Jet Skiing in Scouting

fred.meijering

In Progress

Recently the Innovation and Strategy Group conducted a survey to determine the level of interest in various high adventure activities. The survey was nationwide in scope and the respondents were 50.3% male and 49.7% female. Those responding to the survey were between the ages of 7 and 19 and lived, in almost equal parts, in each of the regions of the country. The question before them was what activities do you like or would you like to participate in?

Four of the top choices by youth on this survey are currently on the list of unauthorized activities in the, “Guide to Safe Scouting”. Each of these four choices is being vetted independently on the Innovation Engine to see what you think about each idea separately.

This idea is to explore the possibility of Jet Skiing as a sanctioned activity. If accepted, would this idea help attract and retain youth in the program?

Idea # 357Other

Moderator Comments

1/5/2010
From: Merril Davis, Innovation Coordinator

Council proposals to develop pilot programs for 2010 have been received and are currently under review by a cross functional team comprised of Council Solutions, Outdoor Programs, Health & Safety, Risk Management and Innovation.

The possibilty of including Jet Skis (Personal Watercraft) as a sanctioned activity has been reviewed by a cross functional team including; Council Solutions, Outdoor Program, Risk Management, Health & Safety and Innovation. The team has agreed to pilot Personal Watercraft on a limited basis to fully assess the potential risk and benefits of adding this activity as a BSA program. The Blue Ridge Mountains Council in Roanoke, VA were granted approval to pilot a Personal Watercraft program during the summer of 2009. Results are currently being assessed. Additionally, councils across the country are currently in the process of developing and submitting detailed proposals to the National Council for the opportunity to pilot this activity during the summer of 2010. Please direct further questions to Merril Davis of the Innovation Team.

Comments

pcowan 1 year ago

As much as I know kids enjoy dangerous activities "for the thrill", consider the difficulty of getting to a youth who is far from shore who has a mishap. She/he could too easily drown even with a PFD if knocked unconscious if help cannot get to him or her quickly enough.

sjnelson 1 year ago

Kids are doing high adventure activites with or without Boy Scouts! Why not give them a safe environmnet to actually learn how to jet ski, paint ball, ATV, etc. Or we could wrap them in bubble wrap and set them on the couch in front of the TV and watch them morph into lifeless blobs. Or just keep on doing what we are doing now and watch our retention numbers continue to decline...you decide.

Richard Mathews 1 year ago

I would doubt that the number of Scouts or units that would/could take advantage of this would justify the increased liability and exposure. Regardless of what waivers, indemnifications or releases that would be signed any resulting litigation would be extremely costly and the potential financial impact of even just one traumatic brain injury lawsuit could be huge. Other than the "thrill" element, I question how such an activity truly fits into the purposes, mission and the teaching of citizenship, personal fitness and/or character. Attracting youth to join and participate on a regular basis because of one or two activities is not likely, in my opinion.

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