Swimming and Water Safety Badge

This badge is about swimming skills, being safe on the water (even in boats), and knowledge of marine, coastal and/or wetlands habitats/ecosystems, and the cultural concept of the oceans and waterways. This is not a boating badge - the water safety component simply kicks in should you fall out of a boat.

Swimming (RainDrops)

Pick 3 activities:

1.

Experience wearing a U.S. Coast Guard-approved (or equivalent) personal flotation device (PFD) or life jacket. Whenever you go in the water until you have learned how to swim well, you should wear a PFD. 2. Play in the water and work on as many of the following skills as you can: • Enter and exit the water from the ladder, steps and side of the pool • Submerge your mouth, nose and eyes • Blow bubbles through your mouth and nose • Make a balloon face - hold your breath • Breathe with a regular rhythm: Take breaths while bobbing up and down. • Open your eyes underwater • Keep your body at the surface of the water • Propel yourself forward • Float on your stomach • Float on your back 3. Play a game in the water with your circle or hearth where you learn about water safety. 4. Using your senses of sight, touch, smell and hearing, describe 10 things at a seashore, lakeshore, or riverbank. 5. Look at ways other living things move through the water. Can you imitate how different creatures swim? 6. Learn a song or rhyme about swimming, water safety, or the ocean. 7. Color some pictures or make an art project related to swimming or the ocean. Some possibilities include a wave bottle, a jellyfish, a seahorse decorated with colored tape or tissue paper, or a handprint crab. 8. Take a swim class (with or without your parent). 9. Listen to a book or story about learning to swim, going to the beach, or the creatures that live in the water. Some possibilities include Snipp, Snapp, Snurr Learn to Swim by Maj Lindman, Froggy Learns to Swim by Jonathan London, A Swim Through the Sea by Kristin Joy Pratt, in the swim by Douglas Florian, Over in the Ocean: In a Coral Reef by Marianne Berkes, Commotion in the Ocean by Giles Andreae, Mister Seahorse by Eric Carle, or Beach Day by Karen Roosa. 10. Take a field trip. Visit a beach, water park, lake, aquatic center or pool and have an aquatic play day with your Circle or Hearth OR Visit an aquarium, marine park, or zoo and watch creatures who live in or near the water OR Attend a swim meet at a school or community pool OR See a performance of a water show, aquacade or pageant on the water 11. Find or create another activity related to this badge. Get one of your leaders to approve the activity, and then complete the activity.

Award Completed:_______________________________________________________ Scout Signature: ____________________________________Date:________________ Adult Signature:____________________________________ Date:________________

Swimming (FireFlies)

Required:

Complete Basic Swim lessons OR 1.

2.

3.

Learn the Pool Rules for Safe Swimming. Know how to call for help, and describe the buddy system. Learn why you should you never depend on inflatable toys, rafts or inner tubes to keep yourself afloat. What makes a U.S. Coast Guard-approved (or equivalent) personal flotation device different from an inflatable toy? (Comfort in Water Test) Show that you can put your face in the water. Then, using a combination of arm and leg actions on front, such as a dog paddle or any other stroke you know, or using a flutter kick while holding a kick board, propel yourself 25 feet across the shallow end of the swimming area. Play a recreational game in the water with your circle or hearth.

Optional (Pick at least 3):

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13.

Using a kickboard, practice the following kicks: flutter, scissor, breaststroke. As a bonus, try the dolphin kick. Practice the breathing method that is used with the freestyle stroke. Practice trickle breathing, putting your face in the water to exhale, and rotary breathing, turning your head to the side to take a breath. Pass the Beginner Swimmer (SpiralScout level) or Swimmer (PathFinder level) swim level test. Practice floating skills: prone (also called canoe) float, facedown (also called jellyfish or survival or dead man’s) float, tuck (also called turtle) float and back float. Show that you can tread water for 30 seconds. Explain what is meant by these four rescue methods: Reach, Throw, Row, and Go. Look at ways other living things move through the water. Can you imitate how different creatures swim? Using your senses of sight, touch, smell and hearing, describe 10 things at a seashore, lakeshore, or riverbank. Do a science experiment to learn about buoyancy. What happens to the water when something floats? Make a swimming self-portrait or a portrait of a swimming creature using a combination of media to show the watery background. Participate in a swim meet or participate in a water show, synchronized swim meet, or pageant on the water. Attend a swimming, diving, snorkeling or scuba workshop or camp, or an aquatic sciences camp. Watch (on video or TV) some of the swimming (both speed and synchronized,

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water polo and diving events) of some year of the Summer Olympics. What are the different events like? Did you like one the best? Could you imagine yourself doing any of those events? OR Learn about a swimmer (speed or synchronized), water polo player, or diver who has participated in the Olympics. Did they win a medal? What was their Olympic experience like for them? Talk to a lifeguard about if there are any differences in staying safe when swimming in a pool versus the open water (lake, river, ocean). Learn about the training a lifeguard needs for his or her job. Read or have read to you a book about swimming, diving, lifeguarding, swimmers or divers (in your own culture or another), mythical creatures or denizens of the water. For example, Swimming for Fun by Andrew Willett, Swimming with the Plesiosaur by Rex Stone, America's Champion Swimmer: Gertrude Ederle by David A. Adler, Swimming with Sharks by Betty Hicks, Get Set! Swim! by Jeannine Atkins, The Pearl Diver by Julia Johnson, The Day Ocean Came to Visit by Diane Wolkstein, Atlantis: The Legend of the Lost City by Christina Balit, What Lives in a Shell? by Kathleen Weidner Zoehfeld, The Seashore Book by Charlotte Zolotow, Winter's Tail: How One Little Dolphin Learned to Swim Again by Julianna, Isabella and Craig Hatkoff, or If a Dolphin Were a Fish by Loran Wlodarski. Take a field trip. Visit a beach, water park, lake, aquatic center or pool and have an aquatic play day with your Circle or Hearth OR Visit an aquarium, marine park, or zoo and watch creatures who live in or near the water OR Attend a swim meet at a school or community pool OR See a performance of a water show, aquacade or pageant on the water Find or create another activity related to this badge. Get one of your leaders to approve the activity, and then complete that activity.

Award Completed:_______________________________________________________ Scout Signature: ____________________________________Date:________________ Adult Signature:____________________________________ Date:________________

Swimming (SpiralScouts)

Prerequisites:

Complete Basic Swim lessons OR 1.

2.

3.

Learn the Pool Rules for Safe Swimming. Know how to call for help, and describe the buddy system. Learn why you should you never depend on inflatable toys, rafts or inner tubes to keep yourself afloat. What makes a U.S. Coast Guard-approved (or equivalent) personal flotation device different from an inflatable toy? (Comfort in Water Test) Show that you can put your face in the water. Then, using a combination of arm and leg actions on front, such as a dog paddle or any other stroke you know, or using a flutter kick while holding a kick board, propel yourself 25 feet across the shallow end of the swimming area. Have play a recreational game in the water.

Required:

Complete Intermediate/Advanced Swim lessons OR 1. 2. 3.

Discuss the Pool Rules for Safe Swimming, and show you understand the precautions needed for water safety. What is good sense in cold water, in deep water, in a current and in rough water? (Beginner Swimmer Test) Jump into the water at a depth that is at least chest-deep and swim 25 feet on the surface (or 1 width of a typical community swimming pool). Turn around and swim back to your starting place. Demonstrate how to help another swimmer in distress with the following methods: reaching your arm or leg, reaching with a suitable object, and throwing lines and objects. Explain why “reach” and “throw” are preferred to “row” and “go” when they are possible. If you must “row” or “go”, why and how do you avoid contact with the victim?

Optional (Pick at least 3):

1.

Learn how to get below the surface of the water to bring an object up from the bottom of the pool. Practice underwater swimming in water over year head, and work on as many of the following skills as you can: • Feetfirst surface dive to bring an object up • Headfirst surface dive (pike or tuck) to bring an object up • Headfirst surface dive, swim underwater three strokes, surface to breathe, and repeat at least twice.

• Forward and backward somersault • Swimming through legs 2. Pass the Swimmer (PathFinder level) swim level test. 3. If you can already do the basic strokes (front crawl, elementary backstroke, back crawl, breaststroke, sidestroke and butterfly), learn how to do open turns and flip turns. 4. Learn about survival floating and cold water survival, and work on as many of the following skills as you can: • Float face up in a resting position for at least one minute. • Do a face-down survival float for at least five minutes. • Put on and wear a personal flotation device (PFD) and practice the HELP (Heat Escaping Lessening Posture) position for and huddle position. When would you use each? • What is hypothermia? Why would you want to avoid trying to swim to shore in calm but cold water? Why is a PFD so important in cold water? How much does swimming increase heat loss? Does drown proofing and treading water increase heat loss? 5. Safety in aquatic habitats. Choose one habitat: • Ocean (seashore, beach) – How do you interpret caution flags and warning signs? What is a rip current and how do you escape from it? How can you avoid stingrays and jellyfish? • Freshwater pond, lake or river – Why should you wear aqua socks or river shoes? Why do you wade into the water first? Why should you wear nose clips when swimming or diving? 6. Can you describe what the following aquatic activities are: competitive racing, competitive diving, fitness swimming, water aerobics and aqua jogging, water polo, open water swimming, snorkeling and scuba diving, surfing, body surfing, bodyboarding and skimming? 7. Do a science experiment to learn about buoyancy. What is Archimede’s Law? 8. Learn about the prehistoric fossil fish Tiktaalik, the "fishapod" link between our aquatic ancestors and land-based mammals. This fish emerged from the water to breathe air, and had fins that allowed it to prop itself up in the water and use its limbs for support as most four-legged animals do. 9. Lead your circle or hearth in a game in the water where you work on a swimming skill or learn about water safety. 10. Participate in a swim meet or participate in a water show, synchronized swim meet, or pageant on the water. 11. Attend a swimming, diving, snorkeling or scuba workshop or camp, or an aquatic sciences camp. 12. Learn about a swimmer (speed or synchronized), water polo player, or diver who has participated in the Olympics. How old were they when they first started swimming? What is their best event? What was their day like when they were training? How many hours a week did they practice? Were they able to do any other hobbies, have friends over, or even go to school with other kids their age? What is it like to pursue a dream with such intensity? What does it make you think about dedication and sacrifice?

13. Choose a famous (or not-so-famous!) aquatic enthusiast and use your library or the Internet to research him/her. Find out about his/her life, how he/she became interested in aquatics, what kind of swimming or diving he/she did, any activism he/she did on behalf of oceans or waterways, and whether aquatics was a hobby or a paying career. If any video is available, watch him/her in or on the water. Report what you learned to your circle or hearth. 14. Get involved with a community group working to improve swimming or diving access, or a local, national or international group working to improve wetlands or marine habitats or help species in those habitats. 15. Learn about one or more mythic creatures (such as merfolk - mermaids and mermen, nereids, sirens, kelpies, grindylows, kappas, merrows, selkies), gods or goddesses of the sea, lake or river (such as Boann, Poseidon, Amphitrite, Triton, Vellamo and Ahti, Melusine, the Lady of the Lake, Mazu, Aredvi Sura Anahita, Yemaya, Mannannan Mac Lir, Tangaroa or Njord), or patron saints of swimming (Saint Adjutor of Vernon). Share what you have learned in some form with your circle or hearth. 16. Visions of the future ranging from Jules Verne to the 1990s TV show SeaQuest DSV included depictions of futuristic life undersea. Explore some aspect of the vision of underwater cities, ocean colonization or seasteading, whether that be reading some of the stories and comics, watching some of the films or shows, or even finding out if any steps are being taken today in the real world toward making the vision real, and share what you have learned in some form with your circle or hearth. 17. Read a book about swimming, diving, lifeguarding, swimmers, divers, mythical creatures or denizens of the water. For example, No Limits: The Will to Succeed by Michael Phelps, Flip Turn by Monique Polak, Grayson by Lynne Cox, The Black Pearl or Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell, South Sea Adventure by Willard Price, The Tide Changers by Sandy Green, Shark Lady: True Adventures of Eugenie Clark by Ann McGovern, Kid Vs. Squid by Greg van Eekhout, The Music of Dolphins by Karen Hesse, The Tail of Emily Windsnap by Liz Kessler, Real Mermaids Don't Wear Toe Rings by Hélène Boudreau, Keeper by Kathi Appelt, Song of the Sea: Myths, Tales, and Folklore by Ann Spencer, or The Mystery of Atlantis (Unsolved!) by Kathryn Walker. 18. Watch a documentary about swimming or aquatics skills, competitions, biographies, aquatics in art or performance (e.g. the silver screen), swimming pools, or lake, river or marine habitats. 19. Take a field trip. Visit a beach, water park, lake, aquatic center or pool and have an aquatic play day with your Circle or Hearth OR Visit an aquarium, marine park, or zoo and watch creatures who live in or near the water OR Attend a swim meet at a school or community pool OR See a performance of a water show, aquacade or pageant on the water 20. Find or create another activity related to this badge. Get one of your leaders to approve the activity, and then complete that activity.

Award Completed:_______________________________________________________ Scout Signature: ____________________________________Date:________________ Adult Signature:____________________________________ Date:________________

Swimming (PathFinders) Prerequisites:

Complete Basic Swim lessons Complete Intermediate/Advanced Swim lessons OR 1.

2.

3. 4. 5. 6.

Learn the Pool Rules for Safe Swimming. Know how to call for help, and describe the buddy system. Learn why you should you never depend on inflatable toys, rafts or inner tubes to keep yourself afloat. What makes a U.S. Coast Guard-approved (or equivalent) personal flotation device different from an inflatable toy? (Comfort in Water Test) Show that you can put your face in the water. Then, using a combination of arm and leg actions on front, such as a dog paddle or any other stroke you know, or using a flutter kick while holding a kick board, propel yourself 25 feet across the shallow end of the swimming area. Have played a recreational game in the water. Discuss the Pool Rules for Safe Swimming, and show you understand the precautions needed for water safety. What is good sense in cold water, in deep water, in a current and in rough water? (Beginner Swimmer Test) Jump into the water at a depth that is at least chest-deep and swim 25 feet on the surface (or 1 width of a typical community swimming pool). Turn around and swim back to your starting place. Demonstrate how to help another swimmer in distress with the following methods: reaching your arm or leg, reaching with a suitable object, and throwing lines and objects. Explain why “reach” and “throw” are preferred to “row” and “go” when they are possible. If you must “row” or “go”, why and how do you avoid contact with the victim?

Required:

Complete Lifeguard Training OR 1.

2. 3.

(Swimmer Test) Enter the water at a depth that is over your head and swim 100 yards (4 lengths of a typical community swimming pool) without stopping. Your swim must include at least 25 yards each of backstroke, freestyle (crawl), and breaststroke. After completing the 100 yards, tread water or demonstrate survival floating for one minute. Show that you know water survival skills. Jump into deep water fully clothed, show how to disrobe in the water, make your long sleeved shirt and then your pants into a flotation device, and show that you can float and swim with each. Demonstrate a line and tender rescue of a victim in deep water at a distance of about 30 feet from shore. Show the rescue from both the roles of the person tending the line and the rescuer who reaches the victim.

Optional (Pick at least 3):

1. 2.

3.

4.

5.

Discuss safety precautions that should be taken for any trip on open water, whether in a canoe, raft, sailboat, motorboat, rowboat, floating in an inner tube, or any other watercraft. Explore aquatic habitats. Choose one habitat and identify ten species (plant, bird, mammal, reptile, fish, mollusk and/or insect) found there. Discuss common hazards you could encounter in that habitat. How are hazards posted? How can you avoid or mitigate them? • Ocean (seashore, beach) • Freshwater pond, lake or river Explore specific aquatic activities in depth. Select one activity. Give a definition of the activity and then show some specifics. To “show skills”, you may either demonstrate the skills yourself, or you may prepare an oral, written or video report on the skills for the activity: • Competitive racing: Skills to show - racing dive from pool edge or dock edge, racing form of competitive strokes (front crawl, back crawl, breaststroke, butterfly), racing turns for the competitive strokes. • Competitive diving: discuss the springboards and towers, dive groups (forward, back, reverse, inward, twist and armstand) and dive positions (straight, pike, tuck, free). Skills to show from dock or pool deck: standing headfirst dive, long shallow dive, and from low board: plain front dive. • Fitness swimming: discuss the effect of resistance in water compared to air, and stress on joints. Discuss lap swimming etiquette (circle swim, passing, etc.) and workout plans with sets expressed in repetitions, distance and intervals. Contrast to water aerobics classes and aqua jogging. Discuss incentives and obstacles for persevering in the workout plan. • Water Polo: Describe the sport of water polo – team composition, and basic rules. Skills to show – water polo variants of front crawl and backstroke, eggbeater motion for treadimg, and one-handed ball handling. • Open Water Swimming: What is open water swimming? Discuss the challenges and differences in skills needed to swim in the open water rather than in a swimming pool. Skills to show – sighting, open water variant of freestyle • Snorkeling and Scuba Diving: Discuss the purpose of the different elements of snorkel and scuba gear. What is the difference between snorkeling and scuba diving? What are the safety considerations of each? Skills to show - how to select, fit and use a mask, snorkel and fins. • Surfing, Bodysurfing, Bodyboarding, Skimming: Describe the differences in the gear, skills needed, and characteristic injuries possible between surfing, bodysurfing, bodyboarding and skimming. Choose one and show skills – catch a wave and ride it. Describe what the following health concerns associated with swimming are, how they come about, how they might be prevented, and what kind of treatment is necessary if they occur: muscle cramps, hypothermia, sunburn, heat exhaustion, swimmer's ear, pool conjunctivitis, and bathing suit irritation. Keep a swimming or diving log, whether a swim workout/training log, or a

6.

snorkeling or scuba diving log. Do an in-depth study on some aspect of swimming or diving, marine, coastal or wetlands species/habitats, or cultural aspects of swimming, diving, the oceans or waterways, and report to your circle or hearth (in whatever format works best for you at the approval of a leader). Possible topics include: • How are swimming and diving useful for sustenance (hunting and gathering)? How did people dive before scuba apparatus? • What is the Mammalian Diving Reflex? What is Shallow Water Blackout? • Origins and evolution of western aquatic competitions • Suijutsu (or suieijutsu), the combative swimming skills of the Samurai • Contribution of Native Americans to the development of freestyle/crawl • Pearl diving in many cultures • Surfing as a central part of ancient Polynesian culture • Learn about the giant swimming complexes of the late 19th and early 20th century and why they were replaced with the kinds of pools we have now. • Dolphins appear in a number of Greek myths, such as that of Arion's rescue, where they act as helpers of humankind. They were sacred to both Aphrodite and Apollo. Explore some aspect of the mythology of dolphins, in the culture of your choice, or a survey of the beliefs and stories in different cultures. • Learn about one or more mythic creatures (such as merfolk - mermaids and mermen, nereids, sirens, kelpies, grindylows, kappas, merrows, selkies), gods or goddesses of the sea, lake or river (such as Boann, Poseidon, Amphitrite, Triton, Vellamo and Ahti, Melusine, the Lady of the Lake, Mazu, Aredvi Sura Anahita, Yemaya, Mannannan Mac Lir, Tangaroa or Njord), or patron saints of swimming (Saint Adjutor of Vernon). • Who were the Sea Peoples in myth and were they associated with Atlantis? What is the myth of Atlantis? Could there be any truth to the myths? Some topics you might investigate: Santorini, the Minoan Diaspora, and Europe and Asia Minor between the 4th millenium and 12th century BCE, including the Bronze Age collapse. • Visions of the future ranging from Jules Verne to the 1990s TV show SeaQuest DSV included depictions of futuristic life undersea. Underwater cities, ocean colonization or seasteading could be explored by reading some of the stories and comics, watching some of the films or shows, or finding out if any steps are being taken today in the real world toward making the vision real. • Synchronized swimming as a performance spectacle (water ballet, World's Fair aqua shows and aquacades, and silver screen performances involving Annette Kellerman, Busby Berkeley, and Esther Williams) • History of swimwear • Ocean habitat and species issues (pollution, including marine debris, thermal pollution, nuclear proliferation, ocean garbage patches, shipping emissions and acidification, global climate change, including impacts of disappearing ice caps on polar bears and penguins, coral bleaching, beach development and sea turtles, overfishing and the resulting collapse of the world’s major commercial fisheries, bycatch, destructive trawling, whaling, marine mining and oil production/offshore drilling), ethical treatment of dolphins and marine

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mammals and/or groups working to save biodiversity in the ocean (such as Oceana, Earth Island Institute, Greenpeace, The Ocean Conservancy, Save the Waves Coalition) Participate on a swim team or participate in a water show, synchronized swim meet, or pageant on the water. Attend a swimming, diving, snorkeling or scuba workshop or camp, or an aquatic sciences camp. Pick an event at the Olympics and learn about how it is judged. What features are they looking for? What gets you deductions? What innovations in technique have occurred in the last thirty years in this event? Do you think any of this new knowledge could help you with your own form in the water? Find out about three career opportunities in the aquatics field. Pick one and find out about the education, training, certifications and experience required for this profession. What is the median income, and what are the requirements/job duties? What is the time-commitment involved (what hours would you work?). If possible interview someone in that field. Share your findings with your circle or hearth and explain why this profession might interest you. Obtain Fundamentals of Instructor Training (FIT) certification from the American Red Cross (or an equivalent certification in another country) by taking a four hour course. This certification is the first step in becoming a certified Water Safety Instructor (swimming instructor). Obtain certification in Basic Water Rescue from the American Red Cross (or equivalent). If you also have certification in First Aid and CPR, you will be considered a qualified assistant for your circle or hearth’s water activities. Get involved with a community group working to improve swimming or diving access, or a local, national or international group working to improve wetlands or marine habitats or help species in those habitats. Read a book on swimming, diving or lifeguarding, whether the experience of competition or how to improve, a culture in which swimming or diving is central, how swimming and diving were needed for sustenance and how they became recreational activities, the lifecycle of a creature that lives in the ocean, lake or river, mythology of oceans or waterways, or politics of swimming pools, oceans or waterways. For example, Swim: Why We Love the Water by Lynn Sherr, Swimming Studies by Leanne Shapton, Total Immersion: The Revolutionary Way To Swim Better, Faster, and Easier by Terry Laughlin and John Delves, Swimming Anatomy by Ian McLeod, Shark Dialogues by Kiana Davenport, Contested Waters: A Social History of Swimming Pools in America by Jeff Wiltse, Silent World by Jacques Cousteau, Beautiful Swimmers: Watermen, Crabs and the Chesapeake Bay by William W. Warner, Poseidon's Steed: The Story of Seahorses, From Myth to Reality by Helen Scales, The Human, the Orchid, and the Octopus: Exploring and Conserving Our Natural World by Jacques Cousteau, In Defense of Dolphins: The New Moral Frontier by Thomas White, or Oceana: Our Endangered Oceans and What We Can Do to Save Them by Ted Danson. Watch a documentary about swimming or aquatics skills, competitions, biographies, aquatics in art or performance (e.g. the silver screen), swimming pools, or lake, river or marine habitats.

16. Take a field trip. Visit a beach, water park, lake, aquatic center or pool and have an aquatic play day with your Circle or Hearth OR Visit an aquarium, marine park, or zoo and watch creatures who live in or near the water OR See a performance of a water show, aquacade or pageant on the water 17. Find or create another activity related to this badge. Get one of your leaders to approve the activity, and then complete that activity. Award Completed:_______________________________________________________ Scout Signature: ____________________________________Date:________________ Adult Signature:____________________________________ Date:________________

Pool Rules for Safe Swimming ● Adult Supervision - Scouts should never go in the pool if there is no adult around. Always

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call an adult or lifeguard if there is an emergency. • Adult supervisors check: If you find yourself in an emergency situation, your actions will be especially fast if the necessary equipment is close by and within reach. A poolside telephone can be accessed quickly to call for help. A whistle or alarm is used to notify others of the emergency. A reaching pole that is at least 9 feet long with a hook on the end is useful for pulling people out of the water. Private pools also need a flotation device, like a life saver, that can be thrown to a victim. The device should be hooked to a buoyant rope that reaches all the way across the pool. A first-aid kit should also be nearby and accessible. • Qualified adult supervision means the adult has had Basic Water Rescue, CPR and First Aid training. If he/she has not had water-safety training, he/she must have assistants who are trained (or the activity must be at a pool with a lifeguard on duty). Water Safety Training: American Red Cross Basic Water Rescue certification or equivalent is appropriate. An American Red Cross Lifeguarding Instructor or American Red Cross Water Safety Instructor (WSI) can provide training in Basic Water Rescue. Stay in the part of the pool appropriate for your ability level, and wear a flotation device if you need it. Non swimmers stay in water no more than 3 1/2 feet deep, beginning swimmers in shallow water to just overhead depth; and swimmers may go in the deep end (water not over 12 feet). (See Swimming Ability Level Tests below) Buddy System - Every scout has a buddy in his/her own ability group. Make sure each buddy understands that he/she is to be on constant lookout for his/her buddy and vice-versa, and that they are to stay near each other at all times. Buddies join and raise hands together every time they hear the call “buddies”. They check in and out of the water together. No running or horseplay near the pool - A pool's sides and bottom are usually made of concrete, a rock-hard material. A slip or fall could be painful and dangerous. Don't push or jump on others. You could accidentally hurt someone or yourself. No glass containers near the pool - Glass breaks easily when it falls on concrete, and broken glass and bare feet don't mix. Caution when diving and jumping into the pool - Always look before you jump into a pool. Know the depth of the water and where the drop-offs are located. Enter the shallow end of the water feet first. You should also only dive off the diving board. Never dive off the side of the pool unless an adult says that the water is deep enough and there are no obstructions. Obstructions might be other people. Respect the Danger of Lightning. No outdoor swimming just before, during or just after a thunderstorm. Drowning isn't the only risk kids and adults face when swimming. Lightning can pose a major risk to people in the water, so if you hear thunder, get out of the pool immediately and don't return until at least a half hour after the storm has passed. Respect physical limitations. Do not swim immediately after eating, when overheated, or when tired.

For Comparison and more information: http://www.redcross.org/www-files/Documents/pdf/infographics/AquaticsSafetyWeb.pdf The GSA's Swimming: Safety Activity Checkpoints http://www.gsep.org/media/files/swimming.pdf The BSA's Safe Swim Defense Program http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/HealthandSafety/Aquatics/safe-swim.aspx Kid-friendly discussion http://kidshealth.org/kid/watch/out/swim.html

Open Water Rules for a Safe Trip Afloat ● Adult Supervision - Scouts should never go in the pool if there is no adult around. Always

call an adult or lifeguard if there is an emergency. • Adult supervisors check: If you find yourself in an emergency situation, your actions will be especially fast if the necessary equipment is close by and within reach. A poolside telephone can be accessed quickly to call for help. A whistle or alarm is used to notify others of the emergency. A reaching pole that is at least 9 feet long with a hook on the end is useful for pulling people out of the water. Private pools also need a flotation device, like a life saver, that can be thrown to a victim. The device should be hooked to a buoyant rope that reaches all the way across the pool. A first-aid kit should also be nearby and accessible. • Qualified adult supervision means the adult has had Basic Water Rescue, CPR and First Aid training. If he/she has not had water-safety training, he/she must have assistants who are trained (or the activity must be at a pool with a lifeguard on duty). Water Safety Training: American Red Cross Basic Water Rescue certification or equivalent is appropriate. An American Red Cross Lifeguarding Instructor or American Red Cross Water Safety Instructor (WSI) can provide training in Basic Water Rescue. ● You must be able to swim to operate your own watercraft. You must be able to pass the "Swimmer" test (or pass "Beginner Swimmer" and demonstrate survival floating skills for at least three minutes) to ride in a canoe, raft, sailboat, motorboat, rowboat, float in an inner tube, or operate any other craft alone or with another scout. You must be able to pass the "Beginner Swimmer" test to ride in the same canoe, raft, or sailboat with an adult capable of passing the "Swimmer" test who has also had Basic Water Rescue, CPR and First Aid training. Non swimmers may only ride in more stable craft such as a rowboat or motorboat with an adult swimmer. For a non swimmer to ride in less stable craft such as a canoe, raft or sailboat, the accompanying adult should be trained as a lifeguard or lifesaver by a recognized agency. (See Swimming Ability Level Tests below) ● Buddy System - Every scout has a buddy in his/her own ability group. Make sure each buddy understands that he/she is to be on constant lookout for his/her buddy and vice-versa, and that they are to stay near each other at all times. Buddies join and raise hands together every time they hear the call “buddies”. They check in and out of the water together. ● Caution when diving and jumping into the water - Open water is murky - you can't always see the bottom or know how deep it is, or how rocky. It's better to wade in. Never dive

off a boat or dock unless an adult says it is safe, that the water is deep enough and there are no obstructions. Obstructions might be other people. ● Respect the Danger of Lightning. Get off of the water just before, during or just after a thunderstorm. Drowning isn't the only risk kids and adults face when swimming. Lightning can pose a major risk to people in the water, so if you hear thunder, get out of the waterl immediately and don't return until at least a half hour after the storm has passed. For comparison, here is the BSA's Safety Afloat guidelines http://meritbadge.org/wiki/index.php/Safety_Afloat American Red Cross Basic Water Rescue Course: Goals of the class ● To learn general guidelines and safety procedures for activities in, on, and around the water: ● Characteristic behaviors of someone in need of help ● Define elements of and develop and emergency action plan ● Make an emergency flotation device from a common piece of clothing ● Learn two positions for conserving body heat in cold water ● Perform a rescue if you or someone has fallen through ice ● Prevent or delay the onset of hypothermia ● Care for someone who has had a seizure in the water ● Assume the HELP and HUDDLE positions ● Properly make a throwing or reaching assist ● Use readily available equipment to make a wading assist ● Use a beach drag and walking rescue ● Learn how to stabilize the back, neck and head of someone who has been injured in the water

Swimming Ability Level Tests ●

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Swimmer Test: Enter the water at a depth that is over your head and swim 100 yards (4 lengths of a typical community swimming pool) without stopping. Your swim must include at least 25 yards each of backstroke, freestyle (crawl), and breaststroke. After completing the 100 yards, tread water or demonstrate survival floating for one minute. Beginner Swimmer Test: Jump into the water at a depth that is at least chest-deep and swim 25 feet on the surface (or 1 width of a typical community swimming pool). Turn around and swim back to your starting place.

The Red Cross requires a test similar to our Swimmer Test to begin training for Swimming Instructor Certification: Able to swim 25 yards using the front crawl, back crawl, elementary backstroke, sidestroke, breaststroke and 15 yards of butterfly. You must also be able maintain position on back for 1 minute in deep water (floating or sculling) and to tread water (vertical body position) for one minute.

Swimming Lessons ●

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Basic Swim Lessons: A beginner level class typically teaches skills such as front and back glides, flutter kick, self-confidence in deep water, water adjustment, introduction to elementary freestyle stroke and water safety. Intermediate or Advanced Swim Lessons: Intermediate and advanced level classes typically teach or refine skills in the major strokes, kicks and turns of swimming, including front crawl or freestyle, back crawl, backstroke, breaststroke and dolphin, and/or the class may develop endurance in swimming.

Lifeguard Course Prerequisites ● Must be at least 15 years old (by last day of class) ● Swim 300 yards continuously demonstrating breath control and rhythmic breathing (can use freestyle or breaststroke, no sidestroke or backstroke) [BSA lifeguard requires Swim continuously for 550 yards, including at least 100 yards each of the following strokes in good form: front crawl, breaststroke, elementary backstroke, and sidestroke.] ● Tread water for 2 minutes using only the legs [BSA lifeguard requires Immediately following the above swim, tread water for two minutes.] ● Complete a timed event within 1 minute, 40 seconds ○ Starting in the water, swim 20 yards [BSA lifeguard requires Starting in the water, swim 20 yards using a front crawl or breaststroke] ○ Surface dive, feet-first or head-first to a depth of 7 to 10 feet to retrieve a 10pound object [BSA lifeguard requires surface dive 7 to 10 feet, retrieve a 10pound object] ○ Surface and swim 20 yards on back with both hands holding the object during entire return swim [BSA lifeguard requires surface, swim with the object 20 yards back to the starting point] ○ Exit the water without using a ladder or steps [BSA lifeguard requires and exit the water, all within 1 minute, 40 seconds]

  The remainder of this document consists of cut and paste chunks and links from around the web that were used in the process of writing badge requirements. It should hopefully be of value in planning activities for your scouts.

Basic  Water  Skills   Water Confidence Skills The first way a preschooler is truly going to learn to swim is with his face in the water - once he puts his face in the water. When a preschooler swims at the surface, with his face in the water, there are three things that are important: 1. The child must be able to hold his breath. 2. The child must be able to do an air exchange so he can breathe and continue his swim. 3. The child must be able to propel himself through the water using his kick (the arms are almost irrelevant until he is skill ready to do the freestyle, unless his is doing a dog paddle. If he's doing a dog paddle, then the hands must move quickly in front of the face to help keep the face out of the water so the child can breathe. The paddling skill should only be taught once the child can hold his breath in a horizontal position for 3-5 seconds, then progress to swimming at the surface with the face in the water, using either a pop-up or rollover breath. Keeping those three points in mind, you would design your cues and buzzwords to teach the general idea of those skills. ● Breath holding - "Balloon face" or simply "hold your breath." ● Air Exchange - "Get your air in your mouth, blow out your mouth and your nose" or "Get your air, blow it out." ● Kicking - "Fast kicks," "Small, fast kicks." ● Swim and Air Exchange (Combined Skill) - "Breathe and swim." The bottom line is that when teaching preschoolers it is best to avoid the details. Focus the young learners on what really helps them perform the skill successfully. http://iml.jou.ufl.edu/projects/fall04/jenkins/fourup.html Enter and exit safely, using ladder, steps or side Submerge mouth, nose and eyes Blow bubbles through mouth and nose Breathe with a regular rhythm: Take breaths while bobbing up and down in water over your head. Practice the breathing motion of the crawl stroke while standing in shallow water. Take a breath, place your head in the water, exhale, and turn your head to the side to take a breath. Repeat. Trickle Breathing - In order to help your breathing and to combat against taking on water you should breathe gradually out through your nose and mouth (simultaneously) whilst your head is under water. This way when you turn your head out of the water to breathe in you will have expelled both oxygen and any water from your mouth and nasal passages ready to take in a full breath. Rotary Breathing - SLIGHTLY turn your head to the side, breathing air IN. When you turn your head back into the water, THAT is when you blow the air out SLOWLY. Remember, head out, breath in. Head in, breath out.

Opening your eyes underwater Bobbing to chin level, walking, traveling along the gutter Push and glide

Front paddle Back paddle Change direction of travel while walking or paddling Pick up submerged object held at arm's length Kicking Skills 3 kinds Flutter, scissor, dolphin and breaststroke kicks on front Flutter and dolphin kicks on back Floating Skills Front Floats http://rt492.org/cm/img/turtlefloat.gif (left is jellyfish, right is turtle) Turtle Float - In waist-deep water, take a deep breath. Reach down and wrap arms around knees. Hold the knees. Your body will bob to the surface and float. Jellyfish or Mushroom Float - In waist-deep water, take a deep breath, reach down and grab ankles. Hold ankles. Your body will bob to the surface and float. Prone or Canoe Float - After doing the turtle float, extend arms and legs. The next step is to add a swimming kick to move through the water! http://rt492.org/cm/img/pronefloat.gif ARC calls the three front, jellyfish and tuck floats Back Floats From teachyourkidstoswim.com "The part of the face that should be sticking out during floating is really small. The water should come almost to the outer corners of the eyes. Once he feels comfortable floating without moving his body too much, have him focus on the position of his head and face. Ask him to concentrate on feeling the water lapping against his cheeks and touching his forehead and the outside corners of his eyes." "How flat can your child make his body? Can he balance something on his belly? Start with something easy, like a coin or two. Work your way up to something really challenging. How about a glass of water (in a pool-friendly plastic cup)? How about the family cat? (Okay, don’t try that last one.)" Underwater Swimming Skills Surface Dive Forward somersault Backward somersault Swimming through legs Diving for rings Strokes Front crawl and elementary backstroke Front and back crawl, elementary backstroke, breaststroke, sidestroke and butterfly Watch swimming stokes in action -

Video Clips of Swimming Strokes 9 different strokes done by 1 - 3 swimmers are shown on this page. ● Swim.ee stroke models These images cover stops, starts, kick offs, and turns as well as basic strokes. ● Various stokes and techniques Windows Media Player is needed for these videos. Choose a stroke to learn or improve on. Use on of the drill procedures listed on these pages. ● Drills to Help You Learn the Wave Breaststroke ● Drill For Success ● Stroke Drills (Crawl) ●

Swimming Strokes Made Easy - http://www.swim-teach.com/ How to Swim Series Presented by Phillip Toriello - http://www.ehow.com/videoson_9233_swim.html Turns sharp turn http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/olympic_games/4231146.stm Front crawl and backstroke open turns Front and back flip turns Ø Front crawl open turn Ø Sidestroke open turn Ø Backstroke open turn Ø Front flip turn Ø Breaststroke turn Ø Butterfly turn Ø Backstroke flip turn Dives Dive from sitting and kneeling positions, in water at least 9 feet deep Diving entry from the size in compact and stride positions in at least 9 feet of water Shallow-angle dive from the size then glide and begin a front stroke Standing dive, Shallow dive,Tuck & pike surface dive Perform a compact jump into the water from a height with rescue tube Perform both pike and tuck surface dives Perform a front approach and hurdle with a feet-first entry from a 1 meter springboard. Perform a front approach and hurdle with a head-first entry from a 1-meter springboard. Complete forward dives, one in the tuck position, one in the pike position iSport Swimming Guides http://www.gsep.org/media/files/swimming.pdf Swimming Skill Definitions and Videos at (BSA) MeritBadge.org http://meritbadge.org/wiki/index.php/Swimming_Strokes Wikipedia Swimming Portal - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Swimming Teach Your Kids to Swim - http://teachyourkidstoswim.com/

John Leonard's Language for Each Stroke http://www.swimamerica.org/NewsShow.jsp?returnPage=/News.jsp&id=135166&team=sa Red Cross Swim Levels http://www.capecodseacamps.com/wp-content/themes/ccsc/documents/day-camp-forms/redcross-swim-level-guide.pdf http://www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/uploadedFiles/Parks_Rec_Waterfront/Level_3__General/AmericanRedCrossSwimLevelRequirements.pdf The American Red Cross Swimming and Water Safety Program Learn-to-Swim Skills offers six comprehensive course levels that teach a camper how to swim skillfully and safely. The prerequisite for each level is the successful completion and/or demonstration of the skills from the preceding level, except for Level 1, which has no prerequisite. The revised program (2009) will include some new skills at each level. Each level of Learn-to-Swim includes training in basic water safety and helping a swimmer in distress. Below indicates the skills needed for each ARC Levels I-VI. LEVEL 1: Introduction to Water Skills ages 4 & up LEVEL 2: Fundamental Aquatics Skills (Must successfully complete to participate in Sailing) LEVEL 3: Stroke Development LEVEL 4: Stroke Improvement LEVEL 5: Stroke Refinement LEVEL 6: Swimming and Skill Proficiency Historical didactic overview of 150 historical and less known swimming-strokes http://www.swimmingstrokes.info/ How to Help Yourself in an Emergency:

A  First  through  Third-­‐Grader  Should  Know:   Firefly Required #1 - Explain the rules of Safe Swimming, emphasize the buddy system. (Cub Scout Belt Loop #1 - Explain the rules of Safe Swim Defense. Emphasize the buddy system.) perhaps change to Explain the pool rules for safe swimming, know how to call for help, and describe the buddy system. ●

If you can't swim well, why should you never depend on inflatable toys, rafts or inner tubes to keep yourself afloat? What makes a U.S. Coast Guard-approved (or equivalent) personal flotation device different?

FireFly Optional #1 (identical to Cub Scout Swimming Pin #3) - Learn two of the following floating skills: jellyfish float, turtle float, canoe (prone) float. (has been changed by BSA to: Learn and demonstrate two of the following floating skills: prone, facedown float, and back float. The purpose of the float is to provide the swimmer the opportunity to rest in the water.) ARC calls the three front, jellyfish and tuck floats Floating Skills

Front Floats http://rt492.org/cm/img/turtlefloat.gif (left is jellyfish, right is turtle) Turtle Float - In waist-deep water, take a deep breath. Reach down and wrap arms around knees. Hold the knees. Your body will bob to the surface and float. Jellyfish or Mushroom Float - In waist-deep water, take a deep breath, reach down and grab ankles. Hold ankles. Your body will bob to the surface and float. Prone or Canoe Float - After doing the turtle float, extend arms and legs. The next step is to add a swimming kick to move through the water! http://rt492.org/cm/img/pronefloat.gif ARC calls the three front, jellyfish and tuck floats

Anyone  Minimally  Competent  in  the  Activity  Knows  (Survival  Skills):   Good sense in cold water, in deep water, in a current, in rough waters Cub Scout Swimming Pin #10 - Tread water for 30 seconds. Second Class Rank Requirement 8b -Tell what precautions must be taken for a safe swim. Swimming Merit Badge #6 Do the following: 1. Float faceup in a resting position for at least one minute. 2. Demonstrate survival floating for at least five minutes. 3. While wearing a properly fitted personal floatation device (PFD), demonstrate the HELP and huddle positions. Explain their purposes. 4. Explain why swimming or survival floating will hasten the onset of hypothermia in cold water. http://www.livestrong.com/article/515816-what-is-survival-floating-in-swimming/ Face-­‐Down  Survival  Float   According to the U.S. Naval training on survival floating, floating on your back, the most common way people like to float, works only in calm water. If you are in a rough ocean or lake, water can come over the top of your face and enter your mouth and nostrils, causing you to aspirate. The most effective method of floating while in rough, open water is the face-down float. Take a deep breath and let your arms hang out in front of you, close to the surface, with palms facing down. Lower your face underwater, placing your chin to your chest. It is critical that you remain calm. To breathe, lift your chin off your chest and pull your arms downward toward your body. You may also need to perform one scissors kick to clear the surface. Clear the air from your lungs and then take another deep breath and perform the flotation again.

Image from http://www.armyfm.com/army-fm-21-76-chapter-16-sea-survival/

HELP position

A person alone can extend survival time by using body posture that covers areas especially vulnerable to heat loss. Those in the water should avoid movement and use the “heat-escape lessening posture” (H.E.L.P.). This posture minimizes the exposure to cold water of the individual’s groin and chest because the arms are folded across the chest and pressed to the sides and the knees are drawn up with the legs crossed at the ankles, creating a fetus-like position ...The HELP technique involves holding the inner sides of the arms over the sides of the chest, and pressing the insulation foam material of the PFD to the body. Place forearms across the central chest, hold thighs together to reduce inner-thigh heat loss, and then raise thighs forward perpendicular to the trunk to protect the groin area from its high rate of heat loss.

Huddle position HELP position if you are alone or the Huddle position if you are in a group If more than one person is involved, the “huddle position” should be used to reduce heat loss. In this position, individuals should press together their chests, abdomens, and groins. In addition to conserving each individual’s body heat, the huddle positionhelps prevent the swimmers from becoming separated before they are rescued, provides a larger rescue discovery target, improves morale, reduces shock and panic, and may reestablish a chain of command.

http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?A=2686&Q=322304 Hypothermia Prevention, Recognition and Treatment - http://www.hypothermia.org/inwater.htm Cold Water Survival - http://www.pfdma.org/choosing/coldwater.aspx In-Water Survival - What to Do if you Find Yourself Overboard http://www.mita.org/files/pdf/mita_in_water_survival.pdf For the body to maintain a temperature of 98.6° F, and survive an extended period of immersion, the water must be above 91° F. The relatively thin layer of fat in the average human is not sufficient to protect the body from heat loss due to contact with colder and moving water. So by this definition, cold water is any water below 91° F. However, muscle movement, such as swimming, generates heat. Thus, through exercise we can maintain our body temperature in water temperatures down to 72° F. The catch, however, is that rest and food are needed for heat production. Immersion in water below 70° F can profoundly affect the body's metabolism and lead to drowning. The three basic rules: DON’T PANIC, THINK, SAVE YOUR STRENGTH. Tell what to do for cramps, currents, undertows, weeds; how to disrobe in the water, use clothing for floatation, and use survival floating techniques. How to make clothes into flotation devices http://www.ehow.com/how_2338250_make-clothes-flotation-devices.html U.S.M.C. Water Survival Course - See the chapter Staying Afloat Without a Life Preserver http://www.resist.com/USMC_Water_Survival_Course.pdf

Current PF Req #2 Show that you know water survival skills. Jump into deep water fully clothed, show how to disrobe in the water, make your long sleeved shirt and then your pants into a flotation device, and show that you can float and swim with each. PathFinder Required #4 was (Swimming Merit Badge #4) Demonstrate survival skills by leaping [jumping feetfirst] into deep water wearing clothes (shoes, socks, swim trunks, long pants, belt, and long-sleeved shirt). Remove shoes and socks, inflate the shirt, and show that you can float using the shirt for support. Remove and inflate the pants for support. Swim 50 feet using the inflated pants for support, then show how to re-inflate the pants while still afloat. Water Safety Checklist ● underwater hazards ● falling through ice ● falling in accidentally ● overestimating your own swimming ability ● polluting water that you swim in ● swift currents http://kidshealth.org/parent/firstaid_safe/outdoor/water_safety.html And infants, toddlers, and weak swimmers should have an adult swimmer within arm's reach to provide "touch supervision." Invest in proper-fitting, Coast Guard-approved flotation devices (life vests) and use them whenever a child is near water. Check the weight and size recommendations on the label, then have your child try it on to make sure it fits snugly. For kids younger than 5 years old, choose a vest with a strap between the legs and head support — the collar will keep the child's head up and face out of the water. Inflatable vests and arm devices such as water wings are not effective protection against drowning. Don't forget the sunscreen and reapply frequently, especially if the kids are getting wet. UV sunglasses, hats, and protective clothing can also help provide sun protection. Kids should drink plenty of fluids, particularly water, to prevent dehydration. It's easy to get dehydrated in the sun, especially when kids are active and sweating. Dizziness, feeling lightheaded, or nausea are just some of the signs of dehydration and overheating. The temperature of the water is important, too. Enter the water slowly and make sure it feels comfortable for you and your child. A temperature below 70°F (20°C) is cold to most swimmers. Recommended water temperatures vary depending on the activity, swimmer's age, and whether or not they are pregnant. In general, 82°-86°F (28°-30°C) is comfortable for recreational swimming for children (babies are more comfortable when the water is on the warmer side of this temperature range). Body temperature drops more quickly in water than on land, and it does not take long for hypothermia to set in. If a child is shivering or experiencing muscle cramps, get him or her out of the water immediately. A few tips to prevent getting a recreational water illness: ● Kids with diarrhea should not swim.

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Take kids on bathroom breaks often and change swim diapers often (not at the poolside). If you are taking a baby in the water who is not potty-trained, use a swim diaper. Wash hands after using the bathroom or changing diapers. Avoid swallowing or getting water in your mouth. Keep the swimming water clean by showering with soap before entering the pool. After swimming, dry ears well with a towel/washcloth, tilting each ear down to help water drip out of the ear canal. This can help prevent swimmer’s ear (an ear infection due to trapped water in the ear canal).

CDC H2O Smarts Page - http://www.bam.gov/sub_yoursafety/yoursafety_h2osmarts.html Rescue Skills: How to use a life jacket Wearing life jacket in the water

Helping  a  Swimmer  in  Distress   ARC Level 1 - Learn how to stay safe, including recognizing an emergency and knowing how to call for help ARC Level 2 - Safety skills – recognizing an emergency, knowing how to call for help, perform nonswimming assists, using a life jacket, pool rules ARC Level 3 • Learn to look carefully before entering the water, • Learn to perform simple nonswimming assists, • Learn to recognize, prevent and respond to cold water emergencies ARC Level 4 - Use safe diving rules, water safety rules, perform throwing assists ARC Level 5 - Water safety, nonswimming assists, calling for help, waterpark safety, helping others Basic Lifesaving & CPR

A  First  through  Third-­‐Grader  Could  Know:   Cub Scout Swimming Pin #7 - Explain the four rescue techniques: Reach, Throw, Row, and Go (with support). http://familydoctormag.com/first-aid-and-safety/1311-how-to-save-someone-whos-drowningqreach-throw-row-goq-a-doctors-experience.html Learn the four steps to water rescue: 1. Reach 2. Throw 3. Row 4. Don't Go Reach:Hold on to the side of the pool or something on the shore and reach your hand, or whatever you have nearby to the person in trouble. Throw: If you can't reach far enough, toss things that will float for the person to grab. Coolers, floatation devices, anything that will float may help.

Row: If you're in a boat, use to oars to move the boat closer to the person in the water or call out to a nearby boat for help. Don't use the boat's motor close to a person in the water, they could be injured by the propeller. Don't Go: Don't go into the water unless you are trained to rescue frightened or injured people. Yell loudly for help. You could get yourself into danger as well the person you are trying to help.

Anyone  Minimally  Competent  in  the  Activity  Knows  (Rescue  Skills):   BSA Second Class Requirement 8c - Demonstrate water rescue methods by reaching with your arm or leg, reaching with a suitable object, and by throwing lines and objects. Explain why swimming rescues should not be attempted when a reaching or throwing rescue is possible, and explain why and how a rescue swimmer should avoid contact with the victim.

Working  Towards  Mastery  in  the  Activity  Requires:   PathFinder Required #3 (same as BSA First Class Requirement No. 9c) "With a helper and a practice victim, show a line rescue both as tender and as rescuer (the practice victim should be approximately 30 feet from shore in deep water)." First Class Requirement No. 9c is specifically, "With a helper and a practice victim, show a line rescue both as tender and as rescuer (the practice victim should be approximately 30 feet from shore in deep water)." Line and Tender Rescue: http://survivial-training.wonderhowto.com/how-to/do-line-rescue-water-as-boy-scout-266136/ Section IX of this document: http://www.scouting.org/filestore/Outdoor%20Program/Aquatics/pdf/430-505.pdf quoting from above: A line and tender rescue has often been described in Safe Swim Defense literature as a preferred technique for protecting a unit swim. It is also part of Boy Scout rank advancement. On the plus side, the technique requires minimal equipment, is easy to teach, maintains shore contact with the rescuer, and is easily adapted for use with flotation aids. But there are also some disadvantages to the line and tender procedure. It places two people watching from the same location when cross surveillance might be more effective. It may also slightly limit options for trained rescuers. Greatest flexibility in response is achieved when the line and tender is considered as one of several options which may be put in place at the same time. If the 1 to 10 ratio of designated rescuers to swimmers requires the use of unit members with little training, then they are good candidates for a line and tender team. Adult leaders who have completed water rescue or lifeguard training probably should not be assigned to such a team, but placed instead where they can readily respond with a flotation aid. For a small group in a small pool, a line and tender team may be omitted if adequate coverage is provided with the use of reaching devices. The technique needs to be explained to the participants (p 109,110). Each person then practices as both the rescuer and the line tender. Points to emphasize include:

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The line must remain free of tangles. A throw bag is an easy way to maintain the line, but a coil also works. For an active subject, the rescuer swims pass the subject, then turns to pull the line into the side of the subject. The line tender must pull fast enough to support the subject, but not so hard as to jerk the line free. The pulling action is the same as that using a line for a throwing assist. For an unconscious subject, the rescuer grasps the subject. The wrist tow or armpit tow may be used, but the rescuer may use any firm grasp that keeps the subject’s face clear of the water. A line is the only necessary piece of equipment, but may be supplemented by a PFD worn by the rescuer and/or a flotation device to be carried to the subject. If a line and tender team is deployed at a unit swim, they should be instructed in the procedure and make a practice run prior to the swim. Swimmers should be instructed to avoid the line during a rescue. The emergency action plan should contain a signal to alert the swimmers to be on the lookout.

Games: TOWEL RESCUE Play this game in chest deep water. Divide the group into two teams. Put one member of each team some distance from his teammates and give him a towel. On signal, he walks or swims to his team, tosses the end of the towel to a teammate, and tows him back to the position from where he started. The "rescued" boy then becomes rescuer and repeats the actions, "saving" another team member. Continue until the whole team has saved and been saved. LIFELINE THROWING TEST Make a target, as shown, and let the boys practice heaving a rope to a person in the water. Use a 25- to 30 foot rope and have the boys stand about 20 feet from the target. Weight the throwing end of the rope with a beanbag. The score for each heave is indicated by the numbers between the dowels. Dowels are 6” tall, placed 6” apart and painted as shown. Lifeguard CPR and First Aid Links http://faculty.deanza.edu/donahuemary/Lifeguardtraining,swimming,CPRandfirstaidlinks To learn what skills the American Red Cross demands that all lifeguards know click here The 2012 Red Cross lifeguard manual can be downloaded for free at: http://www.instructorscorner.org/media/resources/l/lg_part_manual_landing.html .BSA Lifeguard Skills ● 6. Demonstrate reaching assists from the deck using an arm, a rescue tube, and a pole. ● 7. Demonstrate throwing assists using a throw bag and a ring buoy with line attached. Throw each device such that the line lands within reach of a conscious subject 30 feet from shore. ● 8. Demonstrate:

a. Rescue of a conscious subject in deep water using a rescue board, kayak, rowboat, canoe, or other rescue craft that would be available at your local facility. ○ b. Repeat for an unconscious subject. 9. Demonstrate an entry and front approach with a rescue tube to a conscious subject in deep water 30 feet away from shore. Extend the rescue tube within the grasp of the subject and then tow the subject back to the entry point, providing direction and reassurance throughout. 10. Demonstrate an entry and rear approach with a rescue tube to a conscious subject in deep water 30 feet away from shore. Grasp the victim from behind using a scoop technique under the arms to support the subject against a rescue tube squeezed between the victim's back and the rescuer's chest. Reassure the subject and tow the subject to shore. 11. Demonstrate use of a rescue tube to assist two subjects grasping each other. 12. Demonstrate both front and rear head-hold escapes from a subject's grasp. 13. Demonstrate a feet-first entry in deep water with a rescue tube and swim an approach stroke 25 yards within 25 seconds while trailing the tube. 14. Demonstrate an entry and front approach with a rescue tube to a face-down unconscious subject at or near the surface in deep water. Use a wrist tow to place the subject face-up on the rescue tube and use a one-arm tow to the closest point of safety. 15. Demonstrate an entry and rear approach with a rescue tube to a face-down unconscious subject at or near the surface in deep water. Use a scoop technique to position the rescue tube between the subject and the rescuer's chest, then either lean back or rotate to bring the subject face-up. Tow the subject to the nearest point of safety using either a two-arm tow or switching to a one-arm tow. 16. Demonstrate an entry and approach with a rescue tube to an unconscious subject submerged face-down at or near the bottom in 6 to 8 feet of water. Bring the subject to the surface and tow to the nearest point of safety. 17. Remove a subject from the water using each of the following techniques in the appropriate circumstances with the aid of a second rescuer: ○ a. Vertical lift at the edge of a pool or pier using a backboard ○ b. Walking assist ○ c. Beach drag 18. Participate in multiple-rescuer search techniques appropriate for a missing subject in murky water: ○ a. Line search in shallow water ○ b. Underwater line search in deep water without equipment ○ c. Underwater line search in deep water with mask and fins 19. Demonstrate head-splint (extended arm rollover) in-line stabilization for a face-down subject with suspected spinal injury in very shallow water (18 inches or less). 20. Demonstrate head-splint in-line stabilization for a suspected spinal injury in shallow water (waist to chest deep): ○ a. For a face-up subject ○ b. For a face-down subject 21. Demonstrate head and chin support in-line stabilization for a suspected spinal injury in shallow water (waist to chest deep): ○ a. For a face-up subject ○

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b. For a face-down subject ● 22. Demonstrate in-line stabilization for a suspected spinal injury in deep water, swim the subject to shallow water, confirm vital signs, and, with the assistance of three others, remove the subject from the water using a backboard with straps and a head immobilization device. In 1897 Capt. Henry Sheffield designed a rescue can or rescue cylinder, now well known as the lifesaving device in Baywatch. The pointed ends made it slide faster though the water, although it can cause injuries. On 28 July 1912, a 800m long bridge between Binz and Rügen, Germany collapsed under the load of 1000 people waiting for a cruise steamer Kronprinz Wilhelm. Sailors of the German navy were able to save most people, but 17 people died because they could not swim, including seven children. This catastrophe caused the foundation of the Deutsche Lebens-Rettungs-Gesellschaft (DLRG) (German lifesaving organization) on October 19 1913 in Leipzig. ○

Swimming  Games   Surface Swimming Games 1. Catching a ball in shallow water. 2. Passing beach ball while standing in water. 3. Tunnel ball--passing a ball back and between the legs. 4. Cat and mouse--cat outside circle, mouse inside. 5. Spoon and ping-pong ball relay. 6. Kick board race for 10 to 25 yards. 7. Relay race in shallow water, running and gliding on stomach BALL BETWEEN KNEES RACE This game is played in any swimming area in which you can define a start and finish line. This game can be played as a race between swimmers or as a relay race between teams. You will need one floating ball for each team. It may be of any size that can be held between a boy’s knees. The object of the game is to swim to the finish line with the ball held between the knees. If a swimmer loses the ball, he must chase it and bring it back to the point where it was lost and continue the race. If you are playing relays, each swimmer after crossing the finish line must toss the ball to the next swimmer so that the race can continue. AQUA HOOPS 1. Place a hula hoop on the water in the center of the pool. Let the boys throw balls into the hoop while in the pool themselves. The hoop can be held in place by anchoring with filled milk jugs. 3. A hula hoop towing contest is worth a few smiles. Two boys tow a leader from one end of the pool to another, or one boy tows another. Marco Polo The children's game is a form of tag played in a swimming pool. One player is chosen as "It". This player closes his or her eyes and tries to find and tag the other players without the use of vision. The player who is "It" shouts out "Marco" and the other players must respond by shouting "Polo", which "It" uses to try to acoustically locate them. If a player is tagged then that player becomes "It".

In a variant, if "It" thinks that someone has climbed out of the pool, he or she can shout "fish out of the water", and if anyone is out of the water they become "It". If someone sits on the side of the pool with their legs in the water, "It" can call out "mermaid on the rocks", or "fish out of the water" and that player becomes "It". Sharks! Number of players: 2 - 10 A swimming pool version of tag or 'it' One or two people become sharks with the objective of catching the other players who are in the water. Players are not allowed to leave the water. Once a person is caught they either stand or sit on the side of pool. Water Polo Number of players: 2 - 10 Best played in the shallow end, unless your group is made up of strong swimmers. Play across the width of the pool with two targets, such as floatation board set on end, set up as goals at either side. (or proper goals if they happen to be handy). Rules can be improvised, but to simplify: Once a player holds the ball they cannot move, either they must try to score a goal or throw the ball to another player. All other players are free to move, but must remain in the water (including goal keepers). Play is continuous. Except if the ball goes onto the poolside where it is handed to the nearest 'goalkeeper’ as a goal throw. Once a goal is scored the ball is given to the referee to be thrown into the middle as a `toss up’ between teams, or it can be given to the goal keeper of the side the goal was against. RainDrop - teaching Ben to kick using an activity called Let's Rescue the Animals. I had Ben and my other two students wearing red, plastic fireman's hat, pretending they were rescuing floating fish, ducks, and frogs. They made siren sounds as they practiced their kick - kicking out to a float, rescuing it, and bringing it back to safety on the side of the pool. http://swimming.about.com/od/swimlessons/qt/Key_Points_for_Teaching_Swimming_Lessons_t o_Pre-school_Swimmers_.htm From Jim Reiser, M.S. The first way a preschooler is truly going to learn to swim is with his face in the water - once he puts his face in the water. When a preschooler swims at the surface, with his face in the water, there are three things that are important: 4. The child must be able to hold his breath. 5. The child must be able to do an air exchange so he can breathe and continue his swim. 6. The child must be able to propel himself through the water using his kick (the arms are almost irrelevant until he is skill ready to do the freestyle, unless his is doing a dog paddle. If he's doing a dog paddle, then the hands must move quickly in front of the face to help keep the face out of the water so the child can breathe. The paddling skill should only be taught once the child can hold his breath in a horizontal position for 3-5 seconds, then progress to swimming at the surface with the face in the water, using either a pop-up or rollover breath. Keeping those three points in mind, you would design your cues and buzzwords to teach the general idea of those skills. ● Breath holding - "Balloon face" or simply "hold your breath."

Air Exchange - "Get your air in your mouth, blow out your mouth and your nose" or "Get your air, blow it out." ● Kicking - "Fast kicks," "Small, fast kicks." ● Swim and Air Exchange (Combined Skill) - "Breathe and swim." The bottom line is that when teaching preschoolers it is best to avoid the details. Focus the young learners on what really helps them perform the skill successfully. ●

The Octopus Under the Sea (tune: The Farmer in the Dell) *Students get into a circle, except for one in the center who's the octopus. When the time comes, the "octopus" will choose another student to play the next sea creature. The students will hold hands and walk in a circle around the child in the middle as they sing.* The octopus under the sea, The octopus under the sea, Splish, splish, splash, splash. The octopus under the sea. The octopus chooses a starfish, The octopus chooses a starfish, Splish, splish, splash, splash, the optopus chooses a starfish. The starfish chooses a ... seahorse, crab, lobster, fish, shark, jellyfish, whale, eel, etc. ~ Author Unknown ~

www.thevirtualvine.com/ocean.html Underwater Swimming Games Find a Penny Toss a bunch of pennies into the pool. Either allow a certain number of children to go and get a coin at a time; or all at once. The coins are the prize! Hula Hoop Obstacle Course Anchor hula hoops vertically underwater at different depths. Use a gravel and water filled milk jug as an anchor. Boys must swim underwater through hoop obstacle course. Leave enough room between hoops for “coming up for air.” NUTS AND BOLTS A good way to get used to being underwater is to play this game. Toss a large bolt with a nut on it into waist deep water. Bend down to find the bolt and unscrew the nut while you are under the water. If you can't finish the job, you must drop the bolt, come up for air and go down again until you have separated the two. When they are separated, straighten up to show them, throw them in again and go under to replace the nut on the bolt. This may be played individually or as a team relay game.

Note: Be careful of throwing these bolts into a plastic lined swimming pool so you do not damage the liner. Be sure to remove all nuts and bolts after the game so they do not rust and stain the lining of the pool. FIND THE NUMBER About 20 large, flat rocks are plainly marked on both sides with numbers ranging from one to five. These are thrown into water that may be from two to six feet deep, depending on the swimming ability of your group. On a signal, everybody dunks to try to bring back as many numbered rocks as possible to his station on shore. Only one rock may be carried at a time. The player who collects the highest total when the numbers on his rocks are added up is the winner. Any flat, non floating objects may be used instead of rocks. KIM'S GAME UNDERWATER In five’ deep water, make a small pile of five to ten familiar objects that do not float (spools, coins, metal nuts and washers, bolts, soda can full of water, etc.). Players swim out, surface dive to inspect the articles, and return. They then tell the leaders all the articles they remember seeing. The game ends with the swimmers retrieving all the objects. Kids Court Swimming Pool Games - http://www.swim-city.com/kidscourt.php3 Beyond Marco Polo: 35 Fresh Swimming Pool Games for Summer http://janne.cc/blog/2009/06/18/beyond-marco-polo-35-fresh-swimming-pool-games-for-summer/

Pool Toys - http://www.squidoo.com/the-best-swimming-pool-toys Swimming Games - p. 5-6 http://www.usscouts.org/macscouter/CubScouts/PowWow99/Web99.pdf

Earth:  Habitat   Look at ways other living things move through the water. Watch for creatures that are jet propelled, or tails that act as rudders, feet that paddle, fins that flutter. Imitate animal actions in a water game that you make up. Swimming with Animals: Using simple swimming lessons to foster connections to other life forms and appreciation of what they have to teach us by Zabe MacEachren http://www.earthrangers.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/swimming_with_animals.pdf Sun and U/V Safety - http://www.epa.gov/sunwise/uvindex.html

Ocean  (Seashore,  Beach)     tides shark sting ray What sea creatures can you swim with? by Charles W. Bryant http://adventure.howstuffworks.com/outdoor-activities/water-sports/swimming-with-fish1.htm 15 Tips for Surviving a Shark Attack - http://adventure.howstuffworks.com/15-tips-forsurviving-a-shark-attack.htm Jellyfish Stings - http://voices.yahoo.com/jellyfish-stings-worried-3989659.html?cat=71 Animals such as sharks,[16] stingrays, Weever fish, seals and jellyfish can sometimes present a danger.

Ocean Safety Beach Signs http://www.aloha.com/~lifeguards/bsigns.html DANGEROUS CONDITION SIGNS : . . . these are posted when a potential for loss of life or limb exists. High Surf ~*~ Waves Break On Ledge ~*~ Strong Current ~*~ Shark Sighted HAZARDOUS CONDITION SIGNS: . . . these are posted when a potential for severe bodily harm exists. Dangerous Shorebreak ~*~ Sharp Coral ~*~ Sudden Drop Off ~*~ Slippery Rocks ~*~Man-OfWar ~*~ Jellyfish PROHIBITED ACTIVITY SIGNS: No Swimming ~*~ No Diving ~*~ No Boardsailing ~*~ No Boardsurfing ~*~ Beach Closed Common Hazardous Beach, Surf, & Ocean Conditions ● SHARP CORAL ● DANGEROUS SHORE BREAK ● HIGH SURF ● STRONG CURRENT ● WAVES ON LEDGE ● THEFTS AT THE BEACH ● DANGEROUS SEA CREATURES ● SHARKS! ● TOO MUCH SUN At the Beach Teach kids to always swim when and where a lifeguard is on duty. They shouldn't swim close to piers or pilings because sudden water movements may cause swimmers to collide with them. ● Unlike the calm waters of a swimming pool, the beach has special dangers like currents and tides. Check with the lifeguard when you arrive to find out about the water conditions. ● Don't allow kids to swim in large waves or undertows, and tell them never to stand with their back to the water because a sudden wave can easily knock them over. ● Teach kids that if they're caught in a rip current or undertow, they should swim parallel to the shore or should tread water and call for a lifeguard's help. ● The stings of jellyfish or Portuguese man-of-wars can be painful, so tell kids to avoid them in the water and to tell an adult right away if they're stung. Whether at the lake or at the beach, teach your child to get out of the water during bad weather, especially lightning. ● Never turn your back on the ocean. ● Observe all caution flags and warning signs. If the beach has red flags or hazard signs do not swim there. Look at page 1 and page 2 for examples. ● If you need help wave your hands in the air. Playing in the ocean can be fun, but the water can be dangerous. If you get into trouble while in the water, signal for help by waving your hand and arm above the water towards the shore.

If you get caught in a rip current: Rip currents are rivers of water that can pull you out to sea. If you become caught in a rip current, DON'T PANIC. Swim parallel to shore or tread water until help arrives. ● Swim under the waves not over them. The waves are less powerful under the water. If you do get caught in a wave, try to swim under it then make your way to shore between sets. Attract attention for rescue if you get tired or need help. Sets are groups of waves that travel together. A set is usually 3 - 4 waves long. Learn about the condition known as a rip current. Create a diagram of a rip current from a shore line. ●

Pond  (Swimmin'  Hole),  Lake  or  River  (Lakeshore,  Riverbank)     sharp mussel shells Swimming with Animals: Using simple swimming lessons to foster connections to other life forms and appreciation of what they have to teach us by Zabe MacEachren http://www.earthrangers.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/swimming_with_animals.pdf http://www.co.thurston.wa.us/health/ehadm/swimming/illness_hazards.html : blue-green algae, bryozoans, leeches, swimmer's itch (from a blood parasite found in feces of water fowl, such as ducks, geese, swans and gulls and in aquatic animals such as beaver and muskrat. http://voices.yahoo.com/bacteria-hazards-swimming-freshwater-lakes-and-3971158.html?cat=5 Bacteria http://www.ripcurrents.noaa.gov/ - Rip Currents Cyanobacteria (blue green algae) - http://www.helium.com/items/1523423-swimming-alert-thedanger-of-cyanobacteria-blooms brain-eating amoeba (Naegleria fowleri)- http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21034344/ns/healthinfectious_diseases/t/die-brain-eating-amoeba-after-swimming/#.UBXeeqAz7cw "Though infections tend to be found in southern states, Naegleria lives almost everywhere in lakes, hot springs, even dirty swimming pools, grazing off algae and bacteria in the sediment." The easiest way to prevent infection, Beach said, is to use nose clips when swimming or diving in fresh water At the Lake or Pond ● Don't let kids swim without adult supervision — lakes or ponds may be shallow near the bank and then increase in depth sharply further out from shore. ● Ponds and lakes may hide jagged rocks, broken glass, or trash. ● Make sure kids wear foot protection; even in the water, they should wear aqua socks or water shoes. ● Watch out for weeds and grass that could entangle a leg or arm. ● Most boating accidents, particularly among teenagers, are related to alcohol. When you and your family are boating, assign a designated driver who won't drink. Be sure teens know about the dangers of alcohol, on and off the water. Whether at the lake or at the beach, teach your child to get out of the water during bad weather, especially lightning. ● Wade into the water feet first if you're swimming in a lake, pond or river. DO NOT jump into unfamiliar water. Rocks, or other obstacles can be hidden below the surface. ● Wear a personal flotation device (PFD) whenever you are in a boat.

If you hear thunder or see lightning get out of water right away. Water is a conductor of electricity and it is dangerous to be in a pool or lake if lightening is present. Never dive off piers or rocks. ●

Documentaries  to  watch:   Turtle: The Incredible Journey, Coral Reef Adventure, The End of the Line, Blue Planet - Seas of Life, Oceans: Exploring the secrets of our underwater world (BBC Series), Wild Pacific, or Ocean Giants.

Subgroups  of  the  Activity   Pool Competitive Racing Diving Health and Fitness (lap swimming, water aerobics) Synchronized Swimming Water Polo Open Water Competitive Swimming (Triathlons, Channel Crossings, etc.) Snorkeling and Scuba Diving Surfing, Bodysurfing, Bodyboarding, Skimming

SpiralScout   look up the rules for water polo and watch a game watch competitive matches - e.g. watch the olympics

Pool  Swimming  -­‐  Competitive  Racing  

Swimming Merit Badge #8b Demonstrate the following competitive swimming skills: 1. Racing dive from a pool edge or dock edge (no elevated dives from racing platforms or starting blocks) 2. Racing form for 25 yards on one competitive stroke (front crawl, back crawl, breaststroke, or butterfly) 3. Racing turns for the stroke that you chose in 8b(2), OR, if the camp facilities cannot accommodate the racing turn, repeat 8b(2) with an additional stroke. 4. Describe the sport of competitive swimming.

Pool  Swimming  -­‐  Diving  

Swimming Merit Badge #9 Following the guidelines set in the BSA Safe Swim Defense, in water at least 7 feet deep, show a standing headfirst dive from a dock or pool deck. Show a long shallow dive, also from the dock or pool deck. 1m and 3m springboards, and the platform (five, seven and a half, and ten meter towers), dive groups: forward, back, reverse, inward, twist and armstand, dive positions: straight, pike, tuck, free http://www.usadiving.org/about/diving-101/types-of-dives/

Pool  Swimming  -­‐  Health  and  Fitness  

Swimming for Fitness by David Grootenhuis 1. Swimming Merit Badge #10 - Do the following: a. Explain the health benefits of regular aerobic exercise, and explain why many

people today do not get enough of the beneficial kinds of exercise. b. Discuss why swimming is favored as both a fitness and a therapeutic exercise. c. Write a plan for a swimming exercise program that will promote aerobic/vascular fitness, strength and muscle tone, body flexibility, and weight control for a person of Scout age. Identify resources and facilities available in your home community that would be needed for such a program. d. Discuss with your counselor the incentives and obstacles for staying with the fitness program you created in requirement 10c. Explain the unique benefits that could be gained from this program, and discuss how personal health awareness and self discipline would relate to your own willingness and ability to pursue such a program. water aerobics - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_aerobics aquajogging - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aquajogging Fitness and flexibility effects because swimming is weightless U.S. Water Fitness Association - http://www.uswfa.com/

http://www.usms.org/fitness/content/startingaroutine First Consideration - Equipment Swimsuit. Most swimming facilities require swimming suits. Make sure to get one that is comfortable and durable. Several of the swimwear manufacturers offer fuller cut suits for swimmers who desire the less youthful styles. Some of the newer suits made of polyester will last longer and resist fading. Goggles. Protect your eyes and see everything more clearly with goggles. Several manufacturers now make prescription goggles for people who need them. Goggles should be snug, yet comfortable. Sometimes it is necessary to keep trying new goggles until finding the right ones. Fins. Work your legs and add propulsion to your swimming with fins. There are several kinds of fins to choose from. They should be snug fitting but not too tight. If you can't find the right size, get the slightly larger ones and wear socks with them. Long fins are great for beginners and people who need to develop ankle flexibility. Short fins are an alternative, and they are great for adding speed to your swimming without disproportionately overexerting the leg muscles. Pull-Buoy. Put some flotation into your swimming by trying a pull buoy. This piece of equipment is usually made of foam and comes in a variety of shapes and sizes. It is placed between your legs above the knees and allows your lower body to float more while isolating your swimming to the upper body. If your legs tend to sink, or if they're just tired, a pull buoy can often help. Kickboard. If you would like to work your legs exclusively, you can use a kickboard. This piece of equipment is usually made of foam and comes in a variety of shapes and sizes. It allows your upper body to float while you kick with your legs. If you try a kick board and find it makes your shoulders sore, try kicking without it, or try a smaller board with less flotation. Hand paddles. If you're looking to work your pull a little more, hand paddles can sometimes help. Hand paddles are usually plastic and are held in place on the hands with short lengths of surgical tubing that are attached to the paddle. There are other types of paddles that look more like gloves, made of lycra and rubber. Be careful when considering using hand paddles. They can sometimes put too much stress on the shoulders. http://www.usms.org/fitness/content/startingaroutine http://www.usms.org/fintess/content/pooletiquette Conventions 1. Lane designations. In most pools, lanes are designated as slow, medium, or fast. These are relative terms. Choose a lane compatible with your speed, then notify the others in the lane that you are joining them. 2. Swimming pattern. If there are two of you in a lane, you may opt to keep to one side of the lane; the other swimmer will stay on the opposite side. Three or more swimmers in a lane must circle swim. In the United States, Canada, and most of the rest of the world, the custom is to stay to the right, that is to swim counterclockwise. (As you might expect, in Great Britain, Australia, and a few other Commonwealth outposts, swimmers circle clockwise. When will these people get it right?) 3. Joining a workout. If there is a workout set in progress, you may join only as part of the set. 4. Speed. Slower swimmers must yield to faster swimmers. 5. Passing. Pass on the left (on right in the United Kingdom and Down Under). Tap the foot of the person in front of you before passing. If you are being overtaken at the turn, stop, and wait until the other swimmer has pushed off.

In addition, observing several rules of common courtesy will be helpful. 1. Do not stand in front of the pace clock. 2. Entering. When you enter the water, never dive, jump, or push off into oncoming swimmers. Wait until they have made the turn and pushed off. 3. Stopping. If you need to stop, squeeze into the corner to the right of oncoming swimmers, so they will have sufficient room to turn. 4. Push off underwater. This will reduce the waves encountered by oncoming swimmers. 5. At all times be aware of what is going on within your lane. Also try not to kick or swing your arms into another lane. 6. Keep your toenails and fingernails trimmed. http://www.usms.org/fitness/content/usingthepaceclock Example - Straight Sets Example: 10 x 50 yards on 1:00 Explanation: 10 - number of repetitions (repeats) 50 yards - distance of each repetition 1:00 - interval for each repetition (swim + rest) The most basic type of interval training is the straight set. During a straight set, the distance per repetition and the interval per repetition remain constant. In this example, the swimmer completes a 50-yard swim 10 times, leaving on an interval of 1:00. This means that if a 50-yard swim is completed in :45, a 15-second rest period will follow. In pace clock lingo, each 50-yard swim will begin "on the top" in this set. This slogan is derived from the second hand pointing upwards to the "0" or "60" on the clock. Fitness Pace Chart The chart provides general paces in minutes and seconds for set distances from 100 yards (or meters) to a one-hour swim. To use the chart, select a shorter distance (such as 100 yards or meters) and time yourself in a moderately paced swim. Record your time, and use this as a base for swims of longer distances. Circle Swim Diagram - http://www.usms.org/fitness/CircleSwim.gif

  Water  Polo  

Water polo, or Water ball, is a team water sport. The playing team consists of six field players and one goalkeeper. The winner of the game is the team that scores the most goals. Game play involves swimming, treading water (using a sort of kicking motion known as "eggbeater kick"), players passing the ball while being defended by opponents, and scoring by throwing the ball into a net defended by a goalie. 'Man-up' (or 'power play') situations occur frequently. Water polo, therefore, has strong similarities to the land-based game of team handball. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_polo)

Basic Water Polo skills - http://www.westernwaterpolo.org/water-polo-skills.html Water Polo tricks, skills & tactics videos http://www.santamonicawaterpolo.com/LA_Water_Polo_Videos.html

Open  Water  Swimming  

http://www.openwaterswimming.com/ What is Open Water Swimming - http://www.scribd.com/doc/38543870/What-is-Open-WaterSwimming Open water swimming is defined as swimming for pleasure, fitness or competition in natural or man-made bodies of water including oceans, lakes, bays, rivers, reservoirs, channels, rowing basins, seas, ponds, coves, lagoons, canals, dams, fjords, estuaries and lidos. ... The venues can be salt or fresh, calm or rough, warm or cold, still or with currents... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_water_swimming Open water swimming takes place in outdoor bodies of water such as open oceans, bays, lakes, rivers, canals, and reservoirs. The beginning of the modern age of open water swimming is sometimes taken to be May 3, 1810, when Lord Byron swam several miles to cross the Hellespont (now known as the Dardanelles) from Europe to Asia.[1] In the first edition of the modern Olympic Games in Athens in 1896, the swimming competition was held in open water. In 2000, the Olympic Games first included a triathlon with a 1500 m swim leg, and in 2008, a 10 km open water swim. 5, 10, and 25 km open water races are included in the General Fina World Championships. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marathon_swimming Marathon swimming, or ultra-long-distance swimming, is a class of open water swimming. Unlike the use of the term for foot-races where the distance is well-defined, the distance of a marathon swim varies from event to event. Tides, surface currents and wind-chop are major determinants of finish-times. For a given course, these factors can vary dramatically from day to day, making any attempt to draw conclusions about athletic ability by comparing finish times from performances undertaken on different days meaningless. One of the earliest marathon swims was accomplished in 1875 by Captain Matthew Webb, when he became the first person to swim across the English Channel. Similarly, perhaps the most famous marathon swim of all-time was accomplished in 1926 by Gertrude Ederle, when she became, at 19 years of age, the first woman to swim across the English Channel. In doing so, she demolished the existing world record for the crossing. World marathon swimming records can be set by being the first to swim a specific distance in a specific course in a specific body of water or the fastest or the oldest or the most prolific (i.e., the most number of times in a specific location). World records are authenticated by independent observers and are defined by distance, gender, age, location and time. Distance is separated into world marathon swimming records (at least 10 kilometers) or world open water swimming records (under 10 kilometers). http://swimming.about.com/od/openwaterswims/a/ow_swim_begin.htm http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/discussion/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=239220&posts=26&start=1 http://www.totalimmersion.net/blog/The-Open-Water-Stroke.html

Key differences between pool swimming and open water include: • Temperature • Visibility / navigation • Weather conditions • Support / safety http://www.swimtrek.com/LinkClick.aspx/tabid/38/Default.aspx?fileticket=38F9eYJD6-U%3D

Snorkeling  and  Scuba  Diving  

Cub Scout Swimming Pin #12 (new) - Demonstrate the proper use of a mask and snorkel in a swimming area where your feet can touch the bottom Swimming Merit Badge #8a Demonstrate snorkeling and scuba diving knowledge: [This sentence is PathFinder Optional #1] 1. Demonstrate selection and fit of mask, snorkel, and fins; discuss safety in both pool and open-water snorkeling. [This sentence is PathFinder Optional #2] 2. Demonstrate proper use of mask, snorkel, and fins for underwater search and rescue. 3. Describe the sport of scuba diving or snorkeling, and demonstrate your knowledge of BSA policies and procedures relating to that sport. [This sentence is PathFinder Optional #3, except that "BSA policies and procedures" was changed to "safety procedures"] http://www.diffen.com/difference/Scuba_Diving_vs_Snorkeling

Surfing,  Bodysurfing,  Bodyboarding,  Skimming  

Surfing is a surface water sport in which the participant, referred to as a "surfer", rides a surfboard on the crest and face of a wave, which is carrying the surfer towards the shore. Waves suitable for surfing are found primarily in the ocean, but are also sometimes found in lakes and rivers, and also in manmade wave pools. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surfing) Bodysurfing is the art and sport of riding a wave without the assistance of any buoyant device such as a surfboard or bodyboard. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodysurfing) Bodyboarding is a surface water sport in which the surfer rides a bodyboard on the crest, face, and curl of a wave which is carrying the surfer towards the shore. Bodyboarding is also referred to as Boogieboarding (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodyboard) Skimboarding (or skimming) is a boardsport in which a skimboard (a smaller counterpart to a surfboard without fins) is used to glide across the water's surface. Unlike surfing, skimboarding begins on the beach by dropping the board onto the thin wash of previous waves. Skimboarders use their momentum to skim out to breaking waves, which they then catch back into shore in a manner similar to surfing. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skimboarding)

The science of surfing: http://www.explainthatstuff.com/surfingscience.html

Water:  Injuries,  Characteristic  Maladies   Sun and U/V Safety - http://www.epa.gov/sunwise/uvindex.html

Another swimmer who has a cramp, shivering from hypothermia, sunburn or heat exhaustion, tired Swimming Merit Badge #1 - Discuss the prevention and treatment for health concerns that could occur while swimming, including hypothermia, dehydration, sunburn, heat exhaustion, heatstroke, muscle cramps, hyperventilation, spinal injury, stings and bites, and cuts and scrapes. Swimmer's Ear http://kidshealth.org/parent/infections/bacterial_viral/swimmer_ear.html?tracking=P_RelatedArti cle Too much moisture in the ear can irritate and break down the skin in the canal, allowing bacteria or fungi to penetrate. In temperate climates, otitis externa occurs more often in summertime, when swimming is common. But you don't have to swim to get swimmer's ear. Anything that causes a break in the skin of the ear canal can lead to an infection. Dry skin or eczema, scratching the ear canal, vigorous ear cleaning with cotton-tipped applicators, or inserting foreign objects like bobby pins or paper clips into the ear can all increase the risk of developing otitis externa. Using over-the-counter drops of a dilute solution of acetic acid or alcohol in the ears after swimming can help prevent otitis externa, especially if a child is prone to the infection. These drops are available at pharmacies and should only be used in kids who do not have ear tubes or a hole in the eardrum. After time in the water, kids should gently dry their ears with a towel and help water run out of their ears by turning their heads to the side. To avoid trauma to the ear, kids should not clean their ears themselves. Also, never put objects into kids' ears, including cotton-tipped applicators. http://www.fourseasonspediatrics.com/newsletter/swimming-issues/ Swimmer’s Ear: Due to the elevated outdoor temperatures and prolonged swimming we are seeing high numbers of children with these issues. Please consider using preventive ear drops (1 part of rubbing alcohol with 1 part white vinegar). Apply 2-3 drops in each ear (let sit for 5 seconds and drain); after swimming every day. Pool (Chemical) Conjunctivitis: Chemical conjunctivitis occurs because a chemical from the pool is irritating the eye. Due to the high temperatures and prolonged swimming time, we suggest wearing goggles to prevent this. If it occurs, it will cause a red eye and or discharge from the eye, especially upon awakening in the morning. If this occurs, please soothe the eye with cotton balls soakedwith lukewarm water. Give diphenhydramine for itching and swelling. Avoid contact with water until this improves. If you child must go swimming, wear goggles in the water. Bathing Suit Irritation: Prolonged contact with a wet bathing suit (and or sand in the suit) may irritate the genital area. Wet swimming suits (many of which are synthetic and do not breath well) may cause irritation, frequent urination, and painful urination. We suggest getting out of the suit during breaks in swimming. If irritation occurs, give a sitz bath. This consists of soaking in a tub of lukewarm water with 2 tablespoons of baking soda. Sit for 20″ twice during the first day and once the day after. Give real cranberry juice. This makes the urine less irritating. If there is itching or the rash persists for more than 24 – 48 hours, apply clotrimazole (brand name lotrimin) cream to the area twice a day for 10-14 days. This will treat any yeast component that keeps the irritation going. If your child has a fever, this may mean a urinary tract infection. Please call so that we can assess that possibility.

Aquatic Therapy - Ai Chi, Aquatic PNF, the Bad Ragaz Ring Method, Fluid Moves, the Halliwick Concept, Swim Stroke Training and Modification, Task Type Training Approach, Watsu - Aquatic Resources Network http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aquatic_therapy http://www.aquaticnet.com/index.htm

Fire:  Experiments  to  Understand  Science  (FireFly,  SpiralScout)   http://mps.uchicago.edu/docs/reports07/SinkorSwim.pdf http://www.homeschoollearning.com/index.php/unit-studies/physical-ed-a-recreation/392swimming-and-water-safety-unit-study Why Do We Float? The first thing most people learn to do in the water is float. Floating happens when water is displaced. Our bodies have buoyancy. The density of water is greater than the density of our bodies and so we can float! As you float, your weight presses down into the water; the water presses back, pushing you up. When you get into the pool, your body displaces a volume of water (the "hole" in the water that your body fits into). As long as the water your body displaces weighs more than you do, you float. This is basically Archimedes' Law. You weigh less than the water you're in, because your lungs are full of air, like a balloon, and like a balloon, the air in your lungs lifts you to the surface naturally. Different factors contribute to how high in the water you float. Your body type has a lot to do with your buoyancy. Fat floats, as you've probably heard, while your bones and muscles, denser than fat. The relative size of your lungs to the rest of your body determines how high in the water your body can float. Second, the density of the water is a factor. Saltier water weighs more per unit of volume, so you will float higher in saltier water (the Red Sea, for instance) than you would in fresh water. The deeper the water you swim in, the greater your buoyancy.

Air:  Journal,  Recordkeeping   Keep a workout log of your swims ( http://www.swimmingcalculator.com/ - translate to virtual swims in interesting locations How & Why to Use a Swim Training Log - http://swim.isport.com/swimming-guides/how-whyto-use-a-swim-training-log Training logs can do more than just provide motivation and accountability. They can also help you determine why your performance has plateaued or whether you are overtraining. Everyone has a different reason for keeping a swimming log, but they all boil down to the same basic idea: tracking progress. Record your snorkeling experiences, identify common fish, and keep notes that will preserve the memory of your underwater experiences for years to come. Scuba Dive Log - http://sacscuba.blogspot.com/2009/01/dive-log.html http://sacscuba.synthasite.com/scuba-dive-log-book.php A log book is not only a record of what a diver saw or did on a particular dive, it can contain information about the condition of the water, weights used for the type of water you are diving in and the location of the dive site(s). Information about how you entered, what you saw, any difficulties you encountered or perhaps as a marker for a site you would like to return to again and again. Most log books also include: Your "tidal" information, weather, how you felt, etc.

Water:  Prehistory,  History,  Mythology,  Science  Fiction,  Silver  Screen   Evolution Tiktaalik - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiktaalik - Tiktaalik lived approximately 375 million years ago. Paleontologists suggest that it is representative of the transition between non-tetrapod vertebrates ("fish") such as Panderichthys, known from fossils 380 million years old, and early tetrapods such asAcanthostega and Ichthyostega, known from fossils about 365 million years old. Its mixture of primitive "fish" and derived tetrapod characteristics led one of its discoverers, Neil Shubin, to characterize Tiktaalik as a "fishapod".[3][4] Unlike many previous, more fishlike transitional fossils, the "fins" of Tiktaalik have basic wrist bones and simple rays reminiscent of fingers. Also notable are the spiracles on the top of the head, which suggest the creature had primitive lungs as well as gills.

What has the head of a crocodile and the gills of a fish? at the site Understanding Evolution http://evolution.berkeley.edu/evolibrary/news/060501_tiktaalik

Prehistory What is the sustenance purpose of swimming and diving? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_swimming Swimming has been known since prehistoric times. Drawings from the Stone Age were found in "the cave of swimmers" near Wadi Sora (or Sura) in the southwestern part of Egypt near Libya. These pictures seem to show breaststroke or dog paddle, although it may also be possible that the movements have a ritual meaning unrelated to swimming. This cave is also featured in the movie The English Patient. An Egyptian clay seal dated between 4000 B.C. and 9000 B.C. shows four swimmers who are believed to be swimming a variant of the front crawl. More references to swimming are found in Babylonian bas-reliefs and Assyrian wall drawings, depicting a variant of the breaststroke. The most famous drawings were found in the Kebir desert and are estimated to be from around 4000 B.C. The Nagoda bas-relief also shows swimmers dating back from 3000 B.C. The Indian palace Mohenjo Daro from 2800B.C. contains a swimming pool sized 30m by 60m. The Minoan palace Minos of Knossos in Crete also featured baths. An Egyptian tomb from 2000 B.C. shows a variant of the front crawl. Depictions of swimmers were also found from the Hittites, Minoans, and other Middle Eastern civilizations, the Incas in the Tepantitla House at Teotihuacan, and in mosaics in Pompeii. http://whitman.syr.edu/ABP/Conference/Papers/The%20Social%20Constraints%20on%20Entrep reneurship%20in%20a%20Poor%20Ghanaian%20Fishing%20Community.pdf According to Domo, the Chief fisherman, there are two main net fishing techniques. The system used by our respondents is the seine net method, locally called „wichie‟. This off-shore fishing uses the larger dugout canoes with outboard motors that carry 20 to 25 crew members. This method is labour intensive and very traditional. For instance, when asked about how they find fish, he explained the colour of the sea indicates a shoal of fish. He also said that sea gulls eat fish, so when offshore, they follow the movement of the sea gulls to find fish. Apparently flying fish also indicate fish, as the big ones attempt to catch smaller fish. When fish are found, the crew members form into groups and about five of the crew swim out to the fish, so that the fishing net can be cast. Others then dive into the sea to position the fishing net. During peak season, fishermen can return to the shore, unload the catch and go back to the sea the same day.

Spearfishing - Spearfishing is an ancient method of fishing that has been used throughout the world for millennia. Early civilizations were familiar with the custom of spearing fish from rivers and streams using sharpened sticks. … Spearfishing with barbed poles (harpoons) was widespread in palaeolithic times. Cosquer cave in Southern France contains cave art over 16,000 years old, including drawings of seals which appear to have been harpooned. … Spear fishing is an ancient method of fishing and may be conducted with an ordinary spear or a specialized variant such as an eel spear or the trident. A small trident type spear with a long handle is used in the American South and Midwest for gigging bullfrogswith a bright light at night, or for gigging carp and other fish in the shallows. … Shore diving is perhaps the most common form of spearfishing and simply involves entering and exiting the sea from beaches orheadlands and hunting around ocean structures, usually reef, but also rocks, kelp or sand. Usually shore divers hunt at depths of 5–25 metres (16–82 ft), depending on location. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spearfishing)

What is Freediving? Does anyone still do it? http://www.ehow.com/way_5422841_freediving-breathing-tips.html Freediving has its origins not in sport, but in survival. Ancient cultures learned to freedive to catch fish. Many of these cultures still practice this form of hunting today, though most modern spear fishermen hunt for sport instead of sustenance. People also freedive for recreation, physical fitness and underwater photography. Apnea diving is highly competitive. There are two basic forms of apnea diving: static and dynamic. Static apnea is a stationary, timed breath-holding competition that's generally conducted in a swimming pool, while dynamic apnea competitors must travel horizontally or vertically on a single breath. Within both categories there are a number of subcategories. For example, dynamic apnea can be conducted with or without fins, and with or without guide lines on which the athlete can pull themselves down to depth. humans can survive longer without oxygen in the water than they can on land. When this phenomenon, known as the "mammalian diving reflex," kicks in, certain biological responses change. Our heart rate drops, blood vessels constrict and red blood vessels, which carry oxygen, are released. Most important, the residual volume of the lungs is reduced. This prevents the lungs from shrinking at deeper depths. Lobster Hunting http://diver.net/seahunt/d_lobstr.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diving The ability to dive underwater can be a useful emergency skill, and is an important part of watersport and navy safety training. Entering water from a height is an enjoyable leisure activity, as is underwater swimming. Such non-competitive diving can occur indoors and outdoors. Outdoor diving typically takes place from cliffs or other rock formations either into fresh or salt water. However, man-made diving platforms are sometimes constructed in popular swimming destinations. Outdoor diving requires knowledge of the water depth and currents as conditions can be dangerous. Cliff Diving http://dsc.discovery.com/adventure/cliff-diving-101-what-you-need-to-know.html Cliff diving is one of the most dangerous adventure sports in the world, but it has maintained a following of both professionals and amateurs for hundreds of years. What started as a loyalty test for a Hawaiian king in the 1700s eventually morphed into a sanctioned world class activity (associated with the World High Diving Federation) that attracts the most acrobatic, thrillseeking athletes in the world. Cliff divers stare death in the face before every dive. Each leap is carefully calculated but still poses the threat of serious injury or even death. The danger associated with the sport has even earned it the nickname tombstoning. However, most divers would argue that the rewards of cliff diving greatly outweigh the risks associated with it. After all, there are very few adventure sports that take athletes to such visually stunning locales and offer the same adrenaline rush. Cliff diving is clearly a unique sport that is not for the faint of heart, but if the proper safety precautions and diving techniques are practiced, the experience can be a life-changing event. History http://www.ishof.org/exhibits/pdf/world_art.pdf World Art on Swimming by Stathis Avramidis Depictions of people swimming competitively or recreationally, diving, bathing, working, and fighting were found in Egypt, Greece, Persia, Italy, Spain, the USA, Japan, and China. Depending on the particular society, the ability to swim indicated either a high or low socioeconomic status. In some depictions, knowledge of swimming was accompanied by the ability to dive from high cliffs or into deep water, to hold one’s breath underwater, and to show physical endurance. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_swimming

Famous  people  in  western  swimming  competitions  (race,  water  polo)     Competitive swimming in Europe started around 1800, mostly using breaststroke. The front crawl, then called the trudgen, was introduced in 1873 by John Arthur Trudgen, copying it from Native Americans. Swimming was part of the first modern Olympic games in 1896 in Athens. In 1902 the trudgen was improved by Richard Cavill, using the flutter kick. In 1908, the world swimming association, Federation Internationale de Natation de Amateur (FINA), was formed. Butterfly was first a variant of breaststroke, until it was accepted as a separate style in 1952. The first German swimming club was founded in 1837 in Berlin. A journal mentions "swimming skates" in France, which may be an early version of a surfboard.

Captain Matthew Webb was the first man to swim the English channel (between England and France), in 1875. He used breaststroke, swimming 21.26 miles in 21 hours and 45 minutes. No other man or woman swam the channel for the next 31 years. He died in 1882 while attempting to swim the Niagara Falls. The first European amateur swimming competitions were in 1889 in Vienna. The Olympic Games were held in 1896 in Athens, a male-only competition (see also Swimming at the 1896 Summer Olympics). Six events were planned, but only four events were actually contested: 100 m, 500 m, and 1200 m freestyle and 100 m for sailors. The first gold medal was won by Alfred Hajos of Hungary in 1:22.20 for the 100m freestyle. Hajos was also victorious in the 1200 m event, and was unable to compete in the 500 m, which was won by Austrian Paul Neumann. Another swimming competition of 100m for sailors included three Greek sailors in Bay of Zea near Piraeus, starting from a rowing boat. The winner was Ioannis Malokinis in two minutes and 20 seconds. A 1500m race was also performed. The second Olympic games in Paris in 1900 featured 200m, 1000m, and 4000m freestyle, 200m backstroke , and a 200m team race (see also Swimming at the 1900 Summer Olympics). There were two additional unusual swimming events (although common at the time) : an obstacle swimming course in the Seine river (swimming with the current), and an underwater swimming race. The 4000m freestyle was won by John Arthur Jarvis in under one hour, the longest Olympic swimming race ever. The backstroke was also introduced to the Olympic games in Paris, as was water polo. The Osborne Swimming Club from Manchester beat club teams from Belgium, France and Germany quite easily. The Olympics in 1904 in St. Louis included races over 50 yards, 100 yards, 220 yards, 440 yards, 880 yards and one mile freestyle, 100 yards backstroke and 440 yards breaststroke, and the 4*50 yards freestyle relay (see also Swimming at the 1904 Summer Olympics). These games differentiated between breaststroke and freestyle, so that there were now two defined styles (breaststroke and backstroke) and freestyle, where most people swam Trudgen. These games also featured a competition to plunge for distance, where the distance without swimming, after jumping in a pool, was measured. In 1908, the world swimming association Federation Internationale de Natation de Amateur (FINA) was formed. Women were first allowed to swim in the Olympic Games in 1912 in Stockholm, competing in freestyle races. (Women could participate in golf and tennis since 1900 in Paris). In the 1912 games, Harry Hebner of the United States won the 100m backstroke. At these games Duke Kahanamoku from Hawaii won the 100m freestyle, having learned the six kicks per cycle front crawl from older natives of his island. This style is now considered the classical front crawl style. The men's competitions were 100m, 400m, and 1500m Freestyle, 100m backstroke, 200m and 400m breaststroke, and four by 200m freestyle relay. The women’s competitions were 100m freestyle and four by 100m freestyle relay. In 1922, Johnny Weissmuller became the first person to swim the 100m in less than a minute, using a six kicks per cycle Australian crawl. Johnny Weissmuller started the golden age of swimming and was the world's most famous swimmer, winning five Olympic medals and 36 national championships and never losing a race in his ten-year career, until he retired from swimming and started his second career as Tarzan. His record of 51 seconds in 100 yard freestyle stood for over 17 years.

In 1972, another famous swimmer, Mark Spitz, was at the height of his career. During the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, Germany, he won seven gold medals, more than any other Olympic athlete has ever won. Shortly thereafter in 1973, the first swimming world cup was held in Belgrade, Yugoslavia by the FINA. http://www.homeschoollearning.com/index.php/unit-studies/physical-ed-a-recreation/392swimming-and-water-safety-unit-study The English are considered the first modern society to develop swimming as a sport. By 1837, regular swimming competitions were being held in London's six artificial pools.More pools were built as swimming grew in popularity. In 1896, swimming became an Olympic sport for men. As swimming gained popularity and acceptance as a sport, more freestyle events were added, followed by the backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly and finally, the individual medley. Competitive swimming, most notably the modern Olympic Games, begun in Athens, Greece, in 1896 increased interest in swimming strokes. Sports science and stroke analysis has helped produce more varied strokes and faster speeds. Although people have been swimming since ancient times, swimming strokes developed into their refined state only in the past 100 years. The first modern Olympic Games had only four swimming events, three of them were freestyle. The second Olympics in Paris in 1900 included three unusual swimming events. One used an obstacle course. There was a test of underwater swimming endurance and the third was a 4,000metre event. This was the longest competitive swimming event ever. None of these were ever used in the Olympics again. From the humble beginning with four swimming events, the Olympics have developed to 32 swimming races, 16 for men and 16 for women. Endurance records and speed records are often met and exceeded during these competitions. The Special Olympics has 22 events for men and 22 for women that encourage men and women with disabilities to compete..

Origin  of  competitive  diving  in  swedish/german  gymnastics   movement   In 1739 Guts Muts (also spelled as Guts Muth) from Schnepfenthal, Germany, wrote "Gymnastik für die Jugend" (Exercise for the youth), including a significant portion about swimming. In 1794 Kanonikus Oronzio de Bernardi of Italy wrote a two volume book about swimming, including floating practice as a prerequisite for swimming studies. In 1798 Guts Muts wrote another book "Kleines Lehrbuch der Schwimmkunst zum Selbstunterricht" (Small study book of the art of swimming for self study), recommending the use of a "fishing rod" device to aid in the learning of swimming. His books describe a three step approach to learn swimming that is still used today. First, get the student used to the water, second, practice the swimming movements out of the water, third, practice the swimming movements in the water. He believed that swimming is an essential part of every education.

samurai  -­‐  combative  swimming  skills   http://www.ishof.org/exhibits/japan.htm History of Swimming in Japan Among the recent donations to the Henning Library is a rare 1935 Edition of “Swimming in Japan.” This book explains the ancient orignis of swimming in Japan and how the Japanese came

to dominate the world of men’s swimming in the 1930’s by blending classical Japanese swimming and training techniques with those of the western world. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CN7Ls6kjAss Read more about this annual demonstration of samurai swimming techniques in the chilly waters of the Motoyasu River in front of the Hiroshima A-bomb Dome at http://www.gethiroshima.com/features/art-entertainment/festivals/mid-winter-s... Every year on Seijin no hi (Coming Of Age Day), a group of swimmers between the ages of 7 and 70 brave the near freezing water of the Motoyasu River in front of the A-bomb Dome to demonstrate Edo era swimming techniques and welcome the new year. The Shindenryu Hiroshima Yuuei Doushikai (神伝流広島游泳同志会) keeps alive one of Japan’s 12 traditional swimming styles which apparently date back some 400 years to the Edo period. to demonstrate traditional swimming styles. http://openwaterpedia.com/index.php?title=Combative_swimming Combative swimming Combative swimming (Suijutsu or 水術 or Suieijutsu in Japanese) is an ancient Japanese martial art. While not as widely practiced as swordsmanship, samurai swimming was often a part of the bushi's training. It was natural for the Japanese warrior to develop swimming skills because Japan is surrounded by water where combat took place. Swimming and engaging an opponent in water reached a high level in certain clans of warriors. Depending on the speed, size, and depth of the water that was near a particular clan, different skills were developed. For example, some ryu of suiei-jutsu featured methods for swimming under water, while others focused on swimming in fast-moving rapids. Combative swimming served various purposes, ranging from allowing the bushi to silently sneak up on an enemy, to floating for long periods, to fording strong rivers. Bushi needed to be able to swim while wearing armor, carrying flags, weapons, and banners. They needed to be able to use a bow and arrow while being almost submerged. Some ryu also featured grappling while in the water. Combative swimming is seldom taught in modern-day Japan. Most of its contemporary practitioners are studying it as a means of recreation, as a way of maintaining their health, and as a method of disciplining their minds and bodies. But make no mistake, the small number of suiei-jutsu teachers that are still extant have not forgotten the martial origins of this rare art form, and they are also preserving it as an important cultural property of Japan. Iwasaki Hisashi Sensei (or Iwasaki Soke) of Kyoto's Kobori Ryu suiei-jutsu is one of the people responsible for preserving Suieijutsu. http://kempo.4mg.com/articles/suiei.htm Wikimedia history of swimming: In Japan swimming was one of the noble skills of the Samurai, and historic records describe swimming competitions in 36 B.C. organized by emperor Suigui (spelling unclear), which are the first known swimming races. In 1603 the first national swimming organization was established in Japan. Emperor Go-Yozei of Japan declared that school children should swim. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bugei_jūhappan

http://www.tsuki-kage.com/kobori_ryu.html The major types of natation in the Kobori ryu are as follows: Fundamental Swimming Skills ● Sokugeki ● Taguri Oyogi ● Hayanuki Oyogi ● Tachi Oyogi ● Ukimi ● Sen-ei There are also techniques for shoving waves aside (Teishin nuki Oyogi) and techniques for catching rest while in the water (Yasumi Oyogi). Performance Swimming Skills ● Gozen Oyogi ● Nukite Oyogi ● Uki Oyogi

Native  American  contributions  to  swimming     http://www.ishof.org/exhibits/pdf/world_art.pdf World Art on Swimming by Stathis Avramidis (see linked article above for images) The first painting shows a Caribbean native woman taking her children for their daily bath. It shows that Indian mothers were responsible for teaching their children to swim. It was incumbent on mothers that children knew how to swim as soon as they could walk because much of their lives were spent around, on, or in the water. According to early explorers to America, the aboriginal people were great swimmers. The second artwork depicts Native Americans using front crawl while swimming. The act of swimming was known to many Native Americans. Many tribes spent their lives on the shores of inland waterways, paddling from their childhood in fragile bark canoes often being thrown into the water and needing to swim to save their lives. Native Americans reportedly swam with the crawl stroke. Interestingly, they seemed to be able to swim the front crawl stroke when Europeans were more typically using breast stroke and side stroke.

From history of swimming article (wikipedia) One watershed event was a swimming competition in 1844 in London. Some Native Americans participated in this competition. While the British raced using breaststroke, the Native Americans swam a variant of the front crawl, which has been used by people in the Americas, West Africa and some Pacific islands for generations, but was not known to the British. As the front crawl is a much faster style than the breaststroke, the Americans won against the British competition. Flying Gull won the medal, swimming the 130 feet in 30 seconds; the second place was also won by another American named Tobacco. Their stroke was described as making a motion with the arms "like a windmill" and kicking the legs up and down. As this produced considerably splashing, it was considered barbaric and "un-European" to the British gentlemen, who preferred to keep their heads over the water. Subsequently, the British continued to swim only breaststroke until 1873. The front crawl, then called the trudgen, was introduced in 1873 by John Arthur Trudgen, copying it from Native Americans. In 1873 John Arthur Trudgen reintroduced the front crawl to England. Trudgen learned the stroke from Native Americans during a trip to South America (the exact date, however, is disputed and may be anywhere between 1870 and 1890). This stroke, a variant of the front crawl, was then called the Trudgen or Trudgeon. The arms were brought forward, alternating while the body rolled from side to side. The kick was a scissors kick, with one kick for two arm strokes, although it is believed that the Native Americans did indeed do a flutter kick and Trudgen mistakenly used the (in Britain) more common breaststroke kick. Variants used different ratios of scissor kicks to arm strokes, or alternated with a flutter (up-anddown) kick. The speed of the new stroke was demonstrated by F. V. C. Lane in 1901, swimming 100 yards in 1:00.0, an improvement of about ten seconds compared to the breaststroke record. This style is the first European version of the front crawl, the fastest swimming style known today. Due to its speed the Trudgen became very quickly popular around the world, despite all the ungentlemanlike splashing. The Trudgen was improved by the British-born Australian swimming teacher and swimmer Richard (Fred, Frederick) Cavill. Like Trudgen, he watched natives from the Solomon Islands, using front crawl. But different from Trudgen, he noticed the flutter kick, and studied it closely. He used this new flutter kick instead of the breaststroke or scissor kick for the Trudgen. He used this stroke in 1902 at an International Championships in England to set a new world record by outswimming all Trudgen swimmers over the 100 yards in 0:58.4 (some sources say it was his son in 0:58.8). He taught this style to his six sons, each becoming a championship swimmer. The technique became known as Australian crawl up to 1950, when it was shortened to crawl, technically known as front crawl.

Pearl  divers  in  many  cultures   http://www.ishof.org/exhibits/pdf/world_art.pdf World Art on Swimming by Stathis Avramidis The second Japanese depiction shows women pearl divers called Ama. The Ama have a 2,000-year tradition of diving on the south-eastern coast of Honshu. The profession was passed down from mother to daughter, generation after generation. Initially, their primary job was the collection of shells, but after the 1900s, their goal was the collection of mother-of-pearl from oyster shells. The Ama were originally thought to have been the wives of fisherman forced to contribute to family survival. This is why this profession is an exception to the rule in a male dominated society

such as Japan. In olden days, women started work in the shallows at the age of 11 years. By the age of 17 years, they were able to remain submerged for up to three minutes at a time and dive as deep as ten metres. Eventually they would go as deep as 35 metres with a weight attached to their bodies. (see linked article, above for image circa 1900)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pearl_hunting

ancient  baths  their  role  in  healing   The Indian palace Mohenjo Daro from 2800B.C. contains a swimming pool sized 30m by 60m. The Minoan palace Minos of Knossos in Crete also featured baths. The Greeks did not include swimming in the ancient Olympic Games, but practiced the sport, often building swimming pools as part of their baths. One common insult in Greece was to say about somebody that he/she neither knew how to run nor swim. The Etruscans at Tarquinia (Italy) show pictures of swimmers in 600 B.C., and tombs in Greece depict swimmers 500 B.C. The "Great Bath" at the site of Mohenjo-Daro in modern-day Pakistan was most likely the first swimming pool, dug during the 3rd millennium BC. This pool is 12 by 7 meters, is lined with bricks and was covered with a tar-based sealant Roman baths - http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/roman_baths.htm

history  of  swimming  pools  -­‐  19th  through  21st  century:  public   (bathing  palaces)  then  private  -­‐  connection  to  underground  railroad,   segregation,  civil  rights  struggle,  loss  of  community,  sprawl   The first indoor swimming pool was built in England in 1862. An Amateur Swimming Association of Great Britain was organized in 1880 with more than 300 members. In 1879 Louis III of Bavaria built a swimming pool in castle Linderhof. This is believed to be the first artificial wave pool and also featured electrically heated water and light. http://www.homeschoollearning.com/index.php/unit-studies/physical-ed-a-recreation/392swimming-and-water-safety-unit-study The History of the Swimming Pool Swimming pools became popular around the middle of the 19th century. There were six indoor pools with built in London, England by 1837. In 1896 the modern Olympic Games began and the popularity of swimming pools spread.

Victorian era Bathing Palaces (e.g. Sutro baths) to modern Water Parks http://invisiblesf.com/?p=311 The Sutro Baths, now a modern ruin, were a quintessential Victorian site of amusement, education, and leisure. Made with the same glass as that was used in the famous Crystal Palace, it seems difficult to imagine the scope of Sutro’s from the remaining ruins today. The Victorian interiors of the Sutro Baths... recreate the peculiarly modern sensibility of looking, fetishizing, taking pleasure in, and even “playing” in, nature under glass. Victorian interiors are unique insofar as they fetishized a relation to nature that was irretrievably lost to industrialization and modernization. The very form of leisure at the baths is bound up with the practice of “looking” and “collecting” nature (including at the museum exhibits), as well as watching others play in nature (both aquatic and floral), albeit trapped, under glass and iron, indoors. Popular plants, such as ferns, and trees were also sold at Sutro’s. It is worth remembering that in the 19th century, bathing in salt water was considered “healthy.” The popularity of places like Sutro Baths reinforced many practices of a peculiarly modern (and modernizing) knowledge and vision at play. This extends to the museum exhibits, many of which were purchased from the defunct Woodward’s garden, and even included a fake merman. Early History of Swimming - http://www.haltonsc.com/index.php/en/swimming-mainmenu35/early-history-mainmenu-199.html giant aquatic playgrounds like Steeplechase Park's Swimming Pool (Coney Island) first half of 20th century, the Golden Age of Swimming ends with white flight to backyard swimming pools and private clubs New York landmark by famed builder Robert Moses. Conceived at a time when park development was little more than an afterthought for civic planners, Jones Beach was a revolutionary concept; a seaside playground for the urban masses. Built against tremendous opposition from xenophobic locals, the park was the engineering feat of its time. When opened in 1929, it featured parking for over ten-thousand cars, bathhouses constructed of stone and a boardwalk designed to give visitors the feeling of being aboard an ocean liner. San Francisco's privately owned swimming, ice skating and museum complex built in the late 19th century. Once the world's largest swimming pool establishment, the building burnt down in 1966. The ruins remain today. Journey back in time to revisit Sutro Baths when it was in full operation. See: The Seven Pools, Sutro Railway, Merry Way, Sutro's Cliff House, Ice Skating Rink, Egyptian Mummy Museum, Tom Thumb Exhibit, Musee Mecanique, Torture Museum, Lord's Last Supper, Ito, Giggling Ghost, 1963 & 1966 Fires, Sutro Ruins, and much, much more. Massive pools from the Victorian era Bathing Palaces (e.g. Sutro baths) to modern Water Parks - after World War I. Pools went from bathhouses to leisure destinations, complete with sand and chairs for sunbathing. Cities across the country joined in a construction craze, building pools like Fairgrounds Park Pool in St. Louis that could accommodate thousands of swimmers at a time. commercial amusements at the turn of the twentieth century—such as Coney Island, dance halls, and movie houses— Documentaries you could watch: Jones Beach: An American Riviera, Sutro's: The Palace at Lands End

The country's municipal pools, in fact, were first constructed to get rowdy, scantily clad youths out of the rivers and lakes and away from the public eye. They also served as large bathtubs for poor and immigrant neighborhoods. In his new book, Contested Waters: A Social History of Swimming Pools in America, historian Jeff Wiltse traces the evolution of municipal pools in America from the late 1860s to today. Focusing on northern cities like Chicago, Milwaukee, and St. Louis, Wiltse finds that pools gradually became hotbeds of social change. the swimming pool as a quintessentially modern and American space, reflecting America's infatuation with hygiene, skin, and recreation, an icon indispensable to the reading of twentiethcentury modernism, a series of analogies to three emblematic animals—frog, swan, and penguin—that represent the three prevailing human attitudes toward water: hydrophilia, hydrophobia, and ambivalence (http://www.amazon.com/The-Springboard-Pond-ContemporaryArchitectural/dp/0262220598/ref=pd_sim_sbs_b_1) Connection of swimming to the Underground Railroad, Africans the best swimmers in the world, start of civil rights movement in demand by black veterans for equal access to beaches and other swimming facilities after WWII http://www.ishof.org/black_history/pdf/BlackSplash_150.pdf International Swimming Hall of Fame (ISHOF)

Swimming  Pools,  Water  Parks  and  Water  Play  Areas   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swimming_pool Swimming pools became popular in Britain in the mid 19th century. After the modern Olympic Games began in 1896 and included swimming races, the popularity of swimming pools began to spread. Interest in competitive swimming grew following World War I. Standards improved and training became essential. Home swimming pools became popular in the United States after World War II and the publicity given to swimming sports by Hollywood films like Esther Williams A water park or waterpark is an amusement park that features water play areas, such as water slides, splash pads, spraygrounds (water playgrounds), lazy rivers, or other recreational bathing, swimming, and barefooting environments. Water parks in more current states of development may also be equipped with some type of artificial surfing or bodyboarding environment such as a wave pool or FlowRider. Water play areas are similar to waterparks and include urban beaches, splash pads, and smaller collections of waterslides in many hotels and public pools. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_park Mythology - Deities, Totems, Spirits, Stories

Dolphins  /  Minoans  /  Apollo   http://www.mlahanas.de/Greeks/LX/Dolphins.html Dolphins appear in a number of Greek myths, invariably as helpers of humankind. Dolphins also seem to have been important to the Minoans, judging by artistic evidence from the ruined palace at Knossos.

A dolphin rescued the poet Arion from drowning and carried him safe to land, at Cape Taenarum, now Cape Matapan, a promontory forming the southernmost point of the Peloponnesus. There was a temple to Poseidon and a statue of Arion riding the dolphin. (Herodotus I.23; Thucydides I.128, 133; Pausanias iii.25, 4) Among other offerings on Taenarum is a bronze statue of Arion the harper on a dolphin. Herodotus has told the story of Arion and the dolphin, as he heard it, in his history of Lydia. I have seen the dolphin at Poroselene that rewards the boy for saving his life. It had been damaged by fishermen and he cured it. I saw this dolphin obeying his call and carrying him whenever he wanted to ride on it. Pausanias minoan and dolphin http://www.therafoundation.org/articles/religionmyths/minoancycladicsyncretism http://www.ishof.org/exhibits/pdf/world_art.pdf World Art on Swimming by Stathis Avramidis The ancient Greeks developed a considerable relationship with the sea that surrounded their country. For example, in Greek mythology, the sea was worshipped as a god. Ancient Greek city-states were the established dominant naval powers in the Mediterranean Sea. Furthermore, swimming was an important physical activity for ancient Greeks (Kassaris & Albanidis, 2010). The tenth ancient Greek depiction shows a boy riding a dolphin. A friendship developed between a dolphin and a young boy named Lasos. Each day they swam together when the boy returned from school. The dolphin allowed his friend to climb onto his back and ride around on him. One day the dolphin accidentally hit the boy with his dorsal fin, causing internal bleeding from which he died. When the dolphin realized that his friend was dead, he took him to the shore and then washed up on the beach himself committing suicide. The locals were touched and buried them together (Figure 18; Avramidis, 2005; Catton, 1990).

Figure 18 — Lasos swam every day after school with his dolphin friend. Note. Copyright by Marie-Lan Nguyen / Wikimedia Commons. Photograph taken and released in the public domain by Marie-Lan Nguyen Taken from Wikipedia, (2011d).

Sea  Peoples,  Atlantis   the rise in sea level in 1200 B.C. The story of Bronze Age Santorini (Thera) is one that has become a legend. Located between Crete and mainland Greece, this island supported a thriving civilization that reached its peak between 2000 – 1600 BC. Its main city, Akrotiri, had its own naval fleet and had trade connections throughout the Aegean and Near East. Its people produced beautiful frescoes that depicted everything from boxing matches to ships and even antelopes. This civilization came to an abrupt end at some point in the late 17th century BC, when Akrotiri was devastated by earthquakes, causing the people to flee. Shortly thereafter a massive volcanic eruption occurred, burying the city. The Minoan Diaspora from Spain gave birth to the Sea Peoples. They would have ventured out into the Atlantic to make their way to settle in the British Isles and northern Europe and they would have traveled to any lands in the east that were too weak to resist them. They settled throughout the western Mediterranean, especially in Sardinia, and into the eastern Mediterranean on the coasts of southwestern Turkey and North Africa west of the Nile delta. The original Minoan colonists from Spain had returned to the eastern Mediterranean but not in a way anyone could have ever envisioned. They probably had only what they could carry and life must have been very difficult as they struggled to find a new place to live on their ships. http://www.minoanatlantis.com/Origin_Sea_Peoples.php The Minoan policy of colonial expansion was hundreds of years old when the Mycenaeans took control. The Mycenaean controlled El Argar colony lasted until about 1350 B.C. when evidently they were finally defeated by the great alliance of Beaker peoples united against them. If it was a people’s war then the side with the larger number of warriors with the greatest resources and determination would eventually win out in a prolonged war of attrition. The El Argar and their

Bronze of Levante allies had for a time increased the lands under their domain until the tide finally turned against them and things began to go badly. There may have been a great influx of warriors into Spain from Europe and the British Isles to help fight the Aegean aggressors. The Minoan colonial leadership may have been less brutal than the Mycenaeans that succeeded them. If the Mycenaean king at the time was as brutal as Agamemnon was at the sacking of Troy then the now Mycenaean war of expansion might have become quite savage indeed. It is likely the emigration of colonists by sea from Spain to Sardinia and other places in the area would have grown with these events. The El Argar Diaspora and the Birth of the Sea Peoples ~ 1350 B.C. The Mycenaeans may have accelerated the immigration of warriors and settlers to Spain with people from all over the Aegean for a time. But at some point after the war turned against them the colonists must have looked at their options for resettlement if they were facing eventual defeat. If it was a people’s war, defeat may have meant death or worse. As emigration from the colony increased and the war pushed them toward the coast they were possibly blocked from northern migration by the Urnfields. Their only avenue of escape was the sea. After being in existence for over 2,000 years and experiencing several waves and flows of immigration, the number of displaced colonists that emigrated or were expelled from Spain may have been, at least, in the hundreds of thousands or more. http://paulinespiratesandprivateers.blogspot.com/2012/02/history-minoan-mariners.html Over at the always interesting Nature website Jo Marchant took a good deal of time to discuss in depth the modern race to find Bronze Age shipwrecks. The ongoing search for deep water wreckage that once called the now Greek island of Crete home is fascinating in the extreme. It points up not only the need to find out more about the pre-Hellenic civilization of that island but also the mind-bogglingly high tech ways that marine archaeology is going about the search. The article focuses on two experts in marine artifact finding, Robert Ballard whose team discovered the wreck of the Titanic in 1985 and his former graduate student, Brendan Foley. Both men are turning to deeper and deeper wasters, with the help of such futuristic marvels as remote operated vehicles and autonomous diving robots, in the hope of finding several Minoan wrecks and learning more about these amazing deep-sea mariners. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Location_hypotheses_of_Atlantis Interesting book: The Triumph of the Sea Gods: The War Against the Goddess Hidden in Homer's Tales by Steven Sora http://www.tarotpassages.com/Pages2/atlantis-jc.htm Legendary History: The Minoan Glories of Crete and Santorini http://ancienthistory.about.com/od/lostcontinent/Atlantis_Lost_Continent_of_Atlantis.htm

Sea  /  River  Gods  and  Goddesses,  Mythical  Creatures,  Patron  Saints     Many creatures detailed here: http://www.lenntech.com/water-mythology.htm Grindylows

These water demons were first mentioned in British folktales in the county of Yorkshire. Parents told their children stories of grindylows to prevent them from getting in the cold water in the area. Grindylows supposedly had long fingers that would drag children into the deep. Kappas Kappas are presumably intelligent water spirits in Japanese mythology. They are monkey-like creatures with saucer-shaped heads, long noses, and a yellowish-green skin. Kappas are said to lure children to the water and pull them under, feeding on their blood. Their main weakness is that their heads are filled with water, and when this is spilled they lose their powers. Melusine Melusine was a feminine spirit of freshwater in sacred springs and rivers in European mythology. She is usually depicted as a kind of mermaid, and may even have wings in some pictures. One story tells us she was born to the fay Pressyne and a common man, and taken to the isle of Avalon when she was little to grow up there. When she heard of her human father betraying her mother, she sought revenge on him. Her mother heard of this and cursed her to look like a serpent from the waste down. She supposedly got scaled arms and fins for hands, and could never change back to her old form. Merpeople Many a myth represented merpeople as creatures having the head and upper body of a human, and a fishtail instead of legs. Female merpeople are known as mermaids, and male merpeople are known as mermen. They usually had great beauty and charm, and thereby lured sailor men to their deaths. Some stories include mermaids altering their form to resemble humans. In the old Disney movie ‘The Little Mermaid’, Ariel assumes human form to gain the love of human prince Eric. Nereids In Greek mythology Nereids were the nymphs of the sea. They were daughters of Nereus the sea god, and his wife Doris. Unlike sirens, Nereids were depicted friendly folk, always helping sailors through rough storms. They mainly lived in the Mediterranean Sea. Examples include Thetis and Amphrite (see 4). Selkies In Scottish mythology selkies were sea lions that could shed their skin and take human form. They were thought to live on the shores of Orkney and Shetland. When a female selkie shed her skin and a human captured it, she was forced to become his wife. If she were to ever find her skin again, she would return to sea, leaving her husband to pine and die. In Ireland these mythical creatures are called Roane. Merman/Mermaid like beings, such as Merrows, Selkies, and Sirens. AMPHITRITE was the goddess queen of the sea, the wife of King Poseidon. Some say she was one of the fifty Nereides, others an Okeanis, but most simply describe her as the female personification of the sea: the loud-moaning mother of fish, seals and dolphins. As such she was essentially the same as Thalassa. When Poseidon first sought Amphitrite's hand in marriage, she fled his advances, and hid herself away near Atlas in the Ocean stream at the far ends of the earth. The dolphin-god Delphin eventually tracked her down and persuaded her to return to wed the sea-king.

Amphitrite was depicted in Greek vase painting as a young woman, often raising her hand in a pinching gesture. Sometimes she was shown holding a fish. In mosaic art the goddess usually rides beside her husband in a chariot drawn by fish-tailed horses or hippokampoi. Sometimes her hair is enclosed with a net and her brow adorned with a pair of crab-claw "horns". Her name is probably derived from the Greek words amphis and tris, "the surrounding third." Her son Tritôn was similarly named "of the third." Clearly "the third" is the sea, although the reason for the term is obscure. Her Roman equivalent was Salacia, whose name means "the salty one." Triton in Greek-(Τρίτων, gen: Τρίτωνος) is a mythological Greek god, the messenger of the big sea. He is the son of Poseidon and Amphitrite, god and goddess of the sea respectively, and is herald for his father. He is usually represented as a merman, having the upper body of a human and the tail of a fish, "sea-hued", according to Ovid[1] "his shoulders barnacled with sea-shells". Like his father, Poseidon, he carried a trident. However, Triton's special attribute was a twisted conch shell, on which he blew like a trumpet to calm or raise the waves. Its sound was so terrible, that when loudly blown, it put the giants to flight, who imagined it to be the roar of a dark wild beast.[2] In Finnish mythology, Vellamo is the goddess of the sea, the wife of Ahti. The name is derived from the verb velloa, "to rock oneself." She is sometimes described as "cold hearted". Along with Ahti, she dwells in the undersea palace of Ahtola. She is often pictured as a mermaid. Mazu (simplified Chinese: 祖; traditional Chinese: 媽祖; pinyin: Māzǔ; Wade–Giles: Ma-tsu; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Má-chó͘, Vietnamese: Ma Tổ; Foochow Romanized: Mā-cū; literally "Mother Ancestor"), also spelt Matsu, is the indigenous goddess of the sea who is said to protect fishermen and sailors, and is invoked as the patron deity of all Southern Chinese and East Asian persons. Yemaya lives and rules over the seas and lakes. She also rules over maternity in our lives as she is the Mother of All. Her name, a shortened version of Yey Omo Eja means "Mother Whose Children are the Fish" to reflect the fact that her children are so numerous that they are uncountable. As modern sciences has theorizes and ancient cultures have known, life started in the sea. As an embryo we all spend the first moments of our lives swimming in a warm sea of amneotic fluid inside our mother's womb. We must transform and evolve through the form of a fish before becoming a human baby. In this way Yemaya displays herself as truly the mother of all, since she is the seed of all the paths or manifestations. Mannannan Mac Lir Mannannan Mac Lir is the Irish Celtic god of the oceans. Like Poseidon, he was in charge of making the weather and of calming or disturbing the seas. Unlike Poseidon, he was most always cheery and happy. He liked to make people's wishes come true. Read more about him here. Tangaroa Tangaroa is the Maori ocean deity. His mother, Papa, was goddess of the earth. Her body was so full of water that she burst, creating the oceans. Tangaroa appears as a fish and created all of the fish and sea creatures that roam the oceans. Some sailors today keep a piece of brain coral on their ships in the hopes of appealing to Tangaroa for a safe journey across the seas. Njord In Norse mythology, there are lots of deities that have to do with water and the oceans. Njord is one of the biggest of these cheeses. He is a Vanir god and father to Freyja and Frey. He governs trade and safe passage on the seas.

Wikipedia: Anahita is the Old Persian form of the name of an Iranian goddess and appears in complete and earlier form as Aredvi Sura Anahita (Arəәdvī Sūrā Anāhitā); the Avestan language name of an Indo-Iranian cosmological figure venerated as the divinity of 'the Waters' (Aban) and hence associated with fertility, healing and wisdom. The cosmological qualities of the world river are alluded to in Yasht 5 (see in the Avesta, below), but properly developed only in the Bundahishn, a Zoroastrian account of creation finished in the 11th or 12th century CE. In both texts, Aredvi Sura Anahita is not only a divinity, but also the source of the world river and the (name of the) world river itself. The cosmological legend runs as follows: All the waters of the world created by Ahura Mazda originate from the source Aredvi Sura Anahita, the life-increasing, herd-increasing, fold-increasing, who makes prosperity for all countries. This source is at the top of the world mountain Hara Berezaiti, "High Hara", around which the sky revolves and that is at the center of Airyanem Vaejah, the first of the lands created by Mazda. In the Aban Yasht, the river yazata is described as "the great spring Ardvi Sura Anahita is the life-increasing, the herd-increasing, the fold-increasing who makes prosperity for all countries" (5.1). She is "wide flowing and healing", "efficacious against the daevas", "devoted to Ahura's lore" (5.1). She is associated with fertility, purifying the seed of men (5.1), purifying the wombs of women (5.1), encouraging the flow of milk for newborns (5.2). As a river divinity, she is responsible for the fertility of the soil and for the growth of crops that nurture both man and beast (5.3). She is a beautiful, strong maiden, wearing beaver skins (5.3,7,20,129). The association between water and wisdom that is common to many ancient cultures is also evident in the Aban Yasht, for here Aredvi Sura is the divinity to whom priests and pupils should pray for insight and knowledge (5.86). In verse 5.120 she is seen to ride a chariot drawn by four horses named "wind", "rain", "clouds" and "sleet". In newer passages she is described as standing in "statuesque stillness", "ever observed", royally attired with a golden embroidered robe, wearing a golden crown, necklace and earrings, golden breast-ornament, and gold-laced ankle-boots (5.123, 5.126-8). Aredvi Sura Anahita is bountiful to those who please her, stern to those who do not, and she resides in 'stately places' (5.101). Science Fiction Underwater City - http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/UnderwaterCity It seemed a sure bet that by the early '70s we'd be flipping a coin as to whether we'd be spending our holidays on the Moon or at the Poseidon Hilton on the bottom of the Caribbean. — Tales of Future Past Not just Underwater Ruins or an Underwater Base, but an entire city of people living and "breathing" underwater. It's usually created with futuristic technology or powerful magic, and a popular depiction is to have a fully surviving Atlantis with domes and/or water breathing Fish People or Apparently Human Merfolk. Sea Castle Resort - http://www.lostepcot.com/horizons.html "Sea Castle, the newest and most exciting floating city in the Pacific, invites you and your family to come away with us to the sea. Convenient daily departures by sea train and sky lift." Becoming Reality?

- Dubai deal on underwater hotels and floating cities - http://www.khaleejtimes.com/ktarticle-display1.asp?xfile=data/community/2012/May/community_May7.xml§ion=community Tales of Future Past - http://davidszondy.com/future/futurepast.htm Performance/Entertainment

Songs  and  Fingerplays  for  Preschoolers   Take Me Out to the Ocean, Sing a Song of Seashells, I'm a Big Whale, Five Little Sea Creatures, http://www.childcarelounge.com/general-themes/ocean-beach.php My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean (tune: My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean) My bonnie lies over the ocean. My bonnie lies over the sea. My bonnie lies over the ocean, Oh bring back my bonnie to me. Bring back, bring back, Oh bring back my bonnie to me, to me. Bring back, bring back, Oh bring back my bonnie to me. ~ Author Unknown ~ Song: (tune: My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean) Oh I can name all of the oceans, Oh I can name all of the seas. Oh I can name all of the oceans. Just come and sing with me. Atlantic, Pacific, Indian, Artic and Antarctic. ~ Author Unknown ~ Stingrays At the Beach (Tune: The Wheels On the Bus) The stingrays at the beach flap their fins, Flap their fins, Flap their fins. The stingrays at the beach, Flap their fins, to swim around the sea. The stingrays at the beach,

Hide in the sand, Hide in the sand, Hide in the sand. The stingrays at the beach, Hide in the sand, So they can not be seen. People at the beach should shuffle their feet, Shuffle their feet, Shuffle their feet. The people at the beach should shuffle their feet, So the rays can swim away. ~ Author Unknown ~

And many more at http://www.thevirtualvine.com/ocean.html

Pictures  for  Coloring  or  Suggested  Preschool  Art  Projects   Color some pictures pertaining to swimming or water safety Water Safety Coloring and Activity Book: http://files.dnr.state.mn.us/recreation/fishing/fin/coloringbook.pdf Wave Bottles Fill a plastic soda bottle half way with water that has been tinted with blue food coloring. Then add vegetable oil. Secure the bottle's cap tightly. Just tip the bottle to make waves! Jellyfish Children glue streamers to the edge of a paper plate. Attach a second plate on top of it with glue or staples. Children decorate the plates as the Jelly fish body. wave bottles and jellyfish from http://www.childcarelounge.com/general-themes/oceanbeach.php Colored Tape Fish [Art] Children draw their own fish on a piece of paper. They tear off pieces of colored masking tape and stick them on for the fish’s gills. Read more: http://prekinders.com/ocean-theme/#ixzz223hSgXFY Seahorse Collage: This activity goes great with Mister Seahorse by Eric Carle. There's a gorgeous picture to use as an example on the front of the book. Provide students with a seahorse outline on a sheet of light blue construction paper and pre-cut small squares of multi-colored tissue paper. Students spread glue over the seahorse, then add the tissue paper squares in an overlapping pattern. Handprint Crabs: No thumbs! Paint hands with red paint (not thumbs) and then press onto light blue paper simultaneously, with wrists together. Add wiggly eyes.

http://www.thevirtualvine.com/ocean.html

Ocean Animal Books and Coloring Sheets http://www.enchantedlearning.com/coloring/oceanlife.shtml

Elementary  School  Art  Projects   Swimming self portraits in marker, crayon and watercolors http://www.artprojectsforkids.org/2012/05/summer-swimming.html Swimming self portrait using oil pastels, scrunching, and blue dye sprinkled with salt for the background. http://useyourcolouredpencils.blogspot.com/2011/08/swimming-underwater.html Swimming sea turtle http://useyourcolouredpencils.blogspot.com/2011/01/swimming-sea-turtles.html

Fashion/Dance/Drama/Film/Performance  Variations  to  Know  About   (Teen)   History  of  Swimwear   In 1913 the first elastic swimsuit was made by the sweater company Jantzen. In 1935 topless swimsuits for men were worn for the first time during an official competition. In 1943 the US ordered the reduction of fabric in swimsuits by 10% due to wartime shortages, resulting in the first two piece swimsuits. Shortly thereafter the Bikini was invented in Paris by Louis Reard (officially) or Jacques Heim (earlier, but slightly larger). http://www.ishof.org/pdf/history_swimwear.pdf

Aquacades,  Aquamusicals,  Esther  Williams,  Synchronized  Swimming    

Benjamin Franklin grew up in Boston, Massachusetts and spent much of his time swimming in the Atlantic Ocean and experimenting with exercise and its health benefits. On a trip to London in 1724, he performed maneuvers in the Thames River that he called “ornamental swimming” for the entertainment of observers. (http://synchroswim.isport.com/synchronized-swimmingguides/history-of-synchronized-swimming) Synchronized swimming's first competition (when it was still called water ballet) was in 1891 in Berlin, a men's-only event. In 1907 the swimmer Annette Kellerman from Australia visited the United States as an "Underwater Ballerina", a version of Synchronized swimming, diving into glass tanks. She was arrested for indecent exposure, as her swimsuit showed arms, legs and the neck. Kellerman changed the suit to have long arms and legs, and a collar, still keeping the close fit revealing the shapes underneath. She later starred in several movies, including one about her life. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synchronized_swimming

At the turn of the 20th century, synchronized swimming was known as water ballet. The first recorded competition was in 1891 in Berlin, Germany. Many swim clubs were formed around that time, and the sport simultaneously developed within several countries, including Australia, Canada, France, Germany, and the USA. As well as existing as a sport, it often constituted a popular addition to Music Hall evenings, in the larger variety theatres of London or Glasgow which were equipped with huge on-stage water tanks for the purpose. http://www.tcm.com/this-month/article/12783|0/Footlight-Parade.html Busby Berkeley, Footlight Parade, "Next came the 15-minute number, "By a Waterfall." Berkeley came up with the idea when someone asked him how he was going to top the numbers in Gold Diggers of 1933. When he suggested the first on-screen aquacade, Warner screamed "Stop right there! It will take the Bank of America to keep you going." But a few weeks later, he suggested that Berkeley try the number in Footlight Parade. The set, complete with an 80-by-40-foot swimming pool, took up an entire soundstage. Berkeley had the pool lined with glass walls and a glass floor so he could shoot the swimmers from every possible angle. Then he designed the swimming suits and bathing caps to create the illusion that the women were almost naked. He rehearsed the number for two weeks, then shot it in six days as technicians pumped 20,000 gallons of water a minute over the set's artificial falls. The results were so spectacular that the audience at the premiere gave the number a standing ovation and threw their programs in the air. Broadway impresario Billy Rose even tried to steal Berkeley from Warners to stage his aquacade." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Rose%27s_Aquacade Billy Rose's Aquacade was a music, dance and swimming show produced by Billy Rose at the Great Lakes Exposition in 1937. Later Aquacade moved to the 1939 New York World's Fair where it was the most successful production of the fair. The pool and the 300 by 200-foot (61 m) stage could be hidden behind a lighted 40-foot (12 m) high curtain of water. The inaugural Aquacade starred Olympians Eleanor Holm, Johnny Weissmuller (later replaced by Buster Crabbe) and newcomer Esther Williams. It was at the Aquacade that Williams caught the attention of MGM scouts. Williams made a series of films in the 1940s and early 1950s known as "aquamusicals", which featured elaborate performances with synchronized swimming and diving. From 1945 to 1949, Williams had at least one film listed among the 20 highest grossing films of the year. In 1952, Williams appeared in her only biographical role, as Australian swimming star Annette Kellerman in Million Dollar Mermaid, which would go on to become her nickname while at MGM. Williams left MGM in 1956 and appeared in a handful of unsuccessful feature films, followed by several extremely popular water-themed television specials, including one from Cypress Gardens, Florida. http://openwaterpedia.com/index.php?title=Aquamusical http://www.ishof.org/video_archive/special/aquacade.htm Billy Rose's Aquacade was the most successful production of the 1939 New York World's Fair. Five million people paid to see the show in the 11,000 seat New York State Marine Amphitheatre. The pool and the 300 by 200 foot stage could be hidden behind a lighted 40 foot high curtain of water. The show starred Olympian Eleanor Holm Jarrett, whom Rose married

after divorcing his first wife, comedian Fanny Brice. For the New York Aquacade, Rose interviewed 5,000 applicants and chose 500 dancer, actors and swimmers. In addition to Holm Jarrett, the show starred MGM film star and Olympic great Johnny Weissmuller, Olympian Stubby Krueger and Gertrude Ederle, a Flushing, Queens resident who was the first woman to swim the English Channel. In 1940, Aquacade also opened in San Francisco at the Golden Gate International Exposition, marking the professional debut of National Swimming Champion Esther Williams. A Daughter of the Gods (1916), starring Annette Kellerman, was the first Hollywood production to cost over $1 million. The film had a cast of over 20,000 extras and sets were half a mile long. In this film Annette created something of a scandal with skinny-dipping scenes that lead to a formal banning of nude scenes in the motion picture industry. But it also made her an international star. For almost ten years, she was the highest paid working woman in the world, earning as much as $5,000 a week. In 1918, she wrote a book, titled Physical Beauty and How To Keep It, and for the next twenty-five years she traveled the world with her aquatic ballet shows, pioneering synchronized swimming and anticipating the spectacular routines usually identified with Busby Berkeley and Esther Williams. Must have skills: http://synchroswim.isport.com/synchronized-swimming-guides/top-5-musthave-skills-for-synchronized-swimmers At the Olympics: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synchronized_swimming_at_the_Summer_Olympics Documentaries and movies you could watch: The Pursuit of Excellence: Synchronized Swimming, Footlight Parade (for the Busby Berkeley human waterfall musical number), Million Dollar Mermaid (or another of the aquamusicals of Hollywood's golden age), Sync or Swim Odd Jobs: Professional Mermaid. - mermaid performer at Weeki Wachee Springs State Park in Florida http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2012-04-03/odd-jobs-professional-mermaid Weeki Wachee, City of Mermaids: A History of One of Florida's Oldest Roadside Attractions (Florida History and Culture) by Lu Vickers (book) - In the postwar explosion of domestic tourism, Weeki Wachee spring offered the quintessential vacation fantasy, a city of colorful mermaids in a natural crystal spring right off the West Coast highway in a sparsely inhabited Florida. In those early days, the mermaids had to stand alongside the highway to flag travelers down, but once word of their charms got out, travelers headed south to playgrounds in Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, and Tampa found Weeki Wachee a tantalizing detour from the grueling two-lane road connecting vacationland with the work-a-day world to the north. Vickers shows how that local novelty became a stellar international attraction. Founded in 1947 by Walton Hall Smith and Newt Perry, Weeki Wachee and its featured attraction, mermaids, combined the allure of pinup girls with the wholesome talents of variety entertainers to create a daily schedule of underwater acts ranging from eating bananas and performing ballet to staging underwater musicals. For nearly 60 years, these mermaids with their underwater talents have attracted crowds of vacationers, film crews, and celebrities. Drawing on extensive archival research as well as interviews with dozens of mermaids and other park employees, Vickers traces the park's rise to prominence. Brilliantly illustrated with 250 stunning

photos, the resulting work shows what it was like to be a mermaid at Weeki Wachee in its heyday.

Spirit:  Social  Issues  and  Controversies,  Groups  Working  Toward  Issues,   Social  Entrepreneurship  (Teen)   Hiking Required #1 - Research some issue that has the potential to affect your local hiking trails. These can include conservation efforts, legislation, development, etc. Report these findings to your circle and present your position on the issue. Do an in-depth study on some aspect of swimming or water safety, and report to your circle or hearth (in whatever format works best for you at the approval of a leader). Possible topics include: ocean issues including pollution, global climate change, overfishing, marine mining and oil production, and marine sanctuaries. the risks we take with human health, the overfishing and sacking of the world's oceans, the hazards of nuclear proliferation, and the environmental responsibility thermal pollution the massive destruction of our planet’s oceanic biosystems and the complete collapse of the world’s major commercial fisheries ocean conservation oceanic environmental activists the ravages of overfishing and habitat destruction to the devastating effects of ocean acidification and the wasteful horrors of fish farms. overfishing, pollution, climate change offshore drilling destructive trawling The tuna/dolphin controversy - http://www.forsea.org/TUNALESSON.HTML thermal pollution - http://www.eoearth.org/article/Thermal_pollution?topic=49471 overfishing: a dwindling catch http://news.discovery.com/videos/earth-a-dwindling-catch-part-1.html climate change: disappearing arctic ice killing polar bears http://news.discovery.com/videos/animals-polar-bears-forced-to-swim-longer-distances.html pollution: ocean garbage patches http://news.discovery.com/videos/earth-whats-an-ocean-garbage-patch.html ethical treatment of dolphins and marine mammals Cetacean Rights: Most of the swim-with-dolphins attractions rely on animals captured from the wild, and the main controversy centers on the ethical question: should these highly intelligent animals be kept in captivity solely for people’s entertainment? In nature, dolphins are social animals that live in tight-knit family groups and swim 40 or more miles a day. Held in a confined space and required to interact with humans many times a day, they can become aggressive, biting and butting visitors. http://oceanactivism.blogspot.com/2011/06/sharon-osborne-dont-swim-with-dolphins.html

Groups  

Get involved with a community group working to improve community food security, health freedom, food pantry, food access, farmers markets, etc. Get involved with a community group working to improve swimming or diving access, or a local, national or international group working to improve wetlands or marine habitats or help species in those habitats. Oceana - http://oceana.org - Oceana, founded in 2001, is the largest international organization focused solely on ocean conservation. Our offices in North America, Central America, South America and Europe work together on a limited number of strategic, directed campaigns to achieve measurable outcomes that will help return our oceans to former levels of abundance. We believe in the importance of science in identifying problems and solutions. Our scientists work closely with our teams of economists, lawyers and advocates to achieve tangible results for the oceans. The Earth Island Institute - http://www.earthisland.org - For 25 years, Earth Island Institute has been a hub for grassroots campaigns dedicated to conserving, preserving, and restoring the ecosystems on which our civilization depends. Earth Island acts as an umbrella organization, providing individual projects with the freedom to develop new initiatives by offering a wide range of professional services, from fiscal administration and program management to office space and equipment. Greenpeace - http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/ http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/campaigns/oceans/ The Greenpeace Defending our Oceans campaign sets out to protect and preserve our oceans now and for the future by setting aside swathes of the global oceans from exploitation and controllable human pressure, allowing these areas the respite they so desperately need for recovery and renewal.

Ocean Conservancy - http://www.oceanconservancy.org/ Save the Waves Coalition - http://www.savethewaves.org/ - Save The Waves Coalition is a global nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting and preserving the coastal environment, with an emphasis on the surf zone, and educating the public about its value. We are a devoted group of surfers, scientists, and activists, who share a common belief that our wild coastal areas around the world are precious and valuable, and need to be protected.

http://www.wdcs.org/protect/ethics/index.php WDCS, the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society, is an animal charity committed to protecting whales and dolphins all over the world. Earthdive.com - earthdive is a revolutionary new concept in ‘citizen science’ and a global research project for millions of recreational scuba divers who can help preserve the health and diversity of our oceans. At the heart of this unique research project is the earthdive Global Dive Log, which has been developed in partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme - World Conservation Monitoring Centre UNEP-WCMC and marine biologists from all over the world. The Global Dive Log, is a unique database into which divers (and snorkellers) log sightings of key indicator species and human induced pressures. http://www.digocean.net Digital Ocean works to connect communities of scientists, educators, students, policy makers, media specialists, ocean enthusiasts, people who make their living from the sea around ocean sustainability.

theBlu - TheBlu, a “social digital ocean” that launched Friday, is an ambitious web app that turns computers into interactive nature documentaries, curated by real artists and oceanographers. Wemo Media’s creation — currently available for Mac and PC, and coming soon to tablets, smartphones and connected TVs — allows users to explore the oceans as if they were Nemo, learning about underwater species, tagging their favorite sea creatures and interacting with other “fish” (read: people). Each species of fish in theBlu is created by Wemo’s network of artists and engineers. There will be eight ocean habitats and more than 100 life forms in the online 3-D world at launch. Though the sea creatures have been created by engineers and artists, including Avatar animation supervisor Andy Jones, the underwater world will be as scientifically legitimate as possible.

Air:  Vocabulary,  Journaling,  Camps,  Teaching/Presentations,  Careers   Journaling  and  Recordkeeping  (Late  Elementary  through  Teen)   Keep a workout log of your swims ( http://www.swimmingcalculator.com/ - translate to virtual swims in interesting locations How & Why to Use a Swim Training Log - http://swim.isport.com/swimming-guides/how-whyto-use-a-swim-training-log Training logs can do more than just provide motivation and accountability. They can also help you determine why your performance has plateaued or whether you are overtraining. Everyone has a different reason for keeping a swimming log, but they all boil down to the same basic idea: tracking progress. Record your snorkeling experiences, identify common fish, and keep notes that will preserve the memory of your underwater experiences for years to come. Scuba Dive Log - http://sacscuba.blogspot.com/2009/01/dive-log.html http://sacscuba.synthasite.com/scuba-dive-log-book.php A log book is not only a record of what a diver saw or did on a particular dive, it can contain information about the condition of the water, weights used for the type of water you are diving in and the location of the dive site(s). Information about how you entered, what you saw, any difficulties you encountered or perhaps as a marker for a site you would like to return to again and again. Most log books also include: Your "tidal" information, weather, how you felt, etc. Careers Involving Aquatics Some examples of things beyond going for the Olympic medal for those who love being in the waterLifeguard at Beach, Pool or Waterpark Swim Lesson Instructor http://www.livestrong.com/article/344746-the-advantages-of-having-a-swimminginstructor-certification/ To be a swim instructor, most clubs or community pools and programs require that you are certified to teach swimming. While certifications vary, the American Red Cross certification is often cited specifically. This certification requires that you are at least 16

years of age, can swim 25 yards each of backstroke, freestyle and breast stroke as well as 15 yards of butterfly, and tread water for one minute. How to Get a Swimming Instructor Certification Begin with "Fundamentals of Instructor Training (FIT)," which is required for all Red Cross instructor courses. Successfully passing this 4-hour course rewards you with a FIT certificate that last 12 months or as long as you maintain your instructor rating. Continue with the other portions of the "Water Safety Instructor (WSI)" course, where you learn to teach all six levels of "Learn to Swim," "Basic Water Rescue," "Longfellow's Whales Tales," and "Safety Training for Swim Coaches." YMCA Water Fitness Instructor Certification - http://www.livestrong.com/article/397925-ymca-water-fitness-instructor-certification/ Aquatic Therapy - Ai Chi, Aquatic PNF, the Bad Ragaz Ring Method, Fluid Moves, the Halliwick Concept, Swim Stroke Training and Modification, Task Type Training Approach, Watsu - Aquatic Resources Network http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aquatic_therapy http://www.aquaticnet.com/index.htm Underwater Photographer SeaWorld Animal Trainer - Working at places like SeaWorld What It Takes to Work Here: SeaWorld http://www.minyanville.com/special-features/articles/seaworld-training-sea-worldtraining-work/6/15/2010/id/28532 The entrance exam for animal trainer at SeaWorld, the people who train and perform with dolphins and orca whales includes a 67-meter freestyle swim, a 33-meter underwater swim, and a 7.3-meter free dive to retrieve a small weight at the bottom of a pool. That's part one. The exam also includes a public-speaking test and a rigorous interview. Marine Biology, Oceanographer http://news.discovery.com/videos/cool-jobs-cool-jobs-oceanographer.html Marine Archaeology Deep Sea Detectives - http://news.discovery.com/videos/archaeo-cool-jobs-deep-seadetectives.html Navy SEAL Fundamentals of Instructor Training Certificate Water Safety Instructors teach more than 2 million children and adults to swim each year! The American Red Cross WSI certification is recognized nationwide. ● Teach children and adults to swim ● Teach many other courses like Basic Water Rescue and Personal Water Safety ● Teach the Longfellow’s Whale Tales program American Red Cross Basic Water Rescue Course: Goals of the class ● To learn general guidelines and safety procedures for activities in, on, and around the water: ● Characteristic behaviors of someone in need of help

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Define elements of and develop and emergency action plan Make an emergency flotation device from a common piece of clothing Learn two positions for conserving body heat in cold water Perform a rescue if you or someone has fallen through ice Prevent or delay the onset of hypothermia Care for someone who has had a seizure in the water Assume the HELP and HUDDLE positions Properly make a throwing or reaching assist Use readily available equipment to make a wading assist Use a beach drag and walking rescue Learn how to stabilize the back, neck and head of someone who has been injured in the water