Swimming
Individual Swim Test opportunity
For Scouts needing a swim test with a certified lifeguard – check out the Zionsville Aquatic Center at Zionsville High School, 900 Mulberry Street.
Call 317-733-4808 or email lbrown@zcs.k12.in.us to schedule a time.
Cost is $10 per Scout.
Please use that same contact information to inquire about swim tests for a group of Scouts, as that would be handled with a different schedule setup.
See this Zionsville Aquatic Swim test page for more details.
Reminder: Please contact Troop 343 to participate in April 2 Swim Test!
As mentioned here last week:
Any North Star units interested in sharing the April 2, 2018 Swim Test opportunity with Troop 343 should contact Brian Crow (for confirmation or even just questions!) AS SOON AS POSSIBLE at ScouterBrianCrow@gmail.com.
The Swim Test is being held that evening at:
MSD of Pike Township Aquatics Center
5401 West 71st Street, Indianapolis, IN 46268
Time: 7:30 to 8:30 p.m.
North Star District Swim Test Sponsored by Troop 343, April 2, 2018
From Troop 343’s Brian Crow:
MSD of Pike Township Aquatics Center
5401 West 71st Street, Indianapolis, IN 46268
Time: 7:30 to 8:30 p.m.All North Star units interested in sharing this opportunity with Troop 343 should contact Brian Crow AS SOON AS POSSIBLE at ScouterBrianCrow@gmail.com.
Each unit is responsible for administering their own swim test. There will be two Red Cross certified lifeguards provided by the Aquatic Center to sign your forms once the tests are completed.
Directions: Find your way to the main high school entrance. The Aquatic Center is just to the left of the main entrance. Enter the Aquatic Center through door 11B. After entering, adults and Scouts should enter the pool deck to the left and find their unit’s designated adult organizer. Anyone not taking the test should go through the doors to the right and up the stairs to the spectator stands.
Each unit’s designated adult organizer should arrive no later than 7:15 p.m. and check in with Brian Crow. Adults and Scouts taking the swim test should arrive ready to test with their swimsuits already on. Locker rooms will not be available for our use.
The cost per unit for the use of the Aquatic Center is $30.00. Please bring CASH to cover your unit’s portion of the cost. Brian Crow will collect the monies the night of the test.
If you have any questions, please contact Mr. Crow at ScouterBrianCrow@gmail.com.
Council Program Director Lee Murdoch also reports that Del-Mi will be offering swim tests at Noblesville and Carmel High Schools:
Sunday April 15, 2018
Noblesville High School
18111 Cumberland Road
Noblesville, IN 46060
Entrance door # 7
1:00pm—6:00pm
Contact Adair Vaught at (317) 610-9724
Sunday May 20, 2018
Carmel High School
520 E. Main
Carmel, IN 46032
Entrance door # 21
1:30pm—5:00pm
Contact Reem Okar at reemokar@crossroadsbsa.org or (317) 813-7094
Be advised that the rules of operation for Del-Mi are like the rules Brian Crow described for North Star’s Swim Test.
Typically Pathfinder District runs a swim test at Southport High School but Lee does not have those dates and times yet.
Swim Test Monday
Don’t forget that Monday, April 17 is the swim test at Pike High School’s Aquatics Center.
See this article for more details and Update on North Star Swim Test.
Update on North Star Swim Test
From Swim Test Coordinator Brian Crow:
Please find see linksbelow regarding the upcoming Swim Test at the Pike Aquatic Center on Monday, April 17, 2017.To date, I have only heard from four Troops (56,69, 73, 343) and one Venture Crew (1121).And a great big “Thank You” shout out to Jerry Ritchie from Troop 343 for coordinating all of this with the Pike Aquatic Center!!Brian
Swim Tests Outside of District
If your unit is looking for swim tests outside of the April 17th North Star District Swim Test, fear not, we have you covered.
- Noblesville High School April 23, 2017 18111 Cumberland Road Noblesville, IN; 1:00pm—5:00pm
- Southport High School April 29th, 2017 971 E. Banta Indianapolis, IN
8:00am – 11:30am - Carmel High School May 21, 2017 520 E. Main Carmel, IN;
2:00pm—5:00pm
For more information, click here.
Swim Test: Summer Camp 2017
Last year Troop 343 hosted a district-wide swim test for summer camp. Troop 343’s Brian Crow has been working to repeat that process for the new year. Any troop interested in participating should read Brian’s email below:
Troop 343 has reserved the pool at Pike High School for [the evening of Monday,] April 17, 2017, for the swim test.
The facility fee is $120.00. The school is providing two certified lifeguards for safety compliance only.
Each Troop wanting to attend will need to administer their own test and must have enough adults onsite to provide adequate supervision of scout’s behavior in high school and swim tests in the pool.
We will split the facility fee equally among all Troops that attend. They will need to bring cash money on the day of the test.
More specific information about test day will be distributed in the near future.
Please have any questions forwarded to me.Thanks. …Brian
Remember that all scouts and adult leaders who wish to swim or participate in aquatic activities must participate in the swim test each year before they will be allowed to participate.
The advantage of this swim test is that the swimmer will have a controlled pool environment to take his or her test. Many scouts have never swum in muddy lake water before. We have had many competitive swimmers fail the swim test because of the shock of lake water or muddy lake bottom.
Give your scouts the ability to adapt to the lake environment gradually. If they don’t have the psychological pressure of demonstrating their swimming skills at the same time they are adapting to the environment, scouts often adapt quickly to the lake. The testing is a rough time to adapt to a new environment.
Give them their best chance for success: require all first-time summer campers to do the swim test in a pool before summer camp. Other swim tests with Del-Mi at the Carmel High School Pool and Pathfinder District at the Southport High School Pool will take place around the same time. Del-Mi’s is often the first weekend of May. More information to follow when it is available.
Last Pre-Camp Swim Test this Sunday
The last Pre-Camp Swim Test is May 22nd at Carmel High School. Information is available here.
Remember your unit is responsible for YPT compliance and record keeping. The council provides the water safety and qualified instructors to approve the swims. That means you need to have sufficient adults present.
These pre-camp swim checks are very important for many boys. Some boys are not strong swimmers. Some boys have never swum in dirty lake water before, even if they are the swim team. I have seen good swimmers and bad swimmers fail the swim test on the first Sunday of camp simply because they don’t like lake water.
By having them qualify for their swimmer rating for the year at a pre-camp swim test, you give them the opportunity to adapt to the lake water as part of their merit badge classes rather than at swim test. Less pressure. Greater likelihood of success.
Most importantly, your arrival at camp on Sunday is far less hectic. You don’t need to rush the boys down to the waterfront then back up to camp to get set up. They can focus on set up then orientation.
If you would like to run your own pre-camp swim test, visit the council summer camp website for more information. You will need to fill out the linked form and meet the Safe Swim Defense rules during your pre-camp swim check. Camp Ransburg encourages you to send your swim records in early with your health records to make sure all is in order.
Pre-Camp Swim Checks
As we start preparations for summer camp, Council and some troops are scheduling Pre-Camp Swim Checks.
Every scout and leader who wishes to swim at summer camp must pass the swim test.
Some scouts panic when they have to swim the first time in muddy lake water. This prevents many from taking the swimming merit badge because they cannot start the course until they pass the swim test.
Taking the test in a swimming pool limits the panic. It allows the scout to take more time to adapt to the lake water and improves the number scouts who can complete their swimming requirements at summer camp.
One council-provided pre-camp swim check will take place at Southport High School, 971 E Banta Ave, Indianapolis, IN, on Saturday, May 7, 2016 from 8:00 am to noon. (The link on the Council website is currently broken. It loops back to the calendar page.) Follow this link to see the event in context.
[ADDED: 5/4/16, 12:00 pm] A second council-provided pre-camp swim check will take place at Carmel High School, 520 E Main St, Carmel, IN 46032, on Sunday, May 22, 2016 from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm.
Please remember that these are “unit activities.” Your unit must provide the YPT compliance and record keeping. The council provides the facility and aquatics staff to comply with the camp guidelines.
A troop can run its own swim check if it complies with the guidelines on the Ransburg website.
Summer camp swim pre-tests
On Sunday, April 26, 2015 and again on Saturday, May 2, 2015, the council is offering swim tests for summer camp.many boys look forward to being able to swim at summer camp. It is an opportunity to cool off and play with friends.
Many a Boy Scout who has not spent much time swimming in brown lake water has some fears when he goes to do his swim test on the Sunday of arrival. In fact, there are many stories about competitive swimmers who will not pass the swim test because of these fears.
These pre-tests are a great opportunity for the boys to have their swim test completed before arriving at summer camp. This allows them to adapt to the lake water on their own time and schedule. It increases the likelihood that they will get Joy went out of their swimming opportunities.
For more information, please visit the events page of this blog.
CAC North Star Unofficial Website 
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