LOCAL COUNCIL

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LOCAL COUNCIL AQUATICS COMMITTEES A starter Kit
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• A recent recommendation in BSA Aquatics is the
  formation of a Local Council Aquatics Committee .
  . .

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• The following material is a guide to aquatics
  committee organization, responsibilities and
  activities.

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• On the contents slide click on the item you would
  like to explore in greater detail.
• You will return to the contents slide each time.
• Click END to end the presentation.

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LOCAL COUNCIL AQUATICS COMMITTEES

• GENERAL INFORMATION

FORMING A COMMITTEE
NATIONAL STANDARDS
OBJECTIVES OF THE COMMITTEE
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
END
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COUNCIL AQUATICS COMMITTEES
GENERAL INFORMATION
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Council Aquatics Committees

• Local BSA aquatics programming and safety is
  enhanced when a council aquatics committee
  promotes activities, helps procure equipment and
  instructors, and provides guidance to unit
  leaders and council professionals.

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• The formation of a Council Aquatics Committee is
  not necessarily a new concept

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• Many Councils already have a committee or a
  sub-committee which serves the same purpose

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NATIONAL INCENTIVES

• The National H S and Program Committees have
  recommended that all councils form an Aquatics
  Committee
• National Camp Standards are also in place that
  include the Committees participation in camp
  aquatics planning and training.

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• The committees purpose or responsibility is to
  oversee and support all aquatic activity within
  the council at all levels of scouting

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COUNCIL AQUATICS COMMITTEES
FORMING AN AQUATICS COMMITTEE
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Council Aquatics Committees

• Interested volunteers should check with their
  local council service center. Some committees
  have been active for years but need an influx of
  new members to remain viable.

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Council Aquatics Committees

• In other councils, the aquatics committee may not
  exist or may be inactive. In that case, an
  interested volunteer is needed to work with
  council professionals to generate sufficient
  interest to form an active committee.

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Council Aquatics Committees

• The following slides reflect a recommended
  sequence of steps in the formation of an
  effective Aquatics Committee.

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Steps to Creating an Effective Council Aquatics
Committee

1. PROFESSIONAL STAFF MEMBER

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Steps to Creating an Effective Council Aquatics
Committee

• 2. VOLUNTEER CHAIRPERSON

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Steps to Creating an Effective Council Aquatics
CommitteeC

• 3. COMMITTEE OBJECTIVES

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Steps to Creating an Effective Council Aquatics
Committee

• 4. DECIDE WHERE THE COMMITTEE FITS

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Steps to Creating an Effective Council Aquatics
Committee

• 5. COMMITTEE STRUCTURE

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Steps to Creating an Effective Council Aquatics
Committee

• 6. ADVERTISE

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Steps to Creating an Effective Council Aquatics
Committee

• 7. RECRUIT MEMBERS

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Steps to Creating an Effective Council Aquatics
Committee

• 8. MEETING TIME AND PLACE

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Steps to Creating an Effective Council Aquatics
Committee

• 9. COMMUNICATE

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Steps to Creating an Effective Council Aquatics
Committee

• 10. ANALYSIS AND FEEDBACK

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COUNCIL AQUATICS COMMITTEES
NATIONAL STANDARDS RELATED TO THE AQUATICS
COMMITTEE
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NATIONAL STANDARDS

• National Camp Standards for 2009 include the
  committees participation in the planning of
  summer resident camp aquatic programs and
  operations.

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NATIONAL STANDARDS

• Mandatory standard M-61 reads in part
• The following items have been reviewed jointly
  by the council committee supervising aquatics
  activities (preferably by the council aquatics
  committee) and the camp aquatics director and are
  available to the visitation team . . .

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NATIONAL STANDARDS

• 1. Aquatic staff orientation and in-service
  training plans including aquatic skills
  development effective training and lifeguarding
  skills and other safety procedures.

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NATIONAL STANDARDS

• 2. List of activities each aquatics staff member
  is qualified to supervise or teach.

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NATIONAL STANDARDS

• 3. Staff assignment process to meet the needs of
  each aquatics program activity.

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NATIONAL STANDARDS

• 4. Facility and equipment inspection and
  maintenance procedures.

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NATIONAL STANDARDS

• 5. Emergency action plans including communication
  systems.

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COUNCIL AQUATICS COMMITTEES
OBJECTIVES OF THE COMMITTEE
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OBJECTIVES

• Each committee should establish reasonable
  objectives which guide it in the pursuit of its
  short- and
• long-term goals.

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OBJECTIVES

• The following objectives from one council are
  offered as an example

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SAMPLE COMMITTEE OBJECTIVES

•  1. Promote Safe Swim Defense and Safety Afloat
  in all aquatic activities.
•  

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SAMPLE COMMITTEE OBJECTIVES

• 2. Encourage units to promote aquatics by
  providing resources and training.
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SAMPLE COMMITTEE OBJECTIVES

• 3. Provide a process for units to conduct their
  own yearly swim tests

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SAMPLE COMMITTEE OBJECTIVES

• 4. Provide on-going training for adult unit
  leaders and summer camp aquatics staff.

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SAMPLE COMMITTEE OBJECTIVES

• 5. Encourage advancement in aquatics -- 2nd
  Class, 1st Class and aquatics Merit Badges. 

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SAMPLE COMMITTEE OBJECTIVES

• 6. Promote Cub Scout aquatic activities.
•  

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SAMPLE COMMITTEE OBJECTIVES

• 7. Provide a forum for discussion of policies and
  procedures relative to unit, district and council
  aquatics.
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SAMPLE COMMITTEE OBJECTIVES

• 8. Ensure that facilities and equipment are used
  according to agreed-upon standards.
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SAMPLE COMMITTEE OBJECTIVES
9. Develop resources for training and support in
specialized aquatic areas -- kayaking,
boardsailing, waterskiing, etc.  
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SAMPLE COMMITTEE OBJECTIVES

• 10. Promote participation in aquatic
  high-adventure -- Northern Tier, Sea Base or
  similar.

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SAMPLE COMMITTEE OBJECTIVES

• 11. Coordinate with other agencies (Red Cross,
  YMCA, etc.) for joint programs or use of
  facilities.

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SAMPLE COMMITTEE OBJECTIVES

•  
• 12. Coordinate with other councils regarding
  programs and resources.

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COUNCIL AQUATICS COMMITTEES
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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FAQs

• Why do we need another committee?

Where does the committee fit within my council?
Who should serve on the committee?
What are the responsibilities of the committee?
Where can we get help with issues, policies, etc?
Back
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Why do we need another committee?

• The National H S and Program Committees have
  recommended that all councils form an Aquatics
  Committee
• National Camp Standards are also in place that
  include the Committees participation in camp
  aquatics planning and training.

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Also . . .

• The continued increase in the number, complexity
  and specialization of aquatics activities creates
  the need for a group to oversee and support those
  activities..

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And. . .

• There has been a clear increase in Society's
  expectation of the "standard of care" for
  aquatics related safety that Scouting must meet
  .....

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• Hence, Local Council Aquatics Committees
• The Key Word is Local

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• Some Councils have had a committee for a long
  time
• . . . others are just beginning

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• The Committee has responsibility for all aquatics
  programs at all levels of Scouting

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COMMITTEE FORMAT

• The local council must decide where the Aquatics
  Committee fits within its organization --
• The committee might report to Program, Health and
  Safety or Camping

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COMMITTEE FORMAT

• The committee could be a stand-alone committee..
• a task force reporting to a committee..
• .. Or it could be a sub-committee of an existing
  council committee..

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ORGANIZATION

• Within the local council organization, the
  aquatics committee reports to the vice president
  of program or to the vice president of health and
  safety.

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COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP

• Membership could include
• Scouters whose interests lie in the aquatics
  area
• Aquatics specialists interested in getting
  involved in Scouting

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COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP

• Having at least one
• Aquatics Instructor, BSA
• on the committee should help
• ensure compliance with current BSA policies and
  procedures.

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CROSSOVER MEMBERS

• Other council committees might have an interest
  in the activities of the Aquatics Committee
• It is advantageous to have members of those
  committees sit on the Aquatics Committee or act
  as liaisons

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COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP

• Besides swimming and water-rescue specialists,
  the committee should include specialists for the
  type of aquatics activities prevalent in the
  local council (e.g., snorkeling/scuba, canoe
  tripping, sailing, whitewater, crew rowing,
  waterskiing, Sea Scouting, etc.).

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COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP

• Camp aquatics directors hired by the council for
  the summer should be ex officio members of the
  committee during their term of employment and
  afterward encouraged to become full-time,
  year-round volunteer members.

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COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP

• One common committee activity would be the annual
  review of camp aquatics operating procedures and
  Emergency Action Planning
• Having the Aquatic Director of those camps on the
  committee, both during their employment and
  after, would be a tremendous advantage

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RESPONSIBILITIES

• The aquatics committee has overall responsibility
  for the local councils aquatics activities in
  Cub Scouting, Boy Scouting, Venturing, and
  Exploring

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RESPONSIBILITIES

• The aquatics committees main areas of
  responsibility include the following year-round
  activities tailored to the local councils
  aquatics activities and opportunities

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AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

• 1. Training
• 2. Program
• 3. Advancement
• 4. Safety
• 5. Development of Aquatic Leadership

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RESPONSIBILITIES

• Training
• Work with the council training committee to
  provide aquatics training for adults and youth.

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RESPONSIBILITIES

• Program
• Provide and promote a broad array of basic and
  high-adventure swimming and boating activities to
  support all parts of the Scouting program.

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RESPONSIBILITIES

• Advancement
• Provide advancement opportunities for youth.

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RESPONSIBILITIES

• Safety
• Actively assess safe operation of council- and
  district-led aquatics activities including summer
  camp and promote aquatics safety at the unit
  level.

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RESPONSIBILITIES

• Attraction, Development, and Retention of
  Aquatics Leadership.
• A primary role of the committee is attracting,
  developing, and retaining qualified aquatics
  leaders. . .

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MORE INFO?

• THE NATIONAL AQUATICS TASK FORCE HAS SET UP A
  LIASON TO HELP LOCAL COUNCILS IN THE FORMATION OF
  AQUATICS COMMITTEES.

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MORE INFO?

• Your professional advisor can contact the Task
  Force through FRANK REIGELMAN, National Director
  of Outdoor Programs.
• . . . OR

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MORE INFO?

• GENERAL QUESTIONS MAY BE DIRECTED TO
• Steve Terrell, member of the National Aquatics
  Task Force at
• terrells_at_indy.rr.com
• (also feel free to send suggestions or best
  practices -- things that are working in your
  council.)

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MORE INFO?

• CHECK THESE OUT. . .
• Section V, Camp Program and Property Management
• Aquatics Supervision, 2009

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THANK YOU
Revised Feb 2009