Requirements:

Swimming (different requirements for each level)

Brownie Swimming (Complete the requirements 1-3, then 2 more)

1. Know Water Safety. Show that you know when and how to:

Select and wear a PFD (personal floating device)

Keep afloat using clothing and other flotation devices

Cooperate with someone who is trying to rescue you

Tread water

2. Swimming with a buddy is very important. Create and practice a “buddy check call” so that you and your buddy know if either of you need help. Use it every time you swim. Learn about differences between swimming in a pool and other locations.

3. Show that you can swim by doing each of the following:

Glide six feet.

Swim on your back 10 meters

Swim the front crawl 10 meters

4. Learn about problems that swimmers can have. Show that you can help another swimmer who:

Has a cramp

Is shivering with hypothermia

Has a sunburn or heat exhaustion

Is tired

5. What kind of activities can be done in deep water? Learn about the type of equipment needed for snorkeling and scuba diving.

6. Learn about swimming stars and their records. Know the rules in competitive swimming for starting, turning, timing, and scoring.

10. Look at ways other living things move through the water. Watch for creatures that have tails that act as rudders, feet that paddle, or fins that flutter. Imitate animal actions in a water game you make up.

Junior Swimming (Complete the first 3 requirements, then 5 more)

1. Know Water Safety. Show that you know when and how to:

Select and wear a PFD (personal floating device)

Keep afloat using clothing and other flotation devices

Cooperate with someone who is trying to rescue you

Use good sense in cold water, in deep water, in a current, and in rough water

Tread water

2. Swimming with a buddy is very important. Create and practice a “buddy check call” so that you and your buddy know if either of you need help. Use it every time you swim.

3. Show that you can swim by doing each of the following:

Glide six feet.

Kick 25 meters

Swim the crawl 25 meters

Do two of these strokes for 50 meters: crawl, elementary backstroke, sidestroke, or breaststroke

4. Learn to snorkel. Show that you can choose a mask that fits your face, put it on so it won’t fog, breathe through it, and clear the mask. Practice your snorkeling skills by swimming 25 yards along the surface parallel to the shore. Show that you can surface – dive, swim 15 feet underwater, resurface and clear your snorkel and mask.

5. Learn about problems that swimmers can have. Show that you can help another swimmer who:

Has a cramp

Is shivering with hypothermia

Has a sunburn or heat exhaustion

Is tired

6. Make a water safety checklist that includes ways to avoid:

Underwater hazards

Falling through ice

Falling in water accidentally

Overestimating your swimming ability

Polluting the water that you swim in

Swift currents

7. Swim under the surface of the water. Show that you can do a surface dive, a deep dive, or a jump, and then swim underwater and bring up something from the bottom.

8. Diver: Perform two different dives from a low board, platform, or deck. First, be sure an adult who is present has checked the water depth and hazards, and they have said it is safe to dive.

9. Get involved in a swimming competition. Join a swim team to build your speed and endurance. Learn about swimming stars and their records. Be able to follow the rules in competitive swimming for starting, turning, timing, and scoring.

10. Look at ways other living things move through the water. Watch for creatures that have tails that act as rudders, feet that paddle, or fins that flutter. Imitate animal actions in a water game you make up.

C/S/A Swimming (Complete the first 3 requirements, then 5 more)

1. Know Water Safety. Show that you know when and how to:

Select and wear a PFD (personal floating device)

Keep afloat using clothing and other flotation devices

Cooperate with someone who is trying to rescue you

Use good sense in cold water, in deep water, in a current, and in rough water

Tread water

2. Swimming with a buddy is very important at any age. Create and practice a “buddy check call” so that you and your buddy know if either of you need help. Use it every time you swim.

3. Demonstrate the proper technique in at least 3 basic swimming strokes. Measure your endurance and set a goal to improve it.

4. Find out what aquatic courses are offered in your area. Enroll in one.

5. Learn to snorkel. Show that you can choose a mask that fits your face, put it on so it won’t fog, breathe through it, and clear the mask. Practice your snorkeling skills by swimming 25 yards along the surface parallel to the shore. Show that you can surface – dive, swim 15 feet underwater, resurface and clear your snorkel and mask.

6. Read about the Girl Scout requirements for swimming in Safety Wise. Learn about water rescue techniques and show that you can help another swimmer who:

Has a cramp

Is shivering with hypothermia

Has a sunburn or heat exhaustion

Is tired

7. Make a piece of water safety equipment.

8. Swim under the surface of the water. Show that you can do a surface dive, a deep dive, or a jump, and then swim underwater and bring up something from the bottom.

9. When is it safe to dive? Perform two different dives from a low board, platform, or deck. Make sure you have checked the water depth and hazards before diving.

10. Get involved in a swimming competition. Join a swim team to build your speed and endurance. Learn about swimming stars and their records. Be able to follow the rules in competitive swimming for starting, turning, timing, and scoring.

11. Take a scuba diving class. Research the equipment and experience needed to participate in this activity.

12. Become a lifeguard. What kind of training is required?

13. Create a swimming relay game or water game for your swimmers. Use several different strokes and plan activities with balls, inner tubes, rafts and ropes.