{"id":5530,"date":"2021-05-15T08:00:06","date_gmt":"2021-05-15T13:00:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/totscouting.org\/earn-a-bsa-aquatics-award-this-summer\/"},"modified":"2021-05-15T08:00:06","modified_gmt":"2021-05-15T13:00:06","slug":"earn-a-bsa-aquatics-award-this-summer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/totscouting.org\/earn-a-bsa-aquatics-award-this-summer\/","title":{"rendered":"Earn a BSA aquatics award this summer"},"content":{"rendered":"
This story was originally published in the May-June 2017 issue of <\/em>Scouting magazine.<\/em><\/p>\n Summer is the perfect time for Scouts to earn the BSA\u2019s special aquatics awards. Each of these awards, which focus on specific aquatic activities, is represented by a colorful patch worn on the swim trunks.<\/p>\n Scouts can earn six awards: Boardsailing BSA, BSA Stand Up Paddleboarding Award, Kayaking BSA, Mile Swim BSA, Scuba BSA, Snorkeling BSA and the Whitewater Rafting Award.<\/p>\n Mile Swim BSA, as the name implies, challenges Scouts to accomplish a significant physical feat. The other six awards are designed to introduce Scouts to specific aquatic pursuits.<\/p>\n Boy Scouts, Varsity Scouts, Venturers, Sea Scouts, Explorers and adult leaders in those programs.<\/p>\n They vary, but generally include completing the BSA swimmer test, reviewing safety rules and precautions, learning skills specific to the sport and practicing. For Mile Swim BSA, Scouts must complete four hours of training over at least four days before swimming a mile.<\/p>\n No, not aside from the Mile Swim BSA training. The goal is to introduce Scouts to specific activities, not to ensure mastery of skills.<\/p>\n Requirements vary and are described on the award applications. For example, Mile Swim BSA requires a currently qualified certified aquatics instructor or the equivalent, while Scuba BSA requires a counselor who holds an instructor rating with any current member of the World Recreational Scuba Training Council.<\/p>\n As with all BSA aquatics activities, you must follow the Safe Swim Defense guidelines (Mile Swim BSA, Snorkeling BSA and Scuba BSA) or the Safety Afloat guidelines (Boardsailing BSA, BSA Stand Up Paddleboarding Award, Kayaking BSA and Whitewater Rafting).<\/p>\n Scuba BSA offers an introductory scuba experience, while the merit badge delves deeper and leads to scuba certification. There\u2019s a similar relationship between Kayaking BSA and the Kayaking merit badge.<\/p>\n No. However, at the discretion of the merit badge counselor, certain portions of an activity award could be applied to the associated merit badge.<\/p>\n A colorful patch that\u2019s worn on the left side of swim trunks represents each award. (The right side is reserved for the BSA Lifeguard patch.)<\/p>\n Visit BSA Aquatics<\/a>. For in-depth information on aquatics policies, see Aquatics Supervision<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\nWhat aquatics awards are available?<\/h2>\n
What is the purpose of these awards?<\/h2>\n
Who can earn these awards?<\/h2>\n
What are the requirements?<\/h2>\n
Do the awards require a certain amount of practice time?<\/h2>\n
Who can sign off?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
What other rules apply?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
What\u2019s the connection between Scuba BSA and the Scuba Diving merit badge?<\/h2>\n
Are the activity awards prerequisites for the matching merit badges?<\/h2>\n
What recognition items do Scouts receive?<\/h2>\n
Where can I find more information?<\/h2>\n