Swiftwater Trek Leaders

We've just finished an awesome week of training BSA's first NCS Swiftwater Trek Leaders. Eleven in all, not bad for a new Section.

Looking back over that week, my own thinking is that at some point down the road, we could be seeing key changes in Safety Afloat requirements. One such area would be for BSA lifeguards and/or Unit leaders to receive supplemental training under the direction of a SWTL, before they head out on river trips involving swift/whitewater.

I also see where the SWTL may become a key Council resource much the same as Commissoners,Shooting Sports, COPE,Climbing and Aquatic Directors are now are.

Overall, changes are coming for how Units, and Camps will run their high adventure programs on rivers to keep our Scouts safe..hopefully next year we can double the number of SWTL's and start seeding more Councils with these guides....

We just finished a course focused on moving water canoeing. This year it was done jointly by San Francisco Bay Area Council and Mount Diablo Silverado Council. The two councils are moving towards a merger anyway.

Here in the West it is difficult to even think of an extended "trek" on the water without having to consider dealing with moving water. Our course has two evenings of indoor classroom training and a weekend on the water.

Glad to see something moving ahead on this elsewhere.