Time to Swim

Cub Scouts · Adventure, Elective

Time to Swim helps you feel safe and happy in the water. You'll learn the swimming safety rules, practice getting in and out the right way, and play in the water with your adult buddy. Every swimmer starts with small steps like these.

Why it's worth it

Splashing, floating, and blowing bubbles are the first steps to becoming a swimmer. In Time to Swim you'll learn the rules that keep everyone safe in the water, practice getting in and out the right way, and play in the water with your grown-up as your buddy. Water safety is one of the most important things a young child can learn.

Start this week

Ask your adult to find a pool with lifeguards where your den or family can swim.
Practice blowing bubbles in the bathtub or a bowl of water at home.
Talk with your adult about the pool rules you already know, like walking, not running.

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 · 5

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

Requirement 1
Learn the swimming safety rules you need to follow
Tip: Go over the pool or beach rules with your adult, like always swimming with a buddy and listening to lifeguards.
For example: Rules to talk about: always swim with a buddy, only swim when a lifeguard or adult says it's okay, walk on the pool deck, and get out right away when the whistle blows.
Requirement 2
Show how to enter the swimming area properly
Tip: Practice entering the water the way the lifeguard or adult shows you, slowly and carefully.
For example: Enter at the shallow end. Sit on the edge, swing your legs in, and slide in slowly, or walk down the steps while holding the rail, the way your adult or lifeguard shows you.
Requirement 3
With your adult partner as your buddy, be active for 20 minutes in water that matches your ability
Tip: Splash, walk, or float in water at your level for 20 minutes with your partner right beside you.
For example: With your adult beside you, spend 20 minutes walking in the shallow end, kicking while holding the wall, floating with help, and playing a game of catch with a soft ball.
Requirement 4
Put your face in the water and blow some bubbles
Tip: Take a breath, put your face in, and blow bubbles like a fish. Try it a few times.
For example: Take a big breath, put your lips and nose in the water, and hum out bubbles. Try it with your eyes open, then try your whole face.
Requirement 5
Show how to exit the swimming area properly
Tip: Practice climbing 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 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.

Talk about it together

How did you feel the first time you put your face in the water?
Which swimming safety rule do you think is most important, and why?
What did your buddy do to help you feel safe?
What swimming skill do you want to learn next?

Helpful reads

Cub Scouts: a guide for families, How Cub Scout ranks and adventures work from kindergarten through fifth grade, what an adult partner does, and how to keep it fun at meetings and at home., Families · Leaders · 4 min read

For leaders & parents

Hold swim activities at a pool with trained lifeguards and follow Scouting's aquatics safety rules.
Keep each Lion with their adult buddy the whole time.

People & places that can help

American Red Cross (opens in a new tab) — Water safety and learn-to-swim programs.
YMCA (opens in a new tab) — Many offer kids' swim lessons.
Local community pool — Lifeguarded swimming and lessons.
Time to Swim adventure page (opens in a new tab) — Den water activities and safety games.
Red Cross Water Safety (opens in a new tab) — Family water safety tips for pools, lakes, and beaches.
Aquatics Safety (Scouting America) (opens in a new tab) — Where families can read Safe Swim Defense and other swim rules.

Lion, Rank · 7 requirements

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