Below are the requirements I completed for the Paddleboarding Badge. There is no official Paddleboarding Badge, so I used the requirements from the BSA Stand-Up Paddleboarding Award.
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| Paddleboarding Trip #1 – 3.5 miles. We returned to the Huntington Harbor once again and rented 2 paddleboards along with a kayak to take turns and store our stuff in. We all picked up paddleboarding pretty fast and made a nice loop!
7/7/2022 |
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| Paddleboarding Trip #2 – 1.5 miles. We rented paddleboards at the Redondo Pier, and headed out for about an hour and a half. It was tougher here than in the Huntington Harbor due to stronger waves, which tired out our legs after just an hour on the water! We paddled out and got to see some seals, then headed back to the docks.
8/4/2022 |
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| One of my Paddleboarding requirements was to demonstrate the 5 basic paddleboarding strokes and some basic skills. I completed all of them in this short video. | ||
| Paddleboarding Trip #3 – 5.5 miles. We rented kayaks and paddleboards at the Huntington Harbor with some friends, and headed out for a few hours. I chose to paddleboard throughout the trip, and had a great time with my best friend!
7/8/2023 |
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ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS COMPLETED
In addition to the above, I also researched all the following areas and then completed a verbal presentation/interview to demonstrate my knowledge and understanding for each of them:
- Explain the most likely hazards you may encounter during paddleboarding activities and how to anticipate, help prevent, mitigate, and respond to these hazards.
- Review prevention, symptoms, and first-aid treatment for the following injuries or illnesses that can occur while paddleboarding: blisters, cold-water shock and hypothermia, heat-related illnesses, dehydration, sunburn, sprains, and strains.
- Review the BSA Safety Afloat policy. Explain to your counselor how this applies to paddleboarding.
- Successfully complete the BSA Swimmer Test.
- Review the characteristics of life jackets most appropriate for paddleboarding and understand why one must always be worn while paddling. Then demonstrate how to select and fit a life jacket for paddleboarding.
- Review the importance of safety equipment such as a signal device, extra paddle, sponge, bilge pump, flotation bags, and throw bag.
- Name and point out the major parts of a paddleboard.
- Review the differences in the design between recreational, whitewater, and
sea or touring paddleboards. - Explain the care, maintenance, and storage of a paddleboard.
- How to use a paddle.
- Parts of a paddle.
- The care and maintenance of a paddle.
- In order to complete this badge, I need to paddleboard a total of 10 miles. I have now paddleboarded 3.5 miles and completed this badge zero times.