Water Activities

	Canoeing on still water in rivers and lakes is both enjoyable and easy to do.  Canoeing activities can involve expeditions, overnight trips or just having a bit of fun on the river.  This activity is open to members of ALL ages.  Canadian canoes, kayaks, rafts and dinghies are all acceptable water craft for flat water activities. Like all water activities canoeing and rafting activities must be run under the guidelines of the NSW Water Policy.
	White Water  Canoeing, Kayaking and Rafting on moving water, rapids or runs.  This activity requires greater skill levels due to difficulty and hazards involved. White water activities are faster and more thrilling than still water canoeing and the additional work to participate is worthwhile. This activity is seasonal and dependant on river water levels.  Policy does not recommend this activity for youth members under 14 years. Typically this activity is a Venturer and Rover activity.
	Sailing is available in Scouting from single person skiffs to dinghies, catamarans, yachts and even sailboarding. Depending on the boat, the weather (and the captain) sailing can be leisurely or an exciting challenge of the elements of wind and water.  Sailing is available to all sections in the Scout movement.  Specific requirements are defined for Joey Scouts.
	Powerboating is a sport that many people do outside of Scouting whether just to go fishing in a dingy or to power up the V8 and go wakeboarding.  Many leaders and parents in the movement have appropriate equipment and skills and provided they hold a Scouting qualification they can run activities for Scouting events. Whilst licensing and insurance is covered externally to the Scout movement we do enforce Scouting qualification requirements to ensure activities are run safely.

Qualifications required

The boating qualification Levels are:

Level 1:-        Safe participation skill and knowledge of craft (n.a for Whitewater or Sea Kayaking)

Level 2:-        Competent skills in boating have been achieved by candidate. This allows them to undertake boating activities with a group of level 2 participants

Level 3:-        Advanced boating skills, some first aid knowledge and leadership skills. Able to instruct but not examine boating skills Except Level 1.

Instructor:-   able to instruct and examine boating skills

Activities can be run for unqualified novices under the control of an instructor or depending on the activity a combination of qualified participants will satisfy requirements.  For example for sailing and still water canoeing:

-      “Familiarisation” activities involving unqualified participants must be under the control of a Level 3 charge certificate with one Level 2 certificate holder for every eight participants.

-      For “Day activities” all participants should hold Level 1 Charge Certificates with one Level 2 or 3 for every four participants.

-      “Expeditions” must be under the control of a Level 3 Charge certificate holder or all participants must hold Level 2 certificates.

Power boating is an exception to these arrangements where only the operator of the watercraft must hold the qualification.

Depending on the water activity specific conditions can apply which are covered in the Water Activities policy.  Activity leaders should be familiar with the policy.

Training

Instructors can organise and support training activities on request.  In addition, the region offers training and qualification days.  Dates for courses will be published early in 2005.

Policies

To download the current Water Activities policy (dated January 2005) Click here

Forms

To download the current Water Activities qualification application, Click here

To download the current Boat Certificate from, Click here

Who can help me?

Adam Buckle	( 9589 3404	:abuckle@bigpond.com		Water Activities Chairman, Canoeing, Sailing, Power boating
Keith Holle	( 9524 9299			Canoeing, Sailing
Graeme Thomson	( 9153 6498	: gthomson@hotmail.com		White Water
Brett Von Holdt	( 9667 0447	: brett@7squares.com		White Water
Jim McGowan	( 9524 2001	: jimmcgowan@optusnet.com.au		Canoeing and White Water
John Eades	( 9541 1040			Canoeing, Sailing & Sailboarding
Parrish Hull	( 9543 3096	: parrishh@bigpond.com		Power boating
Geoff Hunter	(024 443 4526			Power boating

Other links

NSW Maritime Authority ”formerly Waterways” http://www.maritime.nsw.gov.au/index.html

National Tidal Centre http://www.ntf.flinders.edu.au/index.html

Bureau of Meteorology- NSW http://www.bom.gov.au/weather/nsw/

NSW Daily River Reports http://waterinfo.dlwc.nsw.gov.au/drr/index.html