The average child who enters camp does not know how to swim and knows
less about boating. What is more, it is probably the only place for many
to learn to do these things. Taking a dip for the sake of having a good
time, splashing in the water, and so forth, is one thing, but to really
learn to swim, to dive, to throw a life line, to rescue, to resuscitate,
is quite a different matter. These things must be learned, for as a
matter of fact, human beings do none of them naturally.
When possible a crib for beginners is a very desirable thing to have.
(p. 69.) Unless there is a safe beach or shallow water and a good bottom
there is more or less danger attending the teaching of swimming to a
group of children even though the group be small. With the crib, for use
especially in deep lakes and ponds, this danger is practically overcome,
and in consequence much anxiety on the part of those in charge of the
camp eliminated. The child seems to fear less, therefore learns to swim
sooner. A crib 20 x 85 feet is large enough for a group of twenty
children (Cut H.) It is built partially on land by the water's edge, is
made of logs and planks and pulled into the water over logs used as
rollers. A floor is made of 6 inch planks placed half an inch apart and
nailed on to a rectangular frame work of logs with lengthwise supports
under the planks. Uprights of logs are placed at intervals along the
sides and ends and at the corners. Two and a half feet from either end a
second row of uprights is placed. The sides and inner ends are built up
to a height of 5 feet, the outer ends to 3 feet. The crib is pulled into
the water and towed to its position by a pier or wharf. It is sunk with
stones between the double ends until the floor is 3-1/2 feet below the
surface of the water at the pier end, and 4 feet below the surface at
the other end. It is held in position by being fastened to piles placed
at intervals around the edge. Steps lead down into the crib either from
the end of a pier, or from a wharf. As soon as a child can swim three
times around the crib without touching her foot to the bottom of the
crib or her hands to the sides, and can demonstrate three strokes, she
should be allowed to go into deep water, but should be carefully watched
for a while.
[Illustration: "EATS"]
Land drill preceding the swimming lesson is very helpful. An expert
person should be made responsible for not more than twenty girls at one
time unless the girls are competent swimmers, and no one should be
allowed to interfere with the rules and regulations laid down by the
person in charge. Absolute obedience to all signals, rules and
regulations must be observed. An assistant counsellor should always be
in attendance at swimming lessons.
[Illustration: H. Swimming Crib as it would appear out of water. The
crib is 35' by 20', outside dimensions, with end pockets for stones,
2-1/2' each, leaving a swimming space of 30' by 20'. The idea for this
was planned and executed by the Engineers of the Park Commission of the
N.Y. and N.J. Interstate Park, for use in the camps in the Palisades
Park.]
Deep water swimmers should be able to pass the following requirements:
demonstrate three different strokes, breast, overarm and back stroke.
Swim under water. Demonstrate resuscitation. Throw a life-line
twenty-five feet for accuracy. Demonstrate diving, shallow, deep and
fancy diving. Rescue a drowning person twenty-five feet away from a
raft. Swim 50 yards with clothes on.
It is always advisable during a swimming period to have a boat well
manned near at hand. Bathing in fresh water, especially in spring-fed
lakes is not as exhilarating as salt water bathing, and twenty minutes
is considered the longest time a girl should stay in fresh water. Great
care should be taken that no child is allowed to get chilled. At the
first sign of pinchedness, shivering, or blue lips the child should be
called out of the water, and instructed to rub herself briskly and dress
at once.
[Illustration: THE MORNING AFTER]
Bathers should always be counted immediately before going into the
water, and immediately after being called out. It is well to have
assembly and roll call for this.