Swimming Scoutcraft Badge

The Swimming Scoutcraft Badge will guide you through safe, confident, and enjoyable swimming skills. You will develop water-confidence, practise correct strokes, understand basic water safety, and learn to handle unexpected situations with control.

Through fun, hands-on activities, you will master different strokes, practise rescues, and build real-life competence in and around water. Whether in a pool or safe open water, this badge will help you become a confident, capable, and safe swimmer, ready for adventure and aquatic challenges!

Badge Requirements

Water-Safety Awareness
Discuss the following topics with your Examiner:
1. Identify at least five potential water hazards and, for each, explain one safe action a Scout should take to prevent an accident or respond safely.
2. Describe at least five important rules for safe swimming, including both pool and open-water environments.
3. Explain how you can assist someone in trouble in the water without endangering yourself, and when it is best to call for help instead of attempting a rescue.
Rescue Awareness
1. Lifejackets Discuss with the Examiner the importance of wearing a lifejacket, explaining when it should be worn, how it helps keep you safe, and why it is essential for activities in boats, canoes, or open water.
2. Non-Entry Rescue
  - With another Scout, practise a non-entry rescue from the pool edge or shallow water (e.g. reaching with an arm, reaching with a stick or piece of clothing, pushing out a flotation aid, or throwing a buoyant object).
  - One Scout acts as the person needing help; the other performs the rescue safely and brings them to the edge.
  - Afterwards, reflect on the activity and discuss with your Examiner:
    - What worked well, and
    - What you might do differently next time.
Water-Confidence Warm-up
Spend at least two practice sessions (about 15-20 minutes each) in a swimming pool or suitable open water. During these sessions:
- Enter and exit the water safely using steps, a ladder, or a gradual entry.
- Show that you are comfortable in deeper water by voluntarily entering the deep end, submerging your nose and mouth, and resurfacing calmly.
- Float on your front and back for thirty seconds each without assistance.
- While in the water, demonstrate how to move into a safe position (e.g. floating or holding onto a lane rope) and signal for help using your voice or hand.
Basic Stroke Mastery
1. Swim 50 metres continuously using any crawl stroke.
2. Swim 50 metres using a breaststroke or backstroke.
3. Swim 50 metres using any stroke of your choice.
  - Total distance: 150 metres without leaving the water.
  - Each swim must be completed without stopping, demonstrating correct body position, effective pulling and kicking action, good rhythm, and proper breathing control.
Clothes Swim Challenge
Demonstrate your ability to stay calm and swim safely while wearing clothing in the water. In a controlled and supervised environment:
- Wearing a shirt, shorts, and socks (minimum), swim 50 metres continuously.
- During the swim, tread water for thirty seconds to show control and confidence in the water.
- While floating with your feet off the bottom, remove the clothing and continue swimming without touching the bottom.
Diving
1. Enter the water safely using both a feet-first jump and a head-first dive from the pool edge (or a safe bank- check the depth first!).
2. Execute a controlled and streamlined dive from the side of the pool, surfacing safely and demonstrating good body position.
Underwater Swim
1. Swim underwater from one side of the pool to the other. (approximately ten metres).
2. From the water surface, dive to the bottom of the pool and recover an object using both hands. Surface safely with the object in hand and hand it to your Examiner.
  - The water depth should not exceed 2 metres.

Recommended Age Range: The Swimming Scoutcraft Badge is recommended for Scouts aged 11 to 13 years. It introduces swimming through fun, practical activities that build water-confidence, correct technique, and basic water-safety skills, preparing Scouts for more advanced aquatic challenges and the Swimmer Scout Interest Badge.

Badge Examiner: Training and examination for this badge should be conducted by a suitably qualified individual who has relevant experience or formal training in the specific field of expertise being assessed. The ideal Examiner should be a qualified and experienced adult with water-safety or swimming expertise. This could include a Scouter or a certified swim instructor. The Examiner should be familiar with safe pool and open-water practices, and capable of assessing swimming technique, rescues, and water-confidence skills in a supportive and encouraging manner.

Safe From Harm: Whilst completing the requirements for this badge, Scouts must not be placed in hazardous or dangerous situations under any circumstances. All activities must comply with SCOUTS South Africa Safe from Harm framework and be supervised by responsible adults. Participation should offer meaningful learning or service experiences while ensuring the Scout's safety and well-being at all times.

Badge Requirements in printable PDF format

Swimming Scoutcraft Badge (PDF)

Next Steps - Where This Badge Leads

Completion of this badge is required for the following Scoutcraft and/or Interest Badges:

Last Update

December 2025

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