National Outdoor Achievement Award (Aquatics) Requirements

[mashmaster 783]

Question on interpretation of the requirements.

For a scout for requirement #4 the 25 hours doesn't mention auspices of BSA, so swimming daily an hour a day for a school swim team would count.  Right?

For requirement #5, it states that requirement, so time sailing at Seabase would count.

For the gold and silver devices, it just states activity so hours on the swim team would count?  What about all the hours on the Seabase trek?  6 days sailing minus 8 hours per day sleeping = 96 hours.  Could the scout count the 50 hours for requirement #5 and 46 hours towards the gold device?

[TMSM 201]

#5 states under the auspices and includes the 25 hours from #4 so I would assume 4 would have to be under the auspices also. 

[Thunderbird 179]

I think the intent is for the activity (time on the water, hiking, etc.) has to be related to Scouting somehow.

Interpreting ‘under the auspices’ in National Outdoor Awards requirements

A “BSA unit activity” may include some individual efforts not part of the group: e.g., a pre-conditioning exercise where all unit members commit to and actually ride their bikes X miles a week prior to a big troop bike ride. It is not meant to include activities that the Scout undertakes that are unrelated to Scouting — e.g., family or church group camping, running as part of the school cross-country team, etc."

 

[mashmaster 783]

6 minutes ago, Thunderbird said:

I think the intent is for the activity (time on the water, hiking, etc.) has to be related to Scouting somehow.

Interpreting ‘under the auspices’ in National Outdoor Awards requirements

A “BSA unit activity” may include some individual efforts not part of the group: e.g., a pre-conditioning exercise where all unit members commit to and actually ride their bikes X miles a week prior to a big troop bike ride. It is not meant to include activities that the Scout undertakes that are unrelated to Scouting — e.g., family or church group camping, running as part of the school cross-country team, etc."

 

but it doesn't state that for the devices, isn't that adding requirements?   The scout hasn't asked yet, but I know he will.  He has already asked how his swim team of 5 hours a week could count.

A gold device may be earned for each additional 25 hours of aquatics activity listed in requirement 5. A silver device is earned for each additional 100 hours of aquatics activity. The youth may wear any combination of devices totaling his or her current number of hours of aquatics activity.

[TMSM 201]

Thats a tough one. It doesn't sound like swim team would qualify unless he joined to get in shape for an upcoming mile swim.

[Thunderbird 179]

"5. Complete at least 50 hours of any combination of swimming, canoeing, fishing, fly-fishing, kayaking, rowing, scuba, small-boat sailing, stand up paddleboarding, water sports, or whitewater activity under the auspices of the Boy Scouts of America, including time spent in requirements 2 through 4.

A gold device may be earned for each additional 25 hours of aquatics activity listed in requirement 5. A silver device is earned for each additional 100 hours of aquatics activity. The youth may wear any combination of devices totaling his or her current number of hours of aquatics activity."

 

The device requirement refers back to requirement #5, and requirement #5 specifies that the listed activities have to be done under the auspices of the Boy Scouts of America.  It's a  judgement call, but I don't think it would count.  You can send an e-mail to Member Care (myscouting@scouting.org) and ask, though.

Edited April 19, 2018 by Thunderbird

[mashmaster 783]

Thanks all.