Jump to content

Recommended Posts

  • Replies 38
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

3 of 16 of my Scouts did the Mile Swim. Last year there was lots of "bending" of the rules. Touching the bottom, getting out and then getting back in and continuing, etc. I complained to the pool director and was pretty much brushed off. This year the rules were back in effect.

Link to post
Share on other sites

The last time I attended Scout Camp was in 2007 at Camp Grizzly in Northern Idaho. http://personal.palouse.net/ChiefKamiakin/CampGrizzly.htm

 

 

I did the mile swim there at age 57, and then continued doing mile swims 3-4 times/week for 1 1/2 years until I had an injury that got me out of the habit.

 

I'll be at Camp Pigott in northern Washington State next week as a Camp Commissioner. I'll have to consider doing the mile swim program there.

 

I remember nearly thirty years ago when I was Scoutmaster and announced my plans to do the mile swim program. Several Scouts who'd never thyought of doing it signed up and all but one completed it.

 

Generally speaking, I'd say it's easier to do than most people would think. Just nice, slow and steady.

 

 

I tend to get cramps after a while when I'm not properly conditioned though.(This message has been edited by seattlepioneer)

Link to post
Share on other sites

Hello Eagle,

 

 

Personally, I wouldn't be too picky about minor violations of "the rules" of the kind you describe. If someone does a mile swim on a reasonably continuous basis, they have an achievement worth being recognized, in my opinion anyway.

 

 

On my last such swim, the rower leading me around the course wasn't very skillful and brained me with an oar, cutting my scalp.

 

Not too many people can claim to be wounded in action while doing a mile swim, I'm guessing. Perhaps there should be a Mile Swim patch with the order of the Red Cross for that kind of episode!

 

What other mile swim stories can people tell?

Link to post
Share on other sites

One problem with mile swims in a pool is there are too many opportunities to hang on the edge of the pool, or put your feet on the bottom and rest. Even if it is a significant achievement, (and I agree that it is still difficult) the scouts know it is tainted. (like Mark McGuire's record - sure it is a great achievement, even with drugs. But still, it is just not the same.)

 

When I did the mile swim as a scout leader (in a lake), there was a scout in camp that was on his third mile before I finished my mile. He went on to swim a total of 5. Wow!

Link to post
Share on other sites

Ours is done in a lake - little chance for anyone to bend the rules and no bending that I've ever noticed. We generally have one Scout, one adult, or no one do it in a given year.

 

The requirements for the mile swim actually have three preliminary requirements - those are pretty much ignored.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Every year during the summer there is a weekend chosen where most ships meet up at this on cove on the Delta. Most years some ship throws a boat in the water with a handheld GPS and anybody who wants to can follow them in circles around the cove for a mile.

Link to post
Share on other sites

We usually see about a third of the Scouts that start the "training" swims complete the week and the mile swim at camp. The swim is in a lake (5 laps). So for numbers, about 15 - 18 sign up, 5 or 6 will do complete. We have on Scout who does it every year, a fewe that do it once and that's it, and the others might repeat the swim at a future camp once.

 

Adults alternate - I do it every year, an ASM signs - up every year and doesn't finish the training swims, a committee member signs up every once and awhile - but he always completes it when he does.

 

I've never been involved with a troop that did a "troop program" outside of camp.

 

The Scouts who do it are justifiably proud of their accomplishment. Its a big deal to them when they actually stay in the water that long finish.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Seattle,

I did the Mile Swim as a youth and my son has done the Mile Swim 4 times in the last 5 years. My Scouts do it every year at the same camp, the same camp I did i as a youth. The Lifeguards explain the requirements every year the same way. "Don't touch the bottom, sides, rope, don't get out etc. After reading your comment I actually read the requirements actual for the first time.

 

1. Explain how regular exercise contributes to good health and why swimming is one of the best forms of exercise.

2. Tell what precautions and procedures a swimmer and escort must follow for distance swimming over open water.

3. Under the supervision of a currently qualified certified aquatics instructor, BSA or equivalent, participate in four hours of training and preparation for distance swimming (one hour a day maximum).

4. Swim 1 mile over a measured course that has been approved by the trained instructor who will supervise the swim.

 

I have never seen requirements 1,2, and 3 done. The camp does a 1/4 mile qualifier prior to the mile swim, that's it. Requirement 4 doesn't say you can't stop or take a break. Interesting.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Two questions...

 

1. Who qualifies as a "trained instructor"? The local high school's swimming director has offered to help with whatever we need. She is certified in all of the Red Cross swimming/lifeguarding areas as well as a certified PE teacher. Would she be considered appropriate?

 

2. How long does it take to swim a mile? I imagine it varies from a slow 11 year old to a varsity record holding 18 year old. What is the general range? (just curious)

 

We have 1 boy in our troop who hates all things athletic, except swimming which he loves, I'm going to tell his parents about this. He has such low self-esteem that it breaks my heart, but if he could do this, WOW!

Link to post
Share on other sites

Back in the day I was a competitive swimmer and the mile was a nice warm up and a neat patch. The camp had a 20 yard pool so it was nice using the walls for flip turns. Did it all five years I went to camp. Back in those days it was simply swimming a mile and wed do it Saturday mornings before lunch and going home.

 

When I came back to Scouts we had a new camp with a wonderful lake and bulkhead area quartered off in 25 yard sections no walls to push off on. Have to go down on Monday to do mile, the next day mile at our leisure and in the bulkhead area, with a counter. Bulkheads stink as theres no walls to turn on and push off, so each 25 is from a dead start in the water. On Thursday eve, we did the whole thing out in the open area of the lake, they have buoys posted in mile sections, so four times out and back and you were done. Much better than in the bulkhead! Did it most years I was in camp. Id drag one or more kids with me I knew were swimmers and harass them about getting beat by their old fat Scoutmaster. It was good to get a homesick kid out there to count for me, made him feel a little privileged, especially if he was a little scared of the water. Drawback is it takes a lot out of the boys, and may bring on some meltdowns. My sons first year he talked three of his buddies into doing it and they all four made it, but each crashed that night.

 

Link to post
Share on other sites

Ok, so some mile swims are "easier" than others. Waaaay back when, I did mine in the Chesapeake Bay behind a rowboat. I remember the "buddy system" in force then, my pal Don rowed the boat for me, then I rowed the boat for him. From the end of the dock out into the Bay (Camp Roosevelt, Calvert County MD) around the bouy and back to the dock. Sunny day, slight chop, Sea Nettles to contend with. I remember maybe a dozen Scouts on the swim, and it certainly took less than an hour each. Each had their own buddy boat. Was that easier? I had nothing to compare with, but Roosevelt did have a fresh water pool, back in the woods. I don't remember if they did a mile swim in the pool.

Scout son did his in a lake at Heritage. Cold, he said...

Link to post
Share on other sites

Ummm. I've never been to a Scout camp that had a pool.

 

The Chief Seattle Council has Scout camps with lakes except for Camp Parson which is on Hood Canal, and inlet off Puget Sound and the Pacific Ocean. That can be rather chilly I understand.

 

The lakes are usually a pleasant swimming temperature.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Way back in 1988 or so I was the Aquatics Director for Camp Masonite Navarro. We did the mile swim in a river that was dammed off to form a lake.

 

During one of the mile swim sessions I was in a rowboat monitoring the swimmers when one of them swam up to me and grabbed the transom of the boat. "I'm about to have a seizure." He then proceeded to have a Petit-Mal seizure his arms clamping him to the boat. After it was over he asked if he could get paddled back to the dock, I obliged.

 

After the mile swim was over I had a discussion with the camp nurse about informing me about what medical conditions that I would like to know about.

 

I'd hate to think what could of happened if a rowboat wasn't right where he needed it.

 

 

 

 

Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...