Here’s one swimming record you could actually break

Can’t swim the 100-meter butterfly in less than 50 seconds?

That’s OK — nobody but Michael Phelps can. But I did just hear about a swimming record you and your Scouts do have a chance to break.

Register now to participate in the Guinness World Record attempt for The World’s Largest Swimming Lesson, held at pools and lakes around the world at 11 a.m. ET on Tuesday, June 18. 

Scout camps or local packs, troops, teams, and crews can register as official Host Locations for the event and then conduct the 30-minute swim lesson covering water safety and basic skills. You need to register by May 19 to participate.

The current record for largest simultaneous swimming lesson is 24,873 participants, but the event’s importance extends far beyond surpassing this number. Drowning remains the second-leading cause of accidental death for children under 14, and research proves that swimming lessons can dramatically reduce that risk.

Of course, Scout summer camps already have a strong swimming safety program that includes teaching the Eagle-required Swimming merit badge. But I’d encourage those camps operating on June 18 to include the World’s Largest Swimming Lesson in their plans.

Scout units not attending summer camp on that date could host their own lesson at a community pool or someone’s house. The cost to register a location is $42 — per location, not per individual — and includes guidebooks, the curriculum, promotional materials, participant certificates, and 25 orange World’s Largest Swimming Lesson wristbands.

A small price to pay for potentially saving a life one day.

swim-lesson


Photo from Flickr: Some rights reserved by djwtwo


About Bryan Wendell 3282 Articles
Bryan Wendell, an Eagle Scout, is the founder of Bryan on Scouting and a contributing writer.