Whitewater safety training, May '97 in TN.

I=92m new to SCOUTS-L, and I didn=92t see a file on canoeing or whitewater =

safety in the index list. If there has been a thread on this subject in =

the last couple of years and you know the date, I=92d like to get the LOG =

file and see it.

Below is an outline description of our planned whitewater safety =

training weekend for 1997. If you have no interest, you might pass this =

message on to another person in your Troop/Council who may be interested =

in the safety aspects of paddling whitewater. It can be dangerous =

unless you know what you=92re doing. We=92ve had 2 kayak fatalities and 1 =

rafting fatality (non-scouts) in the past 2 years in our area, and I =

want to be certain no scouts or scouters are injured in this sport I=92ve =

loved for 30 years.

Whitewater Safety Training: Special for Scoutmasters and/or other BSA =

Adult Leaders:
*Types of training available: Open Canoe, Kayak, or Water Rescue
*2 days paddling on the Hiwassee River, 1 evening classroom session
*One weekend - May 17 and 18, 1997. Mark your calendars right now!
*Plus one weekday evening, May 13 or 15 (during the week before)
*Boats can be furnished, or bring your own
*Camp at "Gee Creek" state campground, course HQ, right on the river
*Open field camping area, water, restrooms, hot showers
*Group meals included in price
*Outdoor amphitheater, large tent in case of rain
*Located approx. 10 miles from the Olympic Ocoee River
*Plans are to combine training with Middle Tennessee Council =

(Nashville), and others surrounding Chattanooga if there is interest.
*Cost: not set yet (range of $30-40 per person, meals included)

Our Council held this training initially last May, and 18 persons took =

it. Their comments were that this type of thing for scouters was long =

overdue, and they are spreading the word to other adult leaders for the =

=9297 class. The local canoe club (TVCC) has been holding this type of =

training (and most others do too) for 29 years straight now, but =

scouters keep their own full calendars, and most here had not even heard =

of the club, much less available training. Moving water (Class I, calm) =

is taken for granted as a scout tradition, and no one was learning =

safety techniques. Several of our local Troops own fleets of canoes, =

and I=92ve heard many local war stories of near misses on moving water, =

and it=92s a matter of time before a tradegy occurrs. =

The class has a practical limit of space and resources at about 75-100 =

persons. Since we are combining with the large Nashville council (this =

is their 3rd year) we may already be full. If there is widespread =

interest and heavy pressure from those within a few hours drive from =

Chatta, however, we may consider another weekend late in the summer. =

Anyone definitely interested should e-mail me privately right away. Our =

committee meets about Jan. 8, and I need to gauge interest by then. =

A footnote is that we are considering adding a whitewater rafting option =

for Skymont camp this summer. After a fierce bidding war among 6 local =

outfitters, we recently purchased 12 council canoes through one who is =

also one of the better of the 30 rafting companies permitted for the =

Ocoee river. I=92ve known the integrity of this gentleman for 30 years, =

and neither I nor the local council has any commercial interest. He =

said he would extend his lowest group pricing to scout groups. I =

certainly don=92t want to get commercial here, but I can e-mail more =

detail to you if you are interested for your Troop or unit.

Jack Wright.

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