BSA Lifeguard
Times Offered: Arranged with Aquatics Director
Scouts who have earned both Swimming and Lifesaving Merit Badges may wish to participate in this program. The program has been established as a means of providing units with qualified individuals within their own membership to give knowledgeable supervision for activities on or in the water.
A Scout who wants to participate is required to be at least fourteen years of age, classified as a swimmer and be currently CPR certified. Adults who wish to participate in the program must meet these same requirements.
BSA Aquatics Supervision: Swimming and Water Rescue
This certification allows you to have the qualified supervision to take your troop swimming as BSA safe swim states. This certification is for anyone over 16. This will give you the basic rescue skills you need to supervise a swimming event. You must be a swimmer to do this class. It is offered at the same time Lifesaving is offered and requires daily attendance.
Non-Swimmer Instruction
Times Offered: Daily at 2:00 PM and 3:00 PM or By Appointment
Scouts classified as Non-Swimmers on Sunday should enroll in the Non-Swimmer activity period. The goal to make "every Scout a Swimmer" is pursued in giving individual attention to non-swimmers and presenting the opportunity to advance to "Beginner" or "Swimmer" classification.
Beginner Instruction
Times Offered: Daily at 2:00 PM & 3:00 PM or By Appointment
uts classified as Beginner Swimmers on Sunday should enroll in the Beginner Swimming Activity Period. The goal of increasing a Scout's swimming endurance and completing the Second Class and First Class Swimming Requirements is pursued by giving individual instruction. Also, the Beginner will have the opportunity to advance to the "Swimmer" classification. We have a “Leave no Scout behind” policy and will make this activity available in the morning by appointment if necessary.
The Mile Swim
Times Offered: Practice Mon. & Tues. 6:00 AM, Qualify Wed. 6:00 AM
Those wishing to participate must be enrolled in or have previously earned the Swimming Merit Badge. All participants are required to attend the 6:00 AM practice session on Monday and Tuesday. The Mile Swim qualification begins 6:00 AM Wednesday morning. Visitors are invited to come to the pool and cheer on their swimmers. Scouts who successfully complete all the requirements are entitled to wear the Official Mile Swim Patch, to be awarded on Saturday.
SCUBA BSA/Discover Scuba Diving
PADI Discover Scuba Diving Experience
Have you ever wondered what it’s like to 
breathe underwater. If you want to find out but aren’t quite ready to take the plunge into a certification course, Discover Scuba Diving will let you try scuba to see if you like it.
While not an actual scuba certification, during the Discover Scuba Diving experience you’ll learn how to use scuba equipment in shallow water and get a quick and easy introduction to what it takes to explore the underwater world.
The Fun Part
There is nothing like breathing underwater for the very first time. It takes a little getting used to –after all, human beings weren’t designed to do that – but after a few minutes of awestruck wonder, most participants realize how easy scuba diving really is. The biggest challenge instructors have with the Discover Scuba Diving program is not coaxing participants into the water, but coaxing them out when the program is over. The fun part? It’s all fun!
What You Learn
You learn the basics you need to dive under the direct supervision of a PADI Professional. One thing you’ll learn is that you really can breathe underwater and whether you like doing that or not. You will:
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what wearing scuba equipment feels like and how easy it is to move around underwater while wearing it
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Find out what it’s like to breathe underwater and learn whether you can be comfortable there
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Learn some basic skills and safety rules that will carry over to your full scuba certification course when you take the next step
The Scuba Gear You Use
All the equipment you will need is typically included in a Discover Scuba Diving experience. You’ll use all the basic scuba gear including a mask , snorkel and fins, a buoyancy compensating jacket that also carries your scuba tank, a scuba regulator to breathe from and instrumentation to monitor depth and air supply. You might also wear a scuba wetsuit or a weight system.
The Learning Materials You Need
Prerequisites: 12years of age by 01-January, 2011; pass the BSA Swimmers check; and health review completed and signed by parent or guardian (may require additional health release signed by physician).
SCUBA BSA will be offered 2:00-2:50 Monday-Thursday.
Additional cost: $10.00
Your Next Adventure
Once you complete a Discover Scuba Diving program, you’ll want to check out: SCUBA Merit Badge.
Scuba Diving Merit Badge
Scuba Diving requirements
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Do the following:
a.Show that you know first aid for injuries or illnesses that could occur while scuba diving, including hypothermia, hyperventilation, squeezes, decompression illness, nitrogen narcosis, motion sickness, fatigue, overexertion, heat reactions, dehydration, injuries by aquatic life, and cuts and scrapes.
b.Identify the conditions that must exist before performing CPR on a person, and explain how to recognize such conditions. Demonstrate the proper technique for performing CPR using a training device approved by your counselor.
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Before completing requirements 3 through 6, earn the Swimming merit badge.
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Discuss the Scuba Diver’s Code with your merit badge counselor, and explain the importance of each guideline to a scuba diver’s safety.
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Earn an Open Water Diver Certification from a scuba organization recognized by the Boy Scouts of America scuba policy.
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Explain what an ecosystem is, and describe four aquatic ecosystems a diver might experience.
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Find out about three career opportunities in the scuba industry. Pick one and find out the education, training, and experience required for this profession. Discuss this with your counselor, and explain why this profession might interest you.
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Un like many other merit badges, the SCUBA diving critical prerequisites, knowledge, and skills are not itemized in the requirements nor adequately covered in the merit badge pamphlet. The requirement to earn Open Water Diver Certification (req. #4) means the Scout must meet training requirements set by outside agencies and must supplement the material in the merit badge pamphlet with an entry-level SCUBA diver manual.
Prerequisites: 13 years of age by 01-January, 2011 and possess the Swimming Merit Badge.
The PADI Open Water Diver course consists of three main phases:
The knowledge development can be completed with on line training directly through PADI, home study using PADI materials, or in a classroom. This could be done outside camp of camp. It will not have to be done before the Confined Water Dives, but must be completed before the Open Water dives. Additional cost $120 for training directly through PADI or $75 (for materials) with the classroom sessions done outside of camp.
The safety introduction, equipment assembly, and the Confined Water Dives (five pool dives) can be completed during camp—Monday-Friday 3:00-4:50 pm. Additional cost $50.
The Open Water Dives (four dives) will have to be completed outside of camp. This can be completed with a PADI Instructor. We will make available a week in August to work with the Scouts to complete the Knowledge Development and the Open Water Dives. Additional cost $100.
Location: C & J Sports on Beaver Lake west of Eureka Springs Arkansas.
Dates: from Sunday, 06-August to Saturday, 13-August, 2011
Additional information contact:
Chuck McIntosh, e-mail: paintedturtlecanoe @yahoo.com
Phone: 660-582-7133
Or
Contact: www.padi.com and click on PADI Courses
Water Front Program
In 2009 the opportunities for Fishing Merit Badge as well as Fish and Wildlife Management have been expanded. These activates will be open to a total of 20 Scouts each week. Be ready to get up early as the lake is open for fishing between 5:30 AM and 7 AM on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
Canoeing and Rowing Merit Badges will be available for those scouts who are third year campers and above, they must also have obtained their swimmer classification during their swim check on Sunday.
New for 2009, we have added a new program for 16 years and older. Paddle Craft Safety is a program that will allow scouts and leaders to expand their knowledge on canoeing and rowing. New BSA policy requires any scouts and/or leaders to have a Paddle Craft Safety certification to go on Canoe Trips.
Paddle Craft Safety
Paddle Craft Safety to take your troop on a float trip. You must be over 16, and a swimmer. This class will cover the basics that you need to know to recognize problems on a float trip. It will give you the qualified supervision that you need to take your troop on a float trip as BSA safety afloat states. This will be offered at the same time that canoeing is offered. This program is offered along with Canoeing Merit Badge every morning and will require attendance each day.