Swim Test & Safety FAQ
Sid Richardson Scout Ranch · September 18–20, 2026 · Longhorn Council
Swim Checks at the Event
Q: Will there be swim checks at Sid Richardson Scout Ranch during the canoe race?
A: No. No on-site swim checks will be conducted. Every participant must arrive with swim check documentation already in hand.
Q: Why is the location different this year?
A: The 2026 race is at Sid Richardson Scout Ranch on Lake Bridgeport. The race name and the course distance are unchanged: roughly 6 miles, starting and finishing at the SR^2 Island.
Swim Check Requirements
Q: What swim check documentation is required for participation?
A: CRITICAL: No swim check documentation = No boat participation. You must bring the original swim check documentation for every participant. Documentation must be from calendar year 2026.
Q: What types of swim check documentation are acceptable?
A: The following are acceptable:
- Summer camp swim check documentation from 2026
- High adventure swim check documentation from 2026
- Troop-administered swim tests (see below for details)
Q: Can our troop administer swim tests ourselves?
A: Yes. Per Scouting America policy, any conscientious leader currently trained in Safe Swim Defense, who is familiar with basic swimming strokes and who understands and abides by the guidelines, can administer swim tests for the unit. Because this is a boating event where all participants wear life jackets, troop-administered swim tests are acceptable for the canoe race.
Q: Do we need a lifeguard to administer swim tests?
A: No. A lifeguard is not required. A leader with current Safe Swim Defense training who is familiar with basic swimming strokes can administer the test.
Swimmer Classification and Buddy Requirements
Q: What are the minimum swim classification requirements?
A: There are three swim classifications: Non-swimmer, Beginner and Swimmer. Every participant must have a 2026 swim classification on record. A Non-swimmer may race, but only under the boat and crew rules below.
Q: Who can operate a boat independently?
A: Operation of any boat at this event is limited to youth and adults who have completed the Scouting America swimmer classification test and are classified as Swimmers.
Q: Can Beginners and Non-swimmers participate in canoes?
A: Yes, under these rules. Every boat must carry at least one person classified as a Swimmer. If anyone in the boat is a Non-swimmer or a Beginner, at least one Swimmer in that boat must be an adult 18 or older.
Q: Are kayaks treated differently?
A: Yes. A kayak seats one person, so every kayak racer must be classified as a Swimmer. Kayak participation is also limited to ages 14 and older.
Q: Does a boat race by itself?
A: No. Every boat races as a buddy boat, paired with one other boat. Pair like with like wherever you can: two canoes, or two kayaks. A kayak can do very little for a capsized canoe, so a mixed pair is a last resort. Paired boats launch together and stay together for the whole course.
Q: I attended Worth Ranch Summer Camp. Do I still need to bring documentation?
A: Yes. Worth Ranch Summer Camp attendees must bring their own swim check documentation. Those camp records are not maintained for you.
Documentation Process
Q: When and where do I submit swim check documentation?
A: Your unit leader submits documentation to the Longhorn Council Aquatics Committee representative during administrative check-in at the Northeast Beach of the Island. Administrative check-in happens Friday evening or Saturday morning and requires one or two adults aged 21 or over.
Q: Where is race check-in on Saturday?
A: Saturday race check-in runs 7:00 AM to 10:00 AM at the Island near the canoe launch, not the Sail Base. That is where you collect Race Numbers (BIBs), wristbands, and driving directions.
Q: What happens if we forget to bring swim check documentation?
A: Participants without proper swim check documentation will not be allowed to take part in boat activities. There are no exceptions to this policy, and no one at the check-in table can waive it.
Q: Can we make roster adjustments during check-in?
A: Yes. Roster adjustments are permitted during check-in, but every new participant must still have proper 2026 swim check documentation. Final rosters are due the Thursday before the event to Hank Kirkland, Tommy Denton, and Autymn Bach.
On-Water Safety
Q: Who is watching the water during the race?
A: Event staff maintain a presence along the route and conduct safety sweeps. In addition, every unit must designate one adult as its unit sweeper, responsible for accounting for that unit's participants through the race.
Q: Where are the first aid stations?
A: First aid stations are staffed at check-in, launch, and recovery.
Q: Do life jackets have to be worn the whole time?
A: Yes. A properly fitted life jacket must be worn at all times on the water, by every person in every boat.
Q: How are participants tracked on the water?
A: Every timed participant wears an RFID Race Number (BIB), up to three per canoe and one per kayak. Race Numbers (BIBs) must be worn and visible. They serve safety tracking as well as timing, so a missing Race Number (BIB) is a safety problem, not just a scoring one.
Q: What are the course boundaries?
A: Stay between the buoys and the shoreline at all times. This is a safety rule first and a fairness rule second. A crew outside the buoys for more than 10 strokes has not completed the course as intended.
Q: What footwear is required?
A: Closed-toe footwear is required. Water shoes are acceptable; barefoot is prohibited.
Q: What are the fire rules in camp?
A: Camp and the surrounding Jack and Wise Counties are under a burn ban. Propane stove fires only. No ground fires.
Safety Training Requirements for Leaders
Q: What safety training do unit leaders need?
A: Leaders must maintain current certifications in:
- Safeguarding Youth Training (SYT)
- Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills (IOLS)
- Hazardous Weather Training (HWT)
- Wilderness First Aid (WFA) is encouraged but not required
Q: Do we need Safe Swim Defense training?
A: It is not required to attend the event, but it is required if your unit plans to administer its own swim tests.
Q: What medical paperwork is required?
A: Scouting America Medical Form Parts A and B for every participant, kept on hand and reachable all weekend.
Contact Information
Q: Who do I contact with aquatics or swim test questions?
A: Contact the Event Chair or the Program Executive. If we do not know the answer, we will get it for you.
- Thomas Denton — Event Chair — tommydenton+canoe@gmail.com
- Autymn Bach — Program Executive — autymn.bach@scouting.org
- Chad Hay — Camp Ranger
- Pat Adams — Camp Ranger
- Wendy Shaw — Longhorn Council Scout Executive
- Scout's First Hotline — (844) 726-8871
Remember: swim check documentation from calendar year 2026 is mandatory for every boat participant. No swim checks are conducted on site. Plan ahead and do not wait until the last minute.