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Cub Scout Aquatics: Tubing

SUMMARY

Youth and adults love playing in and on water, especially on a warm summer day.  Using an inner tube to float on a gently flowing river or creek has led to the popular pastime of tubing on a river. It started with using a car inner tube and now manufacturers make rubber and vinyl tubes specially designed to float on a river. Before participating in this activity with your Cub Scouts, consider the following safety requirements.

 

GENERAL INFORMATION

Cub Scout tubing is listed on the “Age-Appropriate Guidelines for Scouting Activities” that is f part of the Guide to Safe Scouting. This helpful chart illustrates that within Cub Scouting programs tubing is permitted for Wolf, Bear, and Webelos and AOL Scouts. (Note Scouts BSA, Venturing and Sea Scouting youth can also participate). 

In Scouting, tubing is defined as “floating on gently flowing water”. In Cub Scouting, flowing water cannot include Class 1 or above (Whitewater).  Tubbing is not a towed sport. This means that the tube cannot be pulled by any mechanical means. 

Tubing on gently flowing water falls under the Safety Afloat Policies. 

Consider the following Cub Scout Aquatics Safety Points: 

  • Use the SAFE checklist and perform an assessment of your planned activity.  
  • All Adults and Scouts are required to wear a properly fitted, United States Coast Guard approved life jacket. 
  • Use the buddy system. 
  • Natural bodies of water are not without hazards. Ask local guides or tube rental companies for information on the local waters. Ensure that water meets the definition of gently flowing during the timeframe you will be tubing.  
  • Safe Swim Defense policies must be in place for any swimming activities.  
  • Safety Afloat policy is for boating activities. 
  • The “Age-Appropriate Guidelines for Scouting Activities” chart shows appropriate ages for all activities. 
  • Adults are required to be current with the Safety Afloat Training, with a ratio of 1:5. 
  • More advanced training is available. See Aquatics Supervision- Paddle Craft Safety. 
  • Wear Secure closed toe water shoes. Protect your feet from sharp objects.  
  • Protect yourself from the sun. Use Sunscreen, hats, sunglasses, swim shirts. 
  • Bring and drink plenty of water. Stay Hydrated. 
  • Monitor the weather. Hazardous Weather Training is highly recommended.
  • Participants should be able to easily regain and maintain their footing in gently flowing currents.   

 

RESOURCES 

Bray Barnes

Director, Global Security Innovative
Strategies

Bray Barnes is a recipient of the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award, Silver
Beaver, Silver Antelope, Silver Buffalo, and Learning for Life Distinguished
Service Award. He received the Messengers of Peace Hero award from
the royal family of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and he’s a life member of
the 101st Airborne Association and Vietnam Veterans Association. Barnes
serves as a senior fellow for the Global Federation of Competitiveness
Councils, a nonpartisan network of corporate CEOs, university presidents, and
national laboratory directors. He has also served as a senior executive for the
U.S. Department of Homeland Security, leading the first-responder program
and has two U.S. presidential appointments

David Alexander

Managing Member Calje

David Alexander is a Baden-Powell Fellow, Summit Bechtel Reserve philanthropist, and recipient of the Silver Buffalo and Distinguished Eagle Scout Award. He is the founder of Caljet, one of the largest independent motor fuels terminals in the U.S. He has served the Arizona Petroleum Marketers Association, Teen Lifeline, and American Heart Association. A triathlete who has completed hundreds of races, Alexander has also mentored the women’s triathlon team at Arizona State University.

Glenn Adams

President, CEO & Managing Director
Stonetex Oil Corp.

Glenn Adams is a recipient of the Silver Beaver, Silver Antelope, Silver Buffalo, and Distinguished Eagle Scout Award. He is the former president of the National Eagle Scout Association and established the Glenn A. and Melinda W. Adams National Eagle Scout Service Project of the Year Award. He has more than 40 years of experience in the oil, gas, and energy fields, including serving as a president, owner, and CEO. Adams has also received multiple service awards from the Texas Alliance of Energy Producers.