Webelos Aquanaut Ideas

Den Activities

Discuss the importance of the buddy swimming system.
Have a demonstration of mask, fins, and snorkel by an expert.
Take the den swimming. Let them try to pass the 100-foot requirements, and surface dive and snorkel optional requirements.
If a rowboat is available, have boat safety methods and rowing techniques demonstrated by an expert. Give boys a chance to practice the methods. Invite parents to come along.
Teach the four basic rescue methods. Let boys� practice reaching and throwing a lifeline for rescue.
Practice rescue breathing on dummy.
Go to a swim meet or diving exhibition.
Go to a canoe or sailboat race.
Invite an expert to explain how to handle emergencies in the water. (Contact a swim instructor, the YMCA or Coast Guard)
Visit a boat yard.
Have a quiz on boat safety rules.
Study the safe swim defense plan.
Learn about water pollutants in lakes and rivers in the area. How do they affect water consumption and recreation?
At the end of the month, have a family splash party where Webelos Scouts can demonstrate proficiency in swimming, snorkeling, boating, and water rescue. Include games that the whole family will enjoy playing.
Have a pack meeting at a local pool.
Have a splash party for your Webelos and allow them to bring their friends (a good recruiting idea). Alternately, have a parent and scout swim coupled with swim tests and instruction in fins, mask and snorkel.
Know the rules of small-boat safety and practice at a local body of water. Watch the sun set from offshore.
Invite a scuba diving expert to a den meeting to tell about his equipment and activities.
Ask Boy Scouts to demonstrate and teach water rescue techniques.
Use squirt guns to put out candle flames.
Try to drive a nail into a piece of wood underwater in a washtub.
Have a water sponge fight. A big bucket of water and everyone gets two sponges to throw. Less messy to cleanup than balloons.
Have a bottle cap war. Give each scout a bottle cap. Set out a bucket with a large circle around it to denote the free zone. Scouts fill their bottle caps and go splash others outside the circle.

Aquanaut Games

Aqua Hunt
Scatter diving rings all over the pool bottom. On signal, players put on masks, fins, and snorkels and begin search. The one who retrieves the most rings wins.

Flapping Fins Race
On signal, players put on fins (no masks or snorkels) and race to the other side of the pool and back.

Table Waiter Race
Each swimmer carries a paper plate with a cork on it. He starts in the water and goes toward the finish line with the plate held at shoulder level with one hand. He may replace the cork if it falls off.

Guess the Rule On separate slips of paper, write the 8 Sae Swim Defense rules - See Guide to Safe Scout page. Put the slips in a bag and ask the first scout to pick one. He reads his directions silently and pantomimes the action. The player who first guesses what he is doing becomes the next performer.

Nuts And Bolts
Materials: 1-inch diameter bolt and nut for each team. 4 foot string and balloon for each team. Also, a judge in the water for each team is helpful.
Blow up the balloon but not too full. Tie the balloon to one end of the string and the head of the bolt to the other. Thread the nut all the way onto the bolt. Toss the bolt for each team out into the water at about 3 feet deep and spaced well apart.
On GO signal, first scout from each team runs into the water if playing in a lake, or jumps in if in a swimming pool.
Scout goes to bolt, goes underwater to unthread the nut, and brings it up.
When the judge gives him the go-ahead signal, he goes back underwater and threads the nut all the way onto the bolt and brings it up.
When the judge gives him the go-ahead signal, he drops the bolt and tags the next scout.

Find The Number
About twenty large, flat rocks are plainly marked on both sides with numbers ranging from one to five. Drop the rocks into water from two to six feet deep, depending on the swimming ability of your group. On GO signal, everyone brings back as many numbered rocks as possible to his position 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.
Alternative: Add a letter to one side of each rock when painting them. Have every scout retrieve 3 or 4 rocks. Then, randomly choose a letter from a bag and the scout with that letter wins a prize.

Life Preserver Throw
Throw a weight attached to a rope. Award points for distance and accuracy.

Pool Volleyball
Stretch a rope across the pool and play volleyball using a large beach ball.