Overview Requirements Hints Terminology Resources
Canoeing Merit Badge Info
On a lake or river is a great way to spend a summer day. All sorts of watercraft can be seen on popular lakes. You might even see some Canoes from Space out in the wilderness. Completing this merit badge before a summer trip to Northern Tier makes the high adventure there much more fun.
This merit badge presents the basic skills and knowledge about Canoeing. It is not very difficult, but does require both mental and physical effort, and time in the water. So, it's normally done in summer, and often at scout summer camp.
Many hours of practice and experience on safe, flat water is needed before taking on rivers, whitewater, and wilderness excursions, but this merit badge gets the ball rolling and can be completed in a day or two. It's a perfect summer camp merit badge since it relies on expensive equipment and qualified instructors which many troops do not have access to.
The knowledge about canoe, paddle, and lifejacket parts, construction, sizing, and care helps a scout understand how everything works together when working on skills. Once the knowledge is shown and onland canoe care is demonstrated, the most fun of swamping and rescuing canoes can begin. This is always the part scouts love, but there are many more paddling skills to learn and demonstrate.
Around 25,000 scouts earn the Canoeing merit badge each year making it the #23 most popular badge.
Revised January, 2024
Requirements for the Canoeing merit badge:
- Do the following:
- Explain to your counselor the most likely hazards you may encounter while participating in canoeing activities and what you should do to anticipate, help prevent, mitigate, and respond to these hazards.
- Review prevention, symptoms, and first-aid treatment for the following injuries or illnesses that could occur while canoeing: blisters, cold-water shock and hypothermia, dehydration, heat-related illnesses, sunburn, sprains, and strains.
- Discuss the BSA Safety Afloat policy. Tell how it applies to canoeing activities.
- Before doing the following requirements, successfully complete the BSA swimmer test. Jump feet first into water over your head in depth, swim 75 yards or 75 meters in a strong manner using one or more of the following strokes: sidestroke, breaststroke, trudgen, or crawl; then swim 25 yards or 25 meters using an easy resting backstroke. The 100 yards or 100 meters must be swum continuously and include at least one sharp turn. After completing the swim, rest by floating.
- Do the following:
- Name and point out the major parts of a canoe.
- Describe how the length and shape of a canoe affect its performance.
- Do the following:
- Name and point out the parts of a paddle.
- Demonstrate how to size correctly a paddle for a paddler in a sitting position and a kneeling position.
- Do the following:
- Discuss with your counselor the characteristics of life jackets most appropriate for canoeing and tell why a life jacket must always be worn while paddling.
- Demonstrate how to select and properly fit the correct size life jacket.
- Review the importance of safety and rescue equipment such as a sound signal device, extra paddle, sponge, bailer, bilge pump, rescue sling, ropes and throw bag.
- Discuss with your counselor the general care and maintenance of canoes, paddles, and other canoeing equipment.
- With a companion, use a properly equipped canoe to demonstrate the following:
- Safely carry and launch the canoe from a dock or shore (both, if possible).
- Safely land the canoe on a dock or shore (both, if possible) and return it to its proper storage location.
- Demonstrate kneeling and sitting positions in a canoe and explain the proper use for each position.
- Change places while afloat in the canoe.
- With a companion, use a properly equipped canoe to demonstrate the following:
- Safely exit the canoe in deep water without losing contact with the canoe. Reenter the canoe with the assistance of the other paddler without capsizing the boat.
- Safely perform a controlled capsize of the canoe and demonstrate how staying with a capsized canoe will support both paddlers.
- Swim, tow, or push a swamped canoe 50 feet to shallow water. In the shallow water, empty the swamped canoe and reenter it.
- In deep water, rescue a swamped canoe and its paddlers. After checking that those in the water do not need immediate assistance, empty the swamped canoe and help the paddlers safely reenter their boat without capsizing.
- Perform a canoe rescue of a conscious swimmer.
- Using a rescue (throw) bag from shore, lay the line within 3 feet of a conscious swimmer 30 feet away. Show how to repack the bag when done.
- With a companion, using a properly equipped canoe to demonstrate the following tandem maneuvers while paddling in unison on opposite sides and without changing sides. Each paddler must demonstrate these maneuvers in both the bow and stern and on both sides of the canoe while maintaining trim and balance of the canoe.
- Pivot (spin) the canoe 180° (half circle) to the right from a stationary position, stop, and return to the starting position by pivoting to the left using draw and pushaway strokes or using forward and reverse sweeps staying within 2 boat lengths of the starting position.
- Move a canoe sideways (abeam) in one direction for 10 feet and then return to the starting position using the draw and pushaway strokes.
- While in forward motion, stop the canoe within two boat lengths using the backstroke.
- While in the stern position and without assistance from the bow paddler, paddle in a straight line 15-20 boat lengths using an appropriate steering stroke, e.g., the J-stroke or thumb-down rudder stroke with or without a stern pry.
- Move the canoe in a straight line 15-20 boat lengths with the bow paddler using as necessary the forward stroke, draw stroke or forward sweep and the stern paddler using an appropriate steering stroke, e.g., the J-stroke or thumb- down rudder stroke with or without a stern pry.
- While maintaining forward motion, turn the canoe 90° in an arc to the right in 5-10 boat lengths with the bow paddler using as necessary either the draw stroke or forward sweep and the stern paddler using only the forward stroke. Repeat the maneuver turning the canoe 90° to the left.
- Move the canoe backwards in a straight line 3-4 boat lengths using as necessary the back stroke, reverse sweep or draw stroke in the bow or the stern.
- Complete a figure of 8 course around markers 3-4 boat lengths apart using appropriate strokes including the draw stroke, and the forward and reverse sweeps.
Note: Canoeing merit badge counselors must have either BSA Aquatics Instructor or Canoeing Instructor certification from the American Canoe Association, American Red Cross, or equivalent; OR local councils may approve individuals previously certified as such, or trained by an instructor so qualified.
Safety Afloat
Aquatic activities always have the potential for injury. Proper training and supervision help reduce that potential, and the BSA Saety Afloat practices address being safe while boating.
Only authorized boating activities should be undertaken at Scouting events - kitesurfing, parasailing, and personal watercraft (jetskis) are not allowed. Adult leaders supervising authorized activities need to have current Safety Afloat training certification - completed within the past two years.
The nine points of Safety Afloat:
- Qualified Supervision - Supervision by an adult, 21 or older, who is currently trained in BSA Safety Afloat.
- Personal Health Review - Complete health history fore every participant.
- Swimming Ability - Every participant completes an annual BSA swim test.
- Life Jackets - Properly fitted U.S. Coast Guard–approved life jackets are worn by all participants.
- Buddy System - Every member is accounted for, at all times, especially when in the water.
- Skill Proficiency - Everyone in an activity afloat must have sufficient knowledge and skill to participate safely.
- Planning - Check for weather and contingencies as needed prior to your activity.
- Equipment - All craft must be suitable for the activity, be seaworthy, and be capable of floating if capsized.
- Discipline - Rules are only effective when they are followed.
Hints for Canoeing Merit Badge
- Pretty much all the knowledge requirements can be completed by reading the Canoeing merit badge pamphlet - just get one and read it.
- Canoes can be made from wood, aluminum, fiberglass, kevlar, polyethylene, or styrene.
- The Canoeing merit badge should be earned before going on a canoe camping trip, not while on such a trip.
Terminology for the Canoeing Merit Badge
- Parts of a canoe:
hull - body of the canoe
bow - front of the canoe
stern - back of the canoe
deckplate - triangular reinforcement on top of bow and stern
gunwale - top edge of canoe
thwart - brace across canoe to help rigidity
keel - bottom center of the canoe
seat - where paddler sits, front and back
portage yoke - padded thwart used to carry canoe over land - Parts of a paddle:
grip - top end of paddle
shaft - handle of paddle
blade - wide part of paddle that goes in the water
throat - where shaft and blade join
tip - bottom end of paddle
Resources for Canoeing Merit Badge
See my general First Aid Skills page for requirement #1.
Learn about Safety Afloat and Safe Swim Defense
Learn the Parts of a Canoe and Paddle.
Get your Paddle Size correct.
Make sure your Lifejacket fits correctly.
Tie those Knots.
Watch the Paddle Strokes in action.
See some Types of Canoeing.
Some other merit badges in the Water Sports theme include: Kayaking, Lifesaving, Motorboating, Rowing, Scuba Diving, Small-Boat Sailing, Swimming, Water Sports, and Whitewater. You might check them out if you found the Canoeing merit badge interesting.
Comments:
May 04, 2015 - Johanna
May 04, 2015 - Scouter Paul
Jul 07, 2015 - Deb
Jul 08, 2015 - Scouter Paul
Jul 08, 2016 - patrick green
Jul 08, 2016 - Scouter Paul
Oct 18, 2020 - Nimla Dilworth
One of Our Eagle scout who is a volunteer fireman helped our scouts with this merit badge this weekend.
Oct 18, 2020 - Scouter Paul
Jun 13, 2024 - Mark Lawrence
Jun 13, 2024 - Scouter Paul
@Mark - The "why" of program changes need to be answered by those that make the changes. There are phone numbers, email, and physical mail addresses here that might be useful in contacting those people.
Scouting 2024 - Ask a Question - Add Content
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