Scout Swim Test

Posted by Uncle Dubs

My watch glows in the dark a few inches from my face and I see that the illuminated dial reads 5:45 am. Not the normal time to crawl out of your sleeping bag at summer camp, but unfortunately this morning is the swim test, first for the Scouts enrolled in Small Boat Sailing and later for the entire Troop. Nobody is happy about getting up early.

I walk noisily over to the area where Scouts are sleeping and start banging on tents to wake the boys. It takes 10 minutes of cajoling, threats, and eventually grabbing the bottoms of their sleeping bags and pulling them out of the tent cabin onto the ground before they are actually up and moving towards the waterfront. Most slept in their swim suits to save time. The sky is lightening as day breaks over the Pacific Ocean.

Emerald Bay

Leaving the boys in line for their swim test and head over to the Dining Hall for a cup of bad coffee. I return just in time to watch our Scouts jump off the docks into the bay. They have to swim four laps between the buoys and then head out into the Harbor and pull themselves from the water into a small boat, which is a specific requirement for their merit badge. They are finished in 30 minutes and we hike to the camp to collect the rest of the Troop for testing while our merit badge swimmers head over to the bathrooms for a hot shower.

Swim tests at summer camp are never fun. There is lots of standing around, shivering in the cold morning air, wearing only swim suits, arms crossed for warmth, waiting your turn to jump into the icy water to swim four laps of the required strokes. Successful completion of the swim test earns your participation in all the water sports the camp has to offer, usually the funest activities in camp. Failure means spending the week making belts and baskets, doing nature study, and going on small hikes.

Camp Emerald Bay has conducted swim tests for 85 years and is especially proficient. Being on the ocean allows them to set up two testing areas and process the swimmers twice as quickly. When our turn comes, we march to the end of the dock, turn to face the water, and wait for the order to jump. It comes almost immediately, and most of us force ourselves to take those two small steps and fling ourselves into the icy water. Even though we know it is coming, the cold is a shock to our bodies and our spirits. The Pacific Ocean off Emerald Bay is cold. Not the body numbing, gut wrenching, near frozen water of Oljato and Wolfeboro that makes breathing difficult and puts survival at risk, but cold enough to take your breath away and make you wonder why you are doing this.

Once in the water, swimmers struggle to regain their bearings while fighting the hypothermia that is attacking every inch of their skin, from the top of the head (which has to be under water to pass the test) to their shivering feet and toes. We glance back to see the few who did not jump, their heads bowed, being escorted off the dock by the waterfront counselors, their week at camp now restricted to the shore. There is no time for pity.

The initial shock fades quickly and I start kicking and moving my arms in a rudimentary crawl. Experience tells me that I will feel better in a few minutes and the faster I move, the sooner my senses will return. Making the second turn, we hear the Life Guard talking about leopard sharks in the swim area. They are pointing to the wharf on the other side of the buoy. I swim faster, expecting a signal for swimmers to get out of the water until the sharks leave the area. No signal is given. Apparently leopard sharks are rarely aggressive and the staff thinks its fantastic that they have been sighted under the Scouts. Those of us in the water do not share their enthusiasm.

Swim test at Emerald Bay

Soon enough, its over and I pull myself out of the water and sit on the dock catching my breath, watching goose bumps form on my stomach and arms. I grab my towel and head over to the buddy board to fill out my tag – blue and red means swimmer and (almost) unrestricted access to the waterfront and all the equipment (sailboats, kayaks, canoes, and row boats). I turn around and notice two other adults from our Troop lying on the dock, gasping like fish out of water, unable to rise to their feet because they are completely exhausted.

One is moaning softly and shaking his head. He had tried to quit, but the Lifeguard poked him with a long metal pole and told him to keep swimming. They both had passed the swim test somehow, but it took every ounce of strength they could muster. For them, the swim is the highlight of their week and for the next two days, they talk about the enormity of their ordeal and their near-death experience in the cold, unforgiving waters of the Pacific Ocean. (Mentioned as reasons for their difficulty swimming 100 yards: strong currents, wind, rogue waves, stomach cramps, killer whales, and global warming.) Maybe they had just forgoteen the part about “physically strong” and staying in shape.

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Emerald Bay Scout Camp

Posted by Uncle Dubs

Rising late to catch the 12:00 ferry, we catch a quick breakfast at McDonald’s and talk about our summer camp plans for the week. Emerald Bay is widely considered one of the premier camps in California and is a favorite of several local Troops. This is our first visit and only the Venture Crew is invited.

A short drive to the San Pedro Terminal, and we join a line of more than 450 Scouts in uniform, snaking around the building, waiting to board the ferry. The group moves forward slowly. We feel like refuges, pushing our duffel bags in front of us, pulling our backpacks, and trying to keep track of lunches, water bottles, hats, and sleeping pads as we move across the terminal and eventually onto the ship. Finally the gang blanks are raised and engines start to vibrate as the ship eases out into the channel for our one-hour passage to Emerald Bay, near Two Harbors on the island of Catalina.

The captain makes the obligatory safety announcement, but warns us that the ship will soon be picking up speed and all unsecured items, especially hats, will be blown overboard. Walking past our group, I remind them to protect their headgear, especially Bologna, who is wearing an oversize hat to protect his freckled skin from the sun. He is on his way up the stairs to the top deck to catch the view. Five minutes later, we see the first hat sail off the upper deck, and to a man, we know that Bologna is not happy! Despite several dire warnings from “more experienced” travelers, none of our Scouts has gotten sea sick, not even close.

Our arrival at Emerald Bay is uneventful, aided by an experienced and friendly staff of 120, a huge number by Boy Scout standards. The harbor is small, but the beach is large and filled with boats, canoes, scuba and snorkeling gear, and other waterfront equipment for fun and advancement. Our packs and duffel bags are efficiently passed hand-to-hand over to a silver barge, and then floated to the dock where everything is sorted and eventually delivered to poles bearing our Troop number, scattered around the parade grounds. Troop leaders are led off to be oriented, and we learn about the camp AND the areas that have the best cell phone coverage, internet access at the “Helm,” recharging outlets in lockers, and other modern conveniences. Very nice (for some).

Eventually, in the late afternoon, we are reunited with our Troop, who were waiting patiently in the sun near our gear. Then everyone is marched by our assigned Ranger (Zen) to our assigned campsite: Oceanside. He remind us that evening Flags are at 6:00 pm, Dinner is at 6:30, and the opening campfire starts at 8:30. We are the farthest campsite from the Dining Hall, which means miles of walking, but we are close to the showers, Nature and other merit badges. Scouts scramble to claim the best tent cabins, and in this case the cleanest mattresses. The whirlwind that is Scout summer camp is just beginning.

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Shark or Scout?

Posted by DubZero

“How can we go paddle boarding if no one has a board?” asks the Senior Patrol Leader, “and where would we go?” Almost in unison, they boys pull out their iPhones and began searching for lessons and board rentals. In only a matter of seconds, they turn up several surf schools on the coast and with a few more clicks they have pricing and schedules. The webcam on the beach gives everyone a good idea of what to expect, so a vote is taken and a paddle board outing is added to the Troop calendar.

Get out of the water, I saw a shark!

On the day of the outing, the vans are loaded and headed to the ocean. There isn’t a lot of equipment, only towels, lunches, sunscreen and bottled water. The day is cloudy and overcast, so most of the boys are shivering when we get out of the cars. One Scout brings his wetsuit because he heard the water might be cold, something the other Scouts have forgotten.

Upon our arrival, a cheerful instructor takes our money and organizes everyone into classes. Despite some brief discussion about surfing, most have opted for paddle boarding or kayaking. The safety talk is delivered with enthusiasm (stay away from sharks and wear your PFD if you get into a kayak) and the basics of boarding are reviewed. Mostly, the boys stand on their surf boards in the sand to get used to the feel. Waving their paddles back and forth, they gamely imitate strokes that will be useful once they are in the water.

Surfing may be more fun than Boarding

Eventually the Scouts grab their equipment and head for the surf. The wade in up to their ankles and turn around quickly. “What’s wrong?” I ask. The water is too cold. They want to go back and sit by the equipment rental center until the sun comes out. Not so fast and I grab the closest Scout and run him into the surf. The others scatter like small birds before I can get to them. It takes the instructor 20 minutes to get everyone lined up again. She glares at me almost the whole time.

Standing on a Board takes strength and coordination

The group makes a lot of noise as they reluctantly move into the water with their boards. They are supposed to get go out a few yards and then stand on their boards to work on their balance. Wind surfers and kite boarders are already out in the water. Unlike our Scouts, they are moving with grace and seem to know what they are doing. It’s exciting to watch them skittering across the waves.

Its way easier to kneel than stand.

Eventually, some of the more coordinated Scouts manage to stand up on their boards for a few seconds before falling sideways. Most just straddle the boards and with their feet firmly on the sand in the shallow water. When the instructor gives up and ends the lessons, the boys jump into the ocean and start pushing their boards around in the small waves. This gives way to a battle, and everyone tries to climb onto the same board. One Scout dives under the water and tries to topple everyone from below. He manages to knock several of his Patrol into the water before being beaten back with the long paddles, then retreats with his hand in the air over his shoulder, mimicking a shark as he swims away.

How many Scouts can sit on a surf board?

The next two hours are tranquil as the boys paddle around on their boards and the adults sit on the sand or venture out on kayaks. The outing is not cheap (budget more than $100 for lessons and equipment rental) but the ocean is a nice change from hiking and cycling. Plus, paddle boarding is great for core body strength, which comes in handy on a backpacking trip.

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