Transcript A recent recommendation in BSA Aquatics is the formation of a Local Council Aquatics Committee .

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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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
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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 subcommittee 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 Committee’s participation in
camp aquatics planning and training….
The committee’s 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
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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• National Camp Standards for 2009
include the committee’s participation in
the planning of summer resident camp
aquatic programs and operations.
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• 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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1. Aquatic staff orientation and inservice training plans including
aquatic skills development;
effective training and lifeguarding
skills and other safety procedures.
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2. List of activities each aquatics staff
member is qualified to supervise or
teach.
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3. Staff assignment process to meet
the needs of each aquatics program
activity.
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4. Facility and equipment inspection
and maintenance procedures.
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5. Emergency action plans including
communication systems.”
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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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1. Promote Safe
Swim Defense and
Safety Afloat in all
aquatic activities.
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2. Encourage units to
promote aquatics by
providing resources and
training.
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3. Provide a process for units
to conduct their own yearly
swim tests
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4. Provide on-going
training for adult unit
leaders and summer
camp aquatics staff.
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5. Encourage
advancement in
aquatics -- 2nd Class,
1st Class and aquatics
Merit Badges.
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6. Promote Cub Scout
aquatic activities.
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7. Provide a forum for
discussion of policies and
procedures relative to unit,
district and council
aquatics.
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8. Ensure that facilities
and equipment are
used according to
agreed-upon standards.
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9. Develop resources for
training and support in
specialized aquatic areas -kayaking, boardsailing,
waterskiing, etc.
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10. Promote participation
in aquatic highadventure -- Northern
Tier, Sea Base or
similar.
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11. Coordinate with other
agencies (Red Cross,
YMCA, etc.) for joint
programs or use of
facilities.
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12. Coordinate with other
councils regarding
programs and resources.
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FAQ’s
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 Committee’s 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…
The Committee has
responsibility for all
aquatics programs at all
levels of Scouting…
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…
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..
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…
COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP
Having at least one
Aquatics Instructor, BSA
on the committee should help
ensure compliance with current BSA
policies and procedures….
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…
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 fulltime, 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…
RESPONSIBILITIES
The aquatics committee has overall
responsibility for the local council’s
aquatics activities in Cub Scouting, Boy
Scouting, Venturing, and Exploring
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RESPONSIBILITIES
The aquatics committee’s main areas of
responsibility include the following
year-round activities tailored to the
local council’s aquatics activities and
opportunities:
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AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY
1. Training
2. Program
3. Advancement
4. Safety
5. Development of Aquatic Leadership
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 counciland 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
[email protected]
(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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Revised Feb 2009
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