The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1929-06-13
Swimming FEATURE
Big PHASE Of Chan
OWAPI scout CAMP
Life Saving Emphasized While
Boys Are Trained; Boating
Is Side Activity

~ cSSNNo Va SN AtA
Mandan and the surrounding COM
munity are looking forward to the
time when they will be on their way
to Camp Chan Owapi. When the
scouts who attended camp last year
were asked the question. what do
you like best in Campo" the answer
was almost to a scout, 1.-The eats!
And what next? THE swims"!
The waterfront program Is the
most interesting and helpful feature
of the scout camp program. Last year
in scout camps more than 10000 boys
were taught to swim. This year 1t Is
expected that the number will be ex-
ceeded.
The waterfront program at Camp
Chan Owapi will be in charge of w.
G. Fulton, the camp director. who is
a certified Red Cross life saving in
structor and examiner and has had
several years experience in teaching
swimming and life saving. He will be
assisted by A. G. Van Wyk, who is an
excellent swimmer. Life Guards Bud
Munger and Lloyd Murphy will be
on the job every minute during the
swimming periods.
Swimming Program
The swimming program Is divided
into three groups. The morning pc
Rod is taken up strictly with irstruc-
ton. All the campers are divided in
to four classes, sinkers, beginners,
swimmers and advanced swimmers.
Each one Of these groups is given in
struction in the various tests outlined
by the American Red Cross. These
instruction periods deal with learn
ing to breathe correctly. kick correct
ly and swim correctly, different kinds
of strokes, life saving and like attain
ments. Every scout is given an OPP
portunity to advance as far as he
possibly car in the swimming pro-
gram.
The afternoon period is one for
fun. Each of the various groups is
separated in the fun program. the
sinkers splash, the beginners paddle,
and the swimmers dive and play wa
ter games of all kinds.
Any scout is allowed to take a
morning dip, but this swim is not
compulsory. An evening swim is Oft
en- held. Two u more organized
swim periods are held every camp
period for life saving drill and re-
suscitation.
Swim on Buddy System
The waterfront program is n to
insure the perfect confidence of all
parents and persons interested in the
camp and it's boys. The buddy sys-
tenn is used and is very strictly ad-
hered to. In the first place, SWIM
ming is allowed only at regular stated
periods. At these periods. the boys
pair up in buddies and enter the wa
ter together and stay within ten feet
Of each other. Every five minutes or
less, the chief life guard blows his
whistle and Immediately all buddies
pair up holding their joined hands In
the air. The life guard can then in
stantly tell If any scout is. missing. II
all groups are paired then swimming
continues. If, however, one scout has
lost his buddy and all the scouts come
quickly to shore and join hands max
ing q chain. This chain moves out
over the swimming area and could
find very quickly q submerged body.
Upon reaching a greater depth, the
swimmers dive into the water and
continue the search. This drill is
practiced daily and those in charge
of the swimming program have per-
feet confidence in it.
The lost bather" usually has
sneaked out Of the water and his
buddy failed to notice him gone un-
til the whistle. In the experience Of
the camp directors. no boy has ever
been under water at any time or has
been missing but in cas- anything
should happen to a bather, this sys.
tenn would insure the immediate
knowledge Of his disappearance anc
the quick finding of the bather.
All scouts are required to know how
to properly administer artificial res
piration. All Of these elements and
more make the waterfront "as safe
as a bath tub and probably more
A life boat patrols the swimming ares
during swimming A. periods. A life
buoy Is at hand for instant Isl Thu