Swim Day!

Today our troop went to Hazen pool to work on our swim rank requirements. Scouts went to three different stations: the parts of a boat, lifesaving, and a swim test. Our requirements lasted for the first hour, and the second hour we were allowed to free swim.

Mr. Holmes ran the lifesaving requirement. Scouts had to practice saving other scouts in three different ways, the limb rescue, the item rescue, and the ring rescue. The most notable rescue was the ring rescue, where scouts were given a life preserver and were told to throw it out far enough for the other scout to grab on and get pulled in.

One of our eagle scouts ran the swim test. We were given the choice between the beginner swim test and the 1st class swim test. The 1st class test had us freestyle three laps and come back on an elementary backstroke, finishing with a small back float.

Mr. Yong taught the parts of a boat station. Scouts would name the part of the canoe and paddle as they were pointed to. There were six parts of the canoe and three parts of the paddle. Scouts were also told to sit inside the canoe so the proper way to sit in a canoe could be demonstrated.

For the last hour, scouts were granted free time. scouts were allowed to jump off the diving board, swim in the deep end, play games, and swim around for fun. Scouts were flipping off of the diving board and even touching the bottom of the 12-foot-deep (3.65 meters) pool. Some scouts even started a cannonball contest. We had loads of fun today!