Get Active! October/November 2013

13 how to find water A core survival skill is knowing how to find water in the

wilderness. Try these expert tips and techniques16 key steps to clean water on camp

Six essential pointers to help keep your camp’s water supply safe and secure

18 a rapid recipe Satisfy young appetites with these pitta pocket pizzas –

ready in under 10 minutes on the campfire

20 sub-aqua Plunge into a different world by learning to

snorkel or scuba dive – Scouts can do it all year round, starting at your local pool

Learn…

Discover…

T his issue of Get Active! shows how water activities can be part of your Scouting programme throughout the year – the fun

doesn’t have to stop when summer ends. Why not work a water theme into the creative and physical aspects of your winter programme by making underwater worlds or playing pirate-themed games?

The importance of water to life is another area to explore, particularly as the United Nations has declared 2013 the International Year of Water Cooperation. Draw on the talents of your young people to make a film on this theme and enter it in the Hot Water short film competition (page 7).

You could also approach the theme of water from a bushcraft perspective. In this issue, experts Joe O’Leary (Wilderness Survival Skills) and Paul Kirtley (Frontier Bushcraft) talk on finding water in the wild and water hygiene in camp. Alternatively, if you’re looking for adventure, why not explore scuba diving or snorkelling? See page 20 to find out more.

Welcome

scouts.org.uk/magazine GET ACTIVE! 3

4 underwater worlds Create your own world beneath the waves with craft

projects suitable for all sections7 a short film about water Make a 50-second film about the importance of water

and your Group could win some amazing prizes

Create…

Explore…

Matthew Jones, [email protected]

8 pirate play 12 super swashbuckling games to get young

sea-dogs running around and having fun11 more programme themes A host of other theme ideas to try out with your Scouts

Get Active! Editors Lee Griffiths, Matthew Jones, Antonia Kanczula and Vicky Milnes Content Advisers Ashleigh Grimes, Sally Hilton, Jess Kelly, Michael Regan and Kevin YeatesWith thanks to... Jo Bateman, Joly Braime, Geoff Duggan, Paul Kirtley, Jane Langley, Austin Lill, Chloe Luxford, Derek Newman, Joe O'Leary, Leona Smith, Ralph Spegel, Sam WattsCover illustration Hassan Torossian ISSN 0036 – 9489© 2013 The Scout AssociationRegistered Charity Numbers: 306101 (England and Wales) and SC038437

(Scotland)

Get Active! is produced by Immediate Media Branded Content, 9th Floor, Tower House, Fairfax Street, Bristol BS1 3BNADVERTISINGAdvertising Manager Tom ParkerEmail: [email protected] Tel: 0117 314 8781

110,004 average circulation of Scouting from 1 Jan–31 Dec 2012

© Immediate Media Branded Content. Printed in the UK by William Gibbons. All rights reserved. Unauthorised reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited without written permission. Every effort has been made to secure permission for copyright material. In the event of any material being used inadvertently, or where it proved impossible to trace the copyright owner, acknowledgement will be made in a future issue.

Contents

This magazine can be recycled, for use in newspapers and packaging. Please remove any gifts, samples or wrapping and dispose of it at your local collection point.

We are proud to say Get Active! is PEFC certified. For more information go to pefc.co.uk. Promoting sustainable forest management.

The national magazine of The Scout Association,Gilwell Park, Chingford, London E4 7QWTel: 0845 300 1818Get in touch at [email protected]. Read Get Active! and Scouting online at scouts.org.uk/magazine

Please note that the views expressed by members and contributors in the magazine are not necessarily those of The Scout Association.

8

PEFC/16-33-795

ORIGAMI WHALEYou will need! A4 sheet of paper ! Scissors

Create…underwater worlds

4 GET ACTIVE! October/November 2013

6 Make a small cut through the end of the fold in the tail. Fold the edges of the tail outwards to form a fluke.

1 Start by making a square piece of paper from your A4 sheet. Fold one corner along the adjacent edge and cut off the rectangle.

2 Fold the two outside points in to meet each other. Line up the edges with the centre line to form a kite shape.

4 Fold the paper in half lengthways.

3 Fold the tip over to meet the other folds.

These great projects explore a world beneath the waves. From sea creatures to submersibles, there’s something for all sectionsSuitable for all (except where otherwise indicated)

5 Fold the tip up to make a tail. Add googly eyes and decorate with marker pens.

underwater

Try to achieve neutral buoyancy by half-filling the bottle with water. This will ensure it stays level underwater. You could also try making larger and smaller subs by using different-sized bottles, or decorating your sub with waterproof marker pens and paints.

RUBBER BAND SUBMARINESuitable for Cubs+

You will need! 2 plastic bottles ! 2 paperclips ! 3 rubber bands! 15cm ruler ! Chopsticks ! Scissors ! Needle-nose pliers

1 Cut the bottom off one of the bottles.

2 Cut through the middle of each high and low point to form a five-bladed propeller. Make one small hole in the centre and a second hole at the edge of one of the blades.

3 Take the other bottle and make a hole in centre of the bottle cap.

4 Straighten a paperclip and feed through hole in bottle cap, then through centre hole in propeller. Bend paperclip round and hook into second hole to secure propeller. Make another hook at the other

1 Make two holes in the bottom of the second bottle, one centred and one off-centre. Straighten out one hook of a paperclip and, using chopsticks, feed it through the hole.

2 Hook the paperclip into the second hole to secure it.

3 Use the chopsticks to hook a rubber band onto the paperclip inside the bottle.

4 Stretch the band and hook it to the propeller. Screw on the bottle cap.

5 Using two rubber bands, attach the ruler to the bottle to make stabilising fins.

Making the submarineMaking the propeller


Create…

1 Draw and cut out eight legs and stick them to the edge of the large paper plate. This will form the underside of the crab’s body.

2 Draw around the spoon and cut around the shape. These will be the crab’s arms, so you’ll need to make two. Fold the cardboard in half at the base of the handle, and then bend it at the joint between the handle and the spoon. Cut a slice out of the spoon to form pincers.

3 Stick the crab’s arms to the plate, in front of the first pair of legs. Invert the second plate and stick it on top to form the crab’s shell.

4 Cut short pieces of pipe cleaner as eye stalks and antennae. Glue to the body. Decorate your crab with paints and a black marker.

PAPER CUP SWIMMING FISH Suitable for Beavers and Cubs

You will need ! 2 paper cups ! Scissors ! Glue or stapler ! Coloured paper ! Stickers ! Split pins

1 Cut the rim off one of the cups. This will be your fish’s tail.

2 Make two holes on opposite sides of the cup, close to the base.

3 Take the other cup and make two holes on opposite sides, as close to the rim as possible.

4 Insert the tail cup into the other cup, matching up the holes. Push a pin through each hole and open them out.

5 Press the tail cup flat at the edge and cut it in the shape of a fin. Glue or staple it closed.

6 Cut a pair of fins from paper or card stock, fold down the end to make a tab and glue it to the fish.

7 Decorate your fish with paints, felt-tips or stickers.


What can Scouts earn?

Beavers can make models to earn the Creative Activity Badge, while older sections could make the whale suggested here before

trying out more complex origami projects. This

is especially relevant in the lead-up to the 2015 World Scout Jamboree, which will take place in Japan – where papercraft is an accomplished art form. Lastly, science-based models like the rubber band submarine teach elementary physics that form core parts of numerous badge requirements for Scout and Explorer sections.

PAPER PLATE CRABYou will need! 2 large paper plates ! A pipe cleaner ! Cardboard ! A wooden spoon ! Paint

Create more…

and make a short film about waterHeard about Hot Water? It’s a national competition to make a 50-second film about water. The competition is open to all sections, and has been organised by coolitschools.com to coincide with the United Nations’ International Year of Water Cooperation.

The winning film will be screened at the British Film Institute (BFI) Hot Water Awards, and you’ll even have a chance to collect your own ‘Oscar’. Prizes include a professional film workshop from the Nice and Serious Production Company, as well as art materials, animation kits and much more.

What could your film be about?Your project can be a live-action film, a documentary or an animation. It should aim to raise awareness of the importance of water and show why it’s so critical to everyday life. Here are a few themes to inspire you…

! Human issues How can you reduce water use? If you only had one litre of water each day, how would you use it? How can we help people without enough water?

! Science Explain the water cycle, or how flash floods, storms and droughts occur. Or, look at how climate change is affecting ice caps and glaciers. How about exploring some amazing hydro-power projects?

! Imagination Could you tell a story featuring amazing underwater creatures, a strange myth or legend?

! Sport and recreation Is your Group water-crazy? What kind of water activities do you do and where?

! Environment 1 Why not investigate the impact of industrial waste, pesticides, oil spills, sewage or disease on water supplies? 2 Go global and investigate seas, oceans and coastlines. What kinds of foods do we get from the sea, and what species should or shouldn’t we eat? 3 If you live near water, why not tell a tale from your local riverbank or look at the microscopic world of your garden pond?

Download the free Layar app to your Smartphone, then aim it at this photo to view a YouTube video.

What can Scouts earn?Filmmaking and videography is one way to work towards the Scout Photographer and Cub Artist Activity Badges.

More infoThe closing date for this competition is 30 October. Download a free Hot Water resource pack at magazine.scouts.org.uk/getactive/hotwater/. View the entries so far at coolitschools.com/ hot-water/video-gallery



Shark attack You will need • 8 cardboard 'islands' • Dramatic Jaws-type musicWhat to do Place the cardboard pieces around the floor – these are the islands. Pirate Scouts sail the high seas by walking between the islands. When the music stops, or a leader shouts ‘shark attack!’, Scouts must find safe ground. The last Scout to jump on to

an island is out. At the end of each round remove an island. Scouts

who are ‘out’ can become sharks and try to catch the pirates – and pirates can hold on to each other as long as no

part of them touches the ground. The last pirate left is the

winner.

Captain’s commandsYou will need • Rope or tape What to do Use the rope or tape to mark out the deck of a ship on the floor. Nominate a captain, who can say any of the following commands:Captain’s mate Find a partner and hold on to them.Starboard side The crew must run to the right side of the ship.Port side Run to the left side of the ship.Scrub the decks Drop to the floor and pretend to scrub the deck.Here comes the captain Stand still and salute.The last Scout to switch actions is ‘thrown overboard’, until there is one crew member left.

Coin chuck You will need • Different-sized boxes or baskets • Plastic or cardboard ‘gold’ coins What to do Set up the boxes or baskets at different distances and assign each a points value. These are the ‘treasure chests’. Give each Scout a set number of coins and line them up. The aim is to score points by throwing the coins into the treasure chests. To make this game more difficult, make pioneering catapults from bamboo canes, elastic bands and yoghurt pots, then use those to try to fire the coins into the chests.

pirate playWhy not turn your section into a pirate crew for a meeting or camp? Dress up like sea-dogs and play these swashbuckling gamesSuitable for all

X marks the spot You will need • A large map marked with an X• Treasure-chest stickers • Blindfold What to do This activity adds a pirate twist to Pin the Tail on the Donkey. Together, make a large map by staining A2 paper with used tea bags. Add the outline of an island and some pirate-map details – a sea of sharks, deathly cove, swamp, coral reef, ruined fort and of course an X to mark the treasure site. Blindfold your Scouts, spin them around, and ask them to place a treasure chest sticker on the X. The closest treasure chest is the winner.

Scurvy scramble You will need • Different-coloured ball-pit balls• Length of thick rope What to doIn this game, your Scouts have to collect as many ‘fruits’ as possible to stop them getting scurvy. Plastic ball-pit balls make great fruit. Pile the balls inside a circle made from thick rope, or stash them in various locations around your HQ. Scouts have to collect as much fruit as possible in a given time limit. No containers are allowed but they can use any parts of their clothing, for example stuffing the balls up jumpers, sleeves or into scarves.

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Bail out the boat You will need • Six-pint milk bottles • Plastic cups What to doMake plastic pirate ships by cutting six-pint milk bottles in half. Fill with water. Allocate a ‘crew’ of Scouts to each ship and give each Scout a plastic cup. They have to bail their ships out by scooping a cupful of water and running to an empty bucket to dump the water, one at a time. The first crew to empty their ship wins. Add some plastic pirate figures to make the game harder: your Scouts will have to avoid scooping them up while they empty the water.


Pirate battle You will need • Cannonballs made from crumpled black paper What to doMake two pirate ships on either side of your HQ from stacked benches, cardboard boxes or by marking out shapes on the floor. Split your section into two crews and arm them with plenty of ‘cannonballs’. The aim is to get as many cannonballs as possible onto the opposing pirate ship before the time runs out. Pirates can throw back any cannonballs that land on their ship.

Swab the deck You will need• Brooms and balls of all different sizes What to doUsing the brooms, Scouts should sweep the balls from one side of the ‘deck’ to the other, which you can mark out on the floor of your HQ with chalk, rope or tape. Set up some obstacles, which could represent masts, cannons and other items on deck. Use different-sized balls, allocating points for each type. You could run this as a relay race between lodges, packs or patrols and see who can score the most points.

Man overboard! You will need• A paddling pool or large container filled with water • Shells, driftwood, plastic sea creatures, a pirate figure

What to do Fill the pool with the bits and pieces listed and other pieces of flotsam and jetsam. Then add a ‘man overboard’, – a small pirate figure. Scouts rummage around to find the missing pirate in a set time.

Warning Scouts will get wet in this game!

Walk the plank You will need• A plank • Blue tarpaulin • Plastic sharks or sea creatures • Eye patch or blindfoldWhat to doSet up your plank above a blue tarpaulin ‘sea’, adding sea creatures for effect. Use a wider plank for younger sections and a narrower one for older Scouts. Challenge your pirates to ‘walk the plank’ forwards, backwards and sideways without falling into the sea. Older Scouts can wear an eye patch or a blindfold. It’s a great way to teach balance, co-ordination and the effects of sensory deprivation.

Capture the Jolly Roger You will need• Two flags of different colours, ideally featuring a skull and crossbones What to doClassic Scouting game Capture the Flag is easy to adapt to a pirate theme. Split your Scouts into two crews, each with their own flag and ‘island’. Scouts hide their flag somewhere, and set out to find and capture the opposing flag, bringing it to their own island; the first crew to do so wins. If a Scout carrying the flag is tagged by an opposing pirate, they must drop the flag and go to a designated desert island, where they can only be rescued if they are tagged by a crewmate.

Cannonball blast You will need • Black-coloured balloons What to doIn this pirate-themed version of another classic Scouting game, Scouts tie an inflated black balloon to their ankles and then try to ‘explode’ (pop) the other pirates’ cannonballs, while protecting their own. You can use water balloons if you’re playing outside. Add an element of teamwork by splitting the Scouts into different pirate crews who have to protect their own balloons as well as exploding the others’.

Discover…

More pirate play ideasUse gold coins and clever clues to lay a pirate treasure trail.


Discover more…

themes for your programme

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Using a theme can be a great way to find out about a particular culture, subject or issue. It can also be a good hook for a series of fun activities, providing a space to let young imaginations run wild

Safari Explore the animal kingdom with creative activities, such as making animal masks. Alternatively, go on a bug safari or try pond-dipping. Older sections could look at threats that animals face from poaching and loss of habitat. Arrange a trip to a zoo or farm, where Scouts could try activities like duck herding or sheepdog handling.


Space Learn about astronomy and space exploration, or make your own space suits and alien costumes. Learn about our solar system by making a scale model of the planets, and check out the great resources from the UK Space Agency to earn your Astronautics badges by building a rocket or launching a High-Altitude Balloon.

Magic The success of the Harry Potter series has cast a spell over young Scouts. Bring this world to life by making wands, spell books, potions or broomsticks. Check out the rules for this muggle version of quidditch at wikihow.com/Play-Muggle-Quidditch, or stage your own Tri-Wizard tournament and Horcrux hunt.

Wild West Try panning for 'gold’, make Stetson cowboy hats or play horseshoe-pitching. Give Scouts a chance to learn and demonstrate cowboy skills like lassoing, tying hitches and other knots, and trail cooking. Or try an adventurous activity; Western-style horse-riding lessons are available around the UK.

Ancient Egypt Travel back in time to the Kingdom of the Nile by learning how to build a pyramid, embalm a mummy or write in ancient hieroglyphics. Or why not make some sand art, sculpt a ceremonial mask or decorate sarcophagi?

Chill-out Revising for exams can stress teens out, and Explorers are no different. Sometimes they just need some downtime, and Scouting can be a perfect outlet. Why not run a few chill-out sessions at peak exam periods to take their minds off studying and just provide a relaxed place to let off some steam.

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how to find waterBushcraft expert and author Joe O’Leary reveals how to source water in the wildSuitable for Scouts+Clean drinking water is an essential part of your kit, but every litre adds a kilo of weight to your pack, so knowing how to replenish your water stocks on the move – or find it in an emergency – is vital.

Scouting out waterBefore setting off, plot a route that takes in likely sources of water. If your trip is unplanned and this isn’t possible, consult your map to find the nearest options. Rivers, streams, lakes, springs, even small ponds and marshes will be marked and, with experience, you’ll be able to pinpoint less-visible areas that might contain an emergency source.

Make use of any high ground to study the landscape. Look for valleys, or the base of outcrops or cliffs where water will naturally drain to, and vegetation that may indicate its presence such as reeds, willow or alder. In arid landscapes, any vegetation at all is a giveaway.

Keep an open mind about what you expect to find but always inspect well, and filter and sterilise the water before drinking. Even a crystal-clear brook has the potential to hide a dead animal further upstream.

Knowing how to source water can be a

life-saving skill


What can Scouts earn?Learning how to find, filter and purify water is one of the badge requirements of the Scout Survival Skills Activity Badge.

Joe O’LearyJoe O’Leary is the author of The Wilderness Survival Guide, available

nationwide and on Amazon. He runs a bushcraft school in Wiltshire (wilderness-survival.co.uk) covering everything from foraging to flint-tool making.

1 Trap rainwater Use a tarp, tent, plastic bag

or even bark sheets and large, non-poisonous leaves to set up a system to catch valuable rainwater as it runs off. Always check the tree canopy above for toxic plants that the rain could be filtering through. Sometimes you’ll find a mature tree with a natural hollow where the large trunk separates into two or more thinner trunks; these ‘tree wells’ will frequently fill up with water. Scoop out the old sludge just before a heavy downpour and you’ll stand a chance of collecting a fair quantity of clean water.

Unusual sources

2 Collect dewFirst thing in the morning

and late in the evening, grass and exposed vegetation is covered in water, albeit tiny droplets. These can be absorbed with a clean item of clothing and wrung out into a container. Sounds laborious but, in fact, walking through long grass just before the sun rises while you’re dragging an absorbent piece of material on a stick produces quite a lot. Dew also collects on cold surfaces; so try collecting and placing smooth rocks in a plastic-lined shallow pit to attract moisture. It will dribble down into the bottom of the pit, but be quick if the weather’s hot – use the moisture before the sun comes up and it starts to evaporate.

Collect morning

dew in cloth and

wring out

Collect rain runo"

in a makeshift water butt

Water collects

in nooks and

crannies

A plastic bag collects pure condensation


Filtration and sterilisationAny water collected must be filtered to remove fine particles and debris that could harbour parasites or irritate. Filter water through a tight weave bag or improvise a filter from an old T-shirt. A plastic bottle or even a birch bark cone can also be packed with layers of moss, charcoal and sand, the bottom cut o! and pin holes pricked through the narrow end or lid with a hot safety pin. Pour water into the open end of the filter and catch the drips.

Wild water should also be sterilised. The simplest method is to bring it to a ‘crazy’ rolling boil for five minutes, then let it cool or make some wild tea! If you haven’t got a metal pot to boil water in, heat solid, non-porous rocks in the fire and use like the element in a kettle. Never use glassy, flinty or flaky rocks as they can explode. Pick the hot rock up with tongs and hold in a watertight, non-metal container to boil the water.

3 Take to the treesSilver birch in particular can

provide an emergency drink during a two-to three-week window in early spring (usually around late February, early March). Find a good-sized tree, preferably with a slight lean, and use your knife or a piece of flint and a wooden batten to pierce a hole through the bark on the side with the lean. If the conditions are perfect and it’s the right time of year, you’ll see a dribble of sap appearing in the hole, which quickly becomes a trickle, then a constant drip. Over time your container will fill up and provide a slightly sugary drink. It isn’t pure enough to be used as your only source of drinking water but it does taste refreshing!

Trees also give off water through their leaves when exposed to sunlight, a process known as transpiration. You can collect it in a transparent polythene bag; sounds unlikely but the results can be surprising. Choose a particularly leafy branch or bundle of foliage from a non-poisonous tree in a place that gets sunlight for most of the day, enclose them within the bag and tie the neck up tightly around the branches. As the sun shines, the leaves release their moisture, which condenses on the inside of the bag.

4 Dig a wellThere may be times when

the ground is saturated underfoot but there is no visible pond or spring. It could be that there’s no sign of moisture at all on the surface, but water-loving plants growing nearby indicate a high water table underneath. The answer is to dig a well; dig down until water starts to seep into the bottom of the hole. Chances are it’ll be dirty this time (and maybe the second and third times too) so scoop it out until it’s clear. If the water continues to look murky, try lining with non-poisonous plants to act as a primary filter.

5 Defrost ice

Heating snow and ice to produce water requires fuel so in the cold, always look for an alternative source; for instance, fast-running water is the last to freeze. Never be tempted to eat snow because you risk lowering your core temperature and developing mouth injuries. Melt it in a cooking pot and look for wet, slushy snow; powdery snow contains lots of air. Choose ice over snow; it provides a better return of water per potful. Alternatively, pack a T-shirt full with snow and hang it near the fire to slowly drip into a container.

Dig a well, and

line with plants

or reeds to filter


KEY STEPS TO CLEAN WATER ON CAMPPaul Kirtley reveals his foolproof system to ensure good water safety and minimise the risk of stomach bugs while campingSuitable for all


Learn more…

Maintaining good hygiene is an important part of outdoor life. Speaking from experience, being ill while camping or travelling is a very unpleasant ordeal, particularly if it involves vomiting or diarrhoea.

On any Scout camp, lots of people will be using the camp’s water-based facilities, so it’s vital to implement a system to maintain good water safety discipline. Explain the system to everyone in camp so that it’s universally understood and make sure that everyone sticks to the rules. When young people and adults are camping together, this might require some oversight or supervision at key times!

Here are my six S's of camp sanitation. If your camp follows these rules, you should all have a healthy, bug-free adventure.

Did you know? Streams, springs and lakes might look clean, but there are millions of organisms that live in fresh water – so always filter or purify any water you plan to drink.

1. SourceWater safety starts with the source. Ensure water is safe to drink in the first place, either by securing a clean source or treating water to make it potable. Potential pathogenic problems include protozoa, bacteria and viruses – but solutions can be found in the form of filtration, chemical sterilisation and boiling.

2. StoreSegregate clean water from dirty water. In camps, water is often stored in jerry cans or collapsible water bags. Whichever type you are using, it is generally best not to store clean water in the same type of

container as you collect dirty water. An exception to this is if you’re using chemical sterilisation; here you’ll be adding the chemicals to collected water and allowing for the correct contact time to produce drinkable water – in the same container. In this case, I’d recommend a separate area

for containers that are not yet ready, only releasing containers for general use when they have been treated. Untreated water should be stored separately and preferably supervised when young people are in camp.

3. SteriliseIf you are sterilising water by boiling, pour visibly clean water into metal vessels, then bring to the boil. This process should always be supervised, with someone ensuring that each vessel comes to a rolling boil for several minutes before the water is decanted into a storage vessel. Take extra care with young people in camp – both when around boiling water and while storing hot water in containers. Allow storage containers to cool down in a safe place before putting them out for general use around camp.

THE ! RULES OF SANITATION

Protect water-storage containers from contamination

by decanting what you need


4. SanitiseKeep your storage containers clean. Following this system should ensure you only ever have water that is safe to drink. Bugs, however, can be accidentally introduced to water after it’s been purified.

This contamination is often caused when dirty hands come in contact with storage containers; particularly caps, nozzles and threads. Put procedures in place to prevent

this. For example, pour water out into hand-washing basins before toilet visits; or get someone else to pour water for the visitor. Similarly, if someone has been handling raw meat or fish, they should not touch water containers until they’ve washed their hands thoroughly.

5. SeparateAnother cross-contamination culprit is bringing personal drinking bottles into direct contact with the openings of camp storage containers, thus passing bacteria from personal to group kit. Avoid such direct contact.People should not wash directly from camp storage containers, as there is potential for splashes into the containers. This includes pouring water on hands, feet, toothbrushes or face flannels. Use a separate basin or bucket if possible.

6. SealFinally, the tops of water containers should be replaced immediately after use. This minimises dirt, flies and other nasties getting into the water.

It may not be the most fun part of planning a camp or venturing into the outdoors, but good water hygiene can make the difference between a Scouting weekend to remember and one to forget.



The term sub-aqua encompasses the underwater activities of snorkelling and scuba (self-contained underwater breathing apparatus) diving. It’s exhilarating, addictive and can be done in a large variety of watery environments – from your local swimming pool to one of the many amazing dive sites around the UK and beyond.

Snorkelling is underwater swimming using a mask, snorkel and fins. It’s open to Scouts of all ages and is a great activity for Groups looking for something new to try. It can lead to the Water Sports Activity Badge by qualifying for the Snorkel Diver Award of the British Sub Aqua Club (BSAC). Scuba diving is a natural progression from snorkelling – swimming underwater while breathing compressed air from a cylinder, usually strapped to your back.

There are two ways to run sub-aqua for your Scouts. You could either run it as a Scouting activity (yourself or with the help of someone else in Scouting), or by using an external provider. If you want to run sub-aqua yourself, you’ll need to get the relevant activity permit – find out more at scouts.org.uk/a-z. You could also find out whether there’s any support for sub-aqua in your District – for example, there are dedicated Scout Active Support Units such as the Leicestershire Scouts Sub-Aqua Unit (LSSAU) and the SAS2 unit in Greater Manchester East. In Cheltenham, Octopus ESU is an Explorer Scout Unit dedicated to promoting scuba activities. All have a similar purpose – to provide safe, affordable sub-aqua opportunities for local Scouts. Such units may even be able to bring equipment to a pool near you.

If you choose to go through an external provider, popular external providers are BSAC – the governing body for sub-aqua activities in the UK

TRIED AND TESTED‘After my try-dive I was hooked!’Tom, 13, Scout

sub-aquaHelp your section learn to snorkel and scuba diveSuitable for all

– and PADI, the Professional Association of Diving Instructors. All external providers will need to hold either the BSAC Open Water Instructor or PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor qualifications. Local BSAC units offer taster sessions, although BSAC membership is required before they can offer further training. Alternatively, local dive schools are usually mobile and should be able to come to you. This might be the most expensive route, but you can usually negotiate a Scout discount.

For those who just want to try sub-aqua, the best introduction is to organise or book a ‘try dive’ session for snorkelling or scuba diving, which can usually be completed in a single evening. Participants gain a certificate, and the sessions are a great way to ‘test the water’ to see if it is something your Group will want to take further.

Expert view Sam Watts, LSSAU County Supporter, Leicestershire‘Once you get involved in sub-aqua there are many opportunities for progression. I first attended a “try snorkelling” session at LSSAU with 1st Lutterworth Scouts. I enjoyed it so much that I joined the unit to further my training. I’ve now almost completed my BSAC Dive Leader training and have qualified as a snorkelling instructor. You can develop at your own pace and go in your own direction.

‘In recent years we’ve seen an increase in the number of Scouts coming through the unit. LSSAU also takes part in the annual County Scouts “Splash Camp”, which gives them a taste of what we offer. Over the weekend around 120 Scouts try snorkelling or scuba taster sessions.

What will Scouts learn? Both snorkelling and scuba diving o!er great opportunities for skills development, adventure and discovery. They also promote communication using non-verbal methods, as speech is rather di"cult underwater – which promotes self-confidence and leadership skills.


Using your local pool is a great way to learn to snorkel, all year round

Scuba diving takes sub-aqua adventures to the next level

There are safe dive sites all around the UK where Scouts can explore underwater

Explore…

‘Both snorkelling and scuba diving are great ways to get out and see new places. LSSAU members can often be found shooting off to parts of the UK coast to explore one of the many amazing dive sites in our waters, from impressive sunken warships off the south coast to the magnificent natural reefs around Scotland. Trips away are more accessible than you might think. In the past we’ve taken Scouts snorkelling on the south coast. By using the unit’s boats and organising accommodation in a local Scout hut, the costs were kept to a minimum, while giving Scouts the opportunity to safely explore open water. Should cost be an issue there are organisations that can provide support for equipment and courses. Both of LSSAU’s boats, Fox and Vixen, were bought with financial support from charitable organisations. They get us to and from dive sites and also provide safety cover when we’re in the water. They are great fun to travel in too.

‘In my experience the vast majority of Scouts who try sub-aqua absolutely love it. Telling them we’ve run out of time at the end of a session is met with a chorus of groans!’

The Scout Association is continually developing its water activities scheme and works closely with the BSAC to ensure that sub-aqua is more accessible than ever.


More infoFor more information on running sub-aqua activities in Scouting, visit scouts.org.uk/a-z. You’ll find more information about the BSAC at www.BSAC.com and PADI at www.PADI.com.

What can Scouts earn?Sub-aqua is part of the badge requirements for the Water Sports Activity Badge, which can also lead to a range of BSAC nationally recognised qualifications.

sub-aqua

Sub-aqua is very popular with young people – and costs can be minimised

Get Active! October/November 2013

Documents

water theme

theme of water

importance of water

clean water

water hygiene

water activities

camps water supply safe

scouting programme