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Tigers in the Water

Cub Scouts · Adventure, Elective

Printable worksheet (PDF)

Tigers in the Water helps you feel safe and confident in the water. You'll learn the swimming rules, practice getting in and out properly, and try blowing bubbles and flutter kicking with your adult buddy. Each splash builds your skills.

Why it's worth it

Being safe and comfortable in the water opens up summers full of pools, lakes, and beaches. In Tigers in the Water you'll learn the swimming safety rules, practice getting in and out the right way, blow bubbles, and try a flutter kick with your grown-up as your buddy. These are the same first steps every strong swimmer started with.

Start this week

  1. Ask your adult to find a pool with lifeguards where your den or family can swim.
  2. Practice blowing bubbles in the bathtub with your mouth and nose underwater.
  3. Lie on your tummy on the bed or floor and practice kicking with straight legs and pointed toes.

Stay safe

  • Swim only where a lifeguard or trained adult is watching, following Scouting's Safe Swim Defense, with your adult partner as your buddy.
  • Stay in water at your ability level, and never go in the water without permission.

Requirements · 6

Every official requirement and part, numbered to match Scouting America, in plain language. Sign off against the official wording (opens in a new tab).

  1. Requirement 1

    Learn the swimming safety rules you need to follow

    Tip: Go over the pool or beach rules with your adult, like swimming with a buddy and listening to lifeguards.

    For example: Rules to know: swim only when a lifeguard or adult is watching, always have a buddy, walk on the pool deck, stay in water at your level, and get out right away when the whistle blows.

  2. Requirement 2

    Show how to enter the swimming area properly

    Tip: Enter the water slowly and carefully the way the lifeguard or adult shows you.

    For example: Enter at the shallow end: sit on the edge, turn, and lower yourself in slowly while holding the edge, or walk down the steps holding the rail. Never jump in unless the lifeguard says it's okay.

  3. Requirement 3

    With your adult partner as your buddy, be active for 20 minutes in water that matches your ability

    Tip: Play, walk, or float at your level for 20 minutes with your partner right beside you.

    For example: Spend 20 minutes with your adult buddy: walk across the shallow end, hold the wall and kick, float on your back with your adult's hands under you, and play a game of underwater "ring toss."

  4. Requirement 4

    Put your face in the water and blow some bubbles

    Tip: Take a breath, put your face in the water, and blow bubbles. Try it a few times.

  5. Requirement 5

    Show a flutter kick

    Tip: Hold the wall or a kickboard and kick with straight legs and pointed toes.

    For example: Hold the wall or a kickboard with your arms straight. Kick with straight legs and pointed toes, making small splashes. Try it with your face in the water, blowing bubbles.

  6. Requirement 6

    Show how to exit the swimming area properly

    Tip: Climb out carefully using the steps or ladder, the way you were shown.

Places to visit

Ask an adult to set it up, and go with your family, den, patrol, or crew.

  • A community pool or recreation center

    Lifeguards can show you how they watch swimmers and explain what their whistle signals mean.

    How: Have your den leader call the pool and ask about a den swim time with lifeguards, or look up family swim hours and lessons.

Talk about it together

  • How did you feel the first time you put your face in the water?
  • Which swimming rule do you think keeps people safest, and why?
  • What did your buddy do to help you feel safe?
  • What swimming skill do you want to learn next?

Helpful reads

For leaders & parents

  • Hold swim activities at a lifeguarded pool and follow Scouting's aquatics safety rules.
  • Keep each Tiger with their adult buddy at all times in the water.

People & places that can help

Pairs well with

Counts toward

More Tiger adventures

Tips, examples, and questions are ideas from experienced leaders, not extra requirements. Your unit leader or counselor decides when a requirement is complete.