Meeting plan

Lion / Time to Swim

Time to Swim Den Meeting Plan

Time to Swim has five requirements: learn swimming-safety rules, demonstrate proper entry, be active in suitable water for 20 minutes with an adult-partner buddy, put the face in water and blow bubbles, and demonstrate proper exit. This plan is conditional on a qualified swimming facility and supervision meeting current official requirements. The meeting pla.

Supported requirements

1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Adventure: Time to Swim
Rank: Lion (kindergarten)
Status: Elective
Selected activities: Learn swimming-safety rules; practice proper entry; complete 20 active minutes in suitable water with adult-partner buddy; practice face-in-water bubbles; demonstrate proper exit
Suggested meeting duration: 60 minutes at an approved swimming facility, only after all current safety prerequisites are confirmed
Estimated leader preparation: 2-4 hours for confirming facility access, current Safe Swim Defense requirements, qualified supervision, participant needs and records, buddy equipment, changing arrangements, and family communication; allow 15-30 minutes for arrival, changing, and cleanup separately. Assumes up to six Scouts with adult partners. Facility and staffing coordination make preparation High.

About this adventure

Time to Swim has five requirements: learn swimming-safety rules, demonstrate proper entry, be active in suitable water for 20 minutes with an adult-partner buddy, put the face in water and blow bubbles, and demonstrate proper exit. This plan is conditional on a qualified swimming facility and supervision meeting current official requirements. The meeting plan does not replace facility rules or current Safe Swim Defense. See the adventure page for approved plans and handouts..

Safety and respect

• Do not run this meeting unless the facility, qualified supervision, Safe Swim Defense roles, buddy system, participant records, and current requirements are confirmed with the official guide and facility.
• Follow current Safe Swim Defense, facility rules, buddy tags and board procedures, qualified supervision, and any current rescuer requirements. Do not use ratios or role assignments copied from an older plan.
• Match water depth to each Scout’s ability. No diving, breath-holding contests, forced submersion, or pressure to put the face in water.
• Keep adult partners and buddies together as required by the facility plan. Provide private, accessible changing arrangements and a non-punitive way to pause or exit.
• Stop activity immediately if supervision, weather, water conditions, facility rules, or a participant’s comfort makes it unsafe.

Meeting preparation

Overall preparation effort: High because the adventure requires a suitable facility, qualified adult supervision, current water-safety procedures, health and buddy coordination, equipment, and individual ability planning. This is not a suitable do-it-yourself pool session.

• Review the current Time to Swim guide and applicable Safe Swim Defense guidance before booking.
• Confirm the facility is appropriate and available; verify its rules, qualified supervision, required staffing and rescuer coverage, buddy system, records, and emergency procedures with the responsible aquatics leader.
• Obtain participant information and permission through the approved process. Confirm water depth and access for each Scout without recording personal health details in this plan.
• Arrange buddy tags and board and all other required equipment. Tell families the activity is conditional and may be rescheduled if prerequisites are not met.
• Prepare a dry-land demonstration of safe entry and exit only if the qualified aquatics leader approves it.

Supplies

• Facility-approved swimwear and personal items, as communicated to families
• Buddy tags and board and other required equipment supplied or confirmed by the facility/aquatics leader
• Whistles and safety equipment as required by current official guidance
• No improvised flotation devices or unapproved pool equipment

Pre and post meeting activities for scouts

Before

Attend only after the leader confirms the session is approved and safe. Families follow the facility’s swimwear and access requirements and communicate privately through the approved process about participation needs.

After

If all five requirements are completed, no further activity is needed. If a Scout does not complete a step, especially the 20 active minutes or face-in-water bubbles, the leader records it as incomplete and arranges an appropriate future opportunity with qualified supervision. Use the parent handout only for unfinished steps.

Completion checklist

• Requirement 1: Scout learned the swimming-safety rules.
• Requirement 2: Scout demonstrated proper entry into the swimming area.
• Requirement 3: Scout completed 20 minutes of active participation in suitable water with an adult-partner buddy. Explanations, waiting, and rest breaks do not count as active time.
• Requirement 4: Scout put their face in the water and blew bubbles. Do not force this step; if the Scout is not ready, leave it incomplete.
• Requirement 5: Scout demonstrated proper exit from the swimming area and followed the required buddy-board procedure.

Sample Agenda

Leader notes and talking points

Facility check-in and safety briefing (0:00-0:10)

• Set up: The qualified aquatics leader controls check-in and confirms current safety procedures before anyone enters the water.
• Say: “Stay with your adult partner and buddy group, follow the aquatics leader, and stop when asked.”
• Ask: “Who do you stay with in the swimming area?”
• Do: Check buddy tags, boundaries, facility rules, and qualified coverage. Do not begin if any prerequisite is unresolved.

Proper entry demonstration (0:10-0:15)

• Say: “Watch the aquatics leader show the approved way to enter. Wait for your turn.”
• Do: Follow the facility’s procedure. Let each Scout demonstrate the proper entry with their adult-partner buddy under supervision.
• Ask: “Are you ready to enter, or do you need help?”
• Check: Do not push, pull, or rush a Scout into water.

Supervised water activity (0:15-0:40)

• Do: Ensure each Scout accumulates at least 20 minutes of actual active participation in suitable water; pauses and waiting do not count. The qualified leader chooses safe activities appropriate to each Scout’s ability.
• Say: “Move in the water in a way that feels comfortable, and stay with your buddy.”
• For bubbles: Invite the Scout to put their face in the water and blow bubbles when ready. Demonstrate only as permitted by the aquatics leader; no forced submersion or breath-holding.
• Check: Track active minutes individually. If a Scout pauses or exits, allow it and record only the time completed.

Proper exit (0:40-0:45)

• Say: “We leave the water only when the aquatics leader says and we follow the buddy-board steps.”
• Do: Use the facility’s designated exit and clear the buddy board as directed.
• Check: Each Scout demonstrates proper exit; do not skip the buddy procedure.

Dry, change, and check in (0:45-0:55)

• Do: Use private, accessible changing arrangements. Count participants and follow the facility’s post-swim procedure.
• Ask privately: “Do you need anything before we leave?”
• Safety: Maintain supervision through transition and departure.

Closing and completion check (0:55-1:00)

• Do: Thank the aquatics team and adult partners, close briefly, and check each requirement against observed actions.
• Say: “You can stop or ask for help whenever you need to.”
• Check: Use the conditional parent handout only where a requirement remains incomplete; arrange future practice only with qualified supervision.