The Aquatics Program at Camp Avondale provides knowledge and excitement for all levels of swimmers and boaters. Safety on the water is extremely important to our staff as all Lifeguards are BSA Lifeguard Trained and Red Cross CPR Trained.

Merit Badge courses offered in the areas of Swimming

• LIFESAVING
• SWIMMING

Merit Badge courses offered in the areas of Boating

• CANOEING
• ROWING
• MOTOR BOATING

Other areas of instruction by the Aquatics Staff

NON-SWIMMER – BEGINNER – SWIMMER – BSA LIFEGUARD

SAFE SWIM DEFENSE SAFETY AFLOAT

All applicants must be 15 years old to participate in BSA Lifeguard!!!!

BSA Lifeguard

All participants of the BSA Lifeguard program at Camp Avondale Summer Camp 2010 need to be ready to swim and have fun. To be trained as a BSA Lifeguard, you must successfully complete the BSA Lifeguard course and demonstrate the ability to perform each of the skills taught in the course. First, all participants must complete all of the prerequisites below.

1^st The Prerequisites:

1. Submit proof of age. You must be at least 15 years old to participate.

2. Submit written evidence of fitness for swimming activities (signed health history).

3. Swim continuously for 550 yards, including at least 100 yards each of the following strokes in good form: front crawl, breaststroke, elementary backstroke, and sidestroke.

4. Immediately following the above swim, tread water for two minutes.

5. Starting in the water, swim 20 yards using a front crawl or breaststroke, surface dive 7 to 10 feet, retrieve a 10-pound object, surface, swim with the object 20 yards back to the starting point, and exit the water, all within 1 minute, 40 seconds.

Once you have completed the prerequisites you are now ready to continue with the BSA Lifeguard course.

If you are unable to complete the prerequisites, then you will not be able to continue with BSA Lifeguard course at Camp Avondale.

All participants need to bring with to camp the following items:

1. Mask and fins
2. Current CPR for the Professional Rescuer card good for one (1) year. If you don’t have it you will get it at camp. I will accept American Red Cross CPR for the Professional Rescuer and American Heart Association BLS Healthcare Provider,  both include the use of an AED.
3. Some type of slip-on closed-toed shoe for walking on the swim dock. Example, Crocs. NO SANDELS OR FLIP-FLOPS.
4. A fun attitude.