District Cub Boating Day

General information

The Cub Boating Day gives every participant the opportunity to try out two different water activities.

Participation goes towards the following staged badges:

• Time on the Water, +2 sessions

• Paddle Sports (stage 1), sections 3, 4 and 5

• Nautical Skills (stages 1 and 2), section 1

Leaders may also decide to count participation in this event towards other badges such as the Adventure Challenge.

If you with to complete the Paddle Sports stage 1 and Nautical Skills stage 2 badges with your Cubs you can download the booklet and suggested answers form the bottom of this page put together by 33rd Oxford Jacala Cubs; completion of everything in this booklet, together with attendance at the District Boating Day (or a similar taster session) covers all requirements for these badges.

How many?

We are limited to a total of 100 Cubs, 50 in the morning and 50 in the afternoon. This is a very popular event and no matter how we allocate spaces someone always ends up disappointed, but we are trying to take as fair an approach as possible.

How do we book?

Due to the popularity of this event, numbers for all Packs will initially be limited to a maximum of 10 Cubs per Pack, and priority will be given to Packs who did not attend last year.  Remaining spaces will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.  You can respond immediately, and we will add you to the reserve list in the order in which you respond.

Parents must sign up with their Pack and declare if their Cub is a swimmer or non-swimmer; swimmers must be able to swim 50m in light clothing (e.g. t-shirt and shorts), any Cub not able to do this is classed as a non-swimmer.

All bookings must be made by Leaders using the booking form by 1st May after which confirmation of spaces will then be sent to successful Packs.  If any spaces remain after 1st May, these will be made available to Packs which already have 10 spaces secured.

How do we pay?

Please note that parents must submit payment for the event to their Pack according to the instructions from their Leaders.  Payment covers the costs of boat fuel and electricity at the base, a donation to those who assist and refreshments for the Cubs.

Leaders: payment must be made online in advance of the event; details will be sent to Packs for whom we can confirm places.  Please do not submit any payment until places have been confirmed.

*Note: if you book a space which is later confirmed you will be required to pay the full cost of the place unless you cancel no later than 1st June (so we have time to fill it) or we manage to fill it despite a later cancellation.

Adult help needed

The more qualified adults we have on the water, the more Cubs  we can have out and having fun.  If anyone is/knows someone who is water qualified for Scouting purposes please ask them to contact the District Cub Advisors (cubs@oxfordspires.org.uk) to offer their assistance!

We also need adults on the bank to help Cubs get ready / generally be available to assist.  Each attending Pack must also have at least one adult with them to be responsible for their Cubs on the day; they will need to hold emergency contact details for their participants and remain on the bank to supervise any Cubs who come off the water.

Information for Leaders

When collecting permission forms or consent through Online Scout Manager for this activity, please ensure that you ask whether your Cubs are able to swim and ensure that we are made aware of any non-swimmers as early as possible BEFORE the event.  Swimmers must be able to swim 50m in light clothing (e.g. t-shirt and shorts), any Cub not able to do this is classed as a non-swimmer.  Non-swimmers will likely still be able to participate fully but they require one-to-one supervision by a competent adult, which impacts the ratios of Cubs to instructors on the water, and we may need additional adults to go on the water to help supervise.  Leaders MUST contact cubs@oxfordspires.org.uk regarding any non-swimmers once places have been confirmed so arrangements for supervision can be made in advance of the event.  If there are too many non-swimmers at the event, undeclared non-swimmers may be denied access to the water due to a lack of sufficient experienced adult supervision.

**Note: If any Leader or Cub who wishes to attend is unable to walk from the car park to the boat base we are able to make special arrangements for parking which is located just on the other side of the lock (it will still be necessary to cross the lock and walk along the footpath to the boat base).

Completion of everything in the booklet, together with attendance at the District Boating Day (or a similar taster session) covers all requirements for the Paddle Sports stage 1 and Nautical Skills stage 2 badges.

The booklet and answer booklet were put together by 33rd Oxford Jacala Cubs.

If you have any questions please contact cubs@oxfordspires.org.uk.