbook
Merit badge pamphlets for those sub-
jects listed above
Scout Songbook
Patrol and Troop Leadership
Leadership Corps
Swimming and Waterfront Activities,
No. 26-037
Boats and Canoes, No. 26-038
Other Resources
Canoeing merit badge counselors
TROOP LEADERS' COUNCIL
(See agenda on page 119, Patrol and
Troop Leadership.)
Meet about a week before activi-
ties begin on this program feature.
Cover these items:
• Discuss sources for canoes. If not
enough are available, ask the troop
committee to see whether they can
be obtained from your local council.
• If there are no expert canoeists
among the troop's adult leaders, ar-
range to secure help from a Canoe-
ing merit badge counselor for in-
struction.
• Decide on canoe expedition route
and destination and whether to camp
overnight.
• Arrange with troop committee for
transportation of canoes to launch
point and of Scouts who cannot go
on the trip to your campsite.
• Consider troop meeting plans, es-
pecially the need for waterfront
safety practices.
• Conduct progress review for Ten-
derfoot through First Class.
PLANNING YOUR CANOE
EXPEDITION
Do not undertake this program fea-
ture unless you will be able to have
at least one practice session with
canoes before embarking on a river
or lake trip with the troop. If the
Scouts are completely unfamiliar
with canoeing, you will have chaos
on the expedition.
Probably there will be a wide vari-
ation in canoeing ability within the
troop. Plan the expedition so that it
will not be too long or too difficult
for the most inexperienced. Save the
white-water trips for older Scouts who
•hold the Canoeing merit badge.
An absolute prerequisite for the
canoe expedition should be the
Swimming skill award or Swimming
merit badge. Do not permit any non-
swimmer or poor swimmer to make
the trip. And insist that a U.S. Coast
Guard-approved lifejacket be in the
canoe for each canoeist. (Check your
state laws; some require that life-
jackets be worn at all times by all
canoeists.)
If you are having an overnight
camp at your expedition's destina-
tion, arrange to have Scouts who are
not eligible for canoeing to get to
the camp. Plan a regular camp ac-
tivity program, including campfire, so
that they will get something out of
the expedition also.
OBTAINING CANOES
Unless yours is a lucky troop, you
probably will not have access to
enough canoes for the expedition.
Start by checking your troop com-
mittee and parents of Scouts. Many
councils will rent their canoes to
troops for a nominal fee.
CANOEING SAFETY
If you have no expert canoeists
among your adult leaders, it is rec-
ommended that you read pages 38-
42 in Canoeing merit badge pam-
phlet for good advice on preparing
for your expedition.
In any event, see that your Scouts
follow these safety musts:
• Canoes should stay as close to-
gether as water conditions permit.
While it is sometimes impossible on
small, winding streams, it is desirable
to keep the canoe ahead and canoe
behind you in sight. Each canoe is
responsible for the canoe behind.
• The lead canoeists should be fa-
miliar with the water and should di-
rect all operations past any hazards.
Each canoe should pass on the lead-
er's signals, indicate obstacles, and
see that the next canoe passes
through danger spots safely.
• If in doubt about danger in water
ahead, land and survey the water
from shore before proceeding.
• Do not run any but the mildest
rapids unless you have a guide who
knows the river well. Wear lifejackets
in all rough water and when crossing
any body of water in a strong wind.
(If state laws requires it, wear jackets
at all times.)
• Stay off large bodies of water
when the wind is strong. Stop and
wait out thunderstorms on shore.
• If you capsize on a river, get to
the upstream end or side of the ca-
noe to avoid getting caught between
it and a rock or downed tree. Try to
work the canoe to shore. If it is out
of reach, swim to shore.
• Don't overdo paddling. Stop to
rest and stretch at least every hour.
• Do not paddle in the dark. Select
your campsite two to three hours be-
fore nightfall to avoid being caught
in the water after dark.
• Never go on a canoe trip with
only one canoe.
26
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Boy Scouts of America. Scouting, Volume 61, Number [6], September 1973, periodical, September 1973; New Brunswick, New Jersey. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth353576/m1/90/: accessed April 26, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Boy Scouts of America National Scouting Museum.