Whitewater is about paddling moving water with skill and good judgment. You will learn to read rivers, use the right strokes, and handle rescues. All river time should be with experienced, trained paddlers.
Why it's worth it
Moving water is alive: it pushes, swirls, and rewards paddlers who learn to read it. Whitewater teaches you to see a path through rapids before you're in them, work with your paddling partner or group, and rescue yourself and others. Those skills lead to river trips through canyons and forests that few people ever see, high-adventure treks, and summer jobs guiding or teaching on the river.
Start this week
- Look up a river near you and find its current flow level on a government water data site. Check it again in a few days to see how it changes.
- Ask your Scoutmaster for the name of a Whitewater counselor, and send them a short message with a parent copied to set up a first meeting.
- Check where you stand on requirement 3: the Canoeing merit badge if you'll paddle a canoe, or the Kayaking merit badge if you'll paddle a kayak. If it isn't done, plan that first.
- Ask your leaders or counselor about a paddling club or outfitter that runs instruction days for beginners.
Plan ahead: Requirement 3 (the Canoeing or Kayaking merit badge) comes before the river work, and the river trips in requirement 12 depend on seasons and water levels. Finish your flatwater skills early and plan trips well ahead.
Stay safe
- Follow Safety Afloat on every trip: life jacket and helmet on, trained leaders, and a plan for rescue before you launch.
- Never paddle above your skill level or in high water, and if you swim in a rapid, float on your back with feet up and pointed downstream.
Requirements · 12
Every official requirement and part, numbered to match Scouting America, in plain language. Sign off against the official wording (opens in a new tab) (updated 2025).
Note: Earn the Canoeing merit badge (if paddling a canoe) or the Kayaking merit badge (if paddling a kayak) before starting requirements 4 through 12.
- Requirement 1
Hazards, first aid, and safety rules
Tips for this section: Learn the main hazards of moving water and how Safety Afloat keeps your group safe.
- Requirement 1a
Explain to your counselor the main whitewater hazards (rocks, trees and branches in or across the water, hydraulics below ledges and low-head dams, high wind, cold air or water, lightning storms) and how to anticipate, prevent, reduce, and respond to each
- Requirement 1b
Review with your counselor how to prevent, spot, and treat hypothermia, cold-water shock, dehydration, heat illnesses, sunburn, blisters, cuts, bruises, sprains, strains, shoulder dislocation, head/neck/back injuries, and submersion injuries
- Requirement 1c
With your counselor, discuss the Safety Afloat policy and American Whitewater's safety guidelines, including wearing helmets and life jackets
- Requirement 2
Reading moving water
Tips for this section: Look at river photos or videos and point out features like eddies and waves.
Example for this section: Using river photos or a riverbank, point out an eddy, an upstream V that points to an obstacle, a downstream V that shows the clear path, standing waves, and a hole. Explain how you'd tilt or edge the boat, without leaning your body, when crossing an eddy line.
- Requirement 2a
Draw lines showing how water flows through these features: riffle, eddy with its eddy line, upstream V, downstream V, river bend, ledge, drop, shallows, horizon line, hydraulic, and current at varying depths
- Requirement 2b
Describe how waves are formed, including standing waves and wave trains
- Requirement 2c
Explain how to tilt or edge your boat without leaning your body in these two situations
- Requirement 2c1
Going into and coming out of an eddy
- Requirement 2c2
Ferrying in both the upstream and downstream directions
- Requirement 2d
Explain when, why, and how to scout a river from shore and from your boat, and when you should portage instead
- Requirement 3
Before starting requirements 4–12, earn the Canoeing merit badge if you'll use a canoe or the Kayaking merit badge if you'll use a kayak, then do one of the options below. Choose 1 of 2
Tip: Earn the Canoeing or Kayaking merit badge first, depending on the boat you'll paddle, since those skills are the base for whitewater.
- Requirement 3a
Canoe: demonstrate the Canoeing merit badge strokes and maneuvers well enough to satisfy your counselor
- Requirement 3b
Kayak: demonstrate the Kayaking merit badge strokes and maneuvers well enough to satisfy your counselor
- Requirement 4
Calm-water strokes. Choose 1 of 3
Tips for this section: Practice your strokes on a lake or calm river with an instructor until they feel natural.
- Requirement 4a
Option A: tandem canoe
- Requirement 4a1
On calm water, from the bow, demonstrate these strokes: bow draw, cross bow draw, cross forward, bow pry, and sculling draw
- Requirement 4a2
On calm water, from the stern, demonstrate these strokes: stern pry, stern draw, sculling draw, and forward with stern pry
- Requirement 4a3
On calm water, demonstrate a high brace, a low brace, and a righting pry
- Requirement 4b
Option B: solo canoe
- Requirement 4b1
On calm water, demonstrate these strokes: stern draw, stern pry, pry, bow draw, cross bow draw, cross forward, sculling draw, and forward with stern pry
- Requirement 4b2
On calm water, demonstrate a high brace, a low brace, and a righting pry
- Requirement 4c
Option C: solo kayak
- Requirement 4c1
On calm water, demonstrate the bow draw, rudder, and sculling draw
- Requirement 4c2
On calm water, demonstrate a high brace and a low brace
- Requirement 5
River difficulty
Tips for this section: Look up the river difficulty scale and check flow levels for a local river.
Example for this section: Explain the difficulty scale from Class I (easy, small waves) to Class II (straightforward rapids with clear channels) and up. Then look up a local river's flow level and explain how high water can make a rapid harder or more dangerous.
- Requirement 5a
Explain the International Scale of River Difficulty and use it to rate a stretch of river your counselor approves
- Requirement 5b
Point out the river features that led you to the class you gave it on the International Scale
- Requirement 5c
Discuss how changes in water flow can move a river into a different class, and how flow rate changes river features and hazards
- Requirement 6
Explain why communication is important on every whitewater outing, and show you can use the American Whitewater Universal River Signals by sight and by sound: Are you OK?, Stop, Help/emergency, Run river left, Run river right, and All clear—come ahead
Tip: Practice signals on land with your group before getting on the water.
For example: Practice the signals on land with your group, by sight and by whistle: are you OK, stop, help or emergency, run river left, run river right, and all clear. Make sure everyone uses the same signals before getting on the water.
- Requirement 7
Whitewater boats. Choose 1 of 2
Tips for this section: Compare canoes and kayaks at an outfitter and talk about how they're built for moving water.
- Requirement 7a
Canoe: describe the canoe types paddled on moving water and how they vary in design, materials, and purpose
- Requirement 7b
Kayak: describe the kayak types paddled on moving water and how they vary in design, materials, and purpose
- Requirement 8
Go over with your counselor the personal and group gear needed for a safe whitewater trip, and how and why each item is used
Tip: Lay out your personal and group gear before a trip and check it with your counselor.
For example: Lay out your personal gear: a properly fitted life jacket, helmet, shoes that stay on, clothes for cold water, and a whistle. Then go over group gear like throw ropes, a first-aid kit, a repair kit, and spare paddle.
- Requirement 9
Read a Class II stretch of river your counselor approves: describe the best lines and backup routes, show how the river's features can help you, and explain how to steer clear of its hazards
Tip: Stand on shore with an experienced paddler and talk through the best path down a stretch of river.
For example: Stand on shore with your counselor above a Class II rapid. Point out the obstacles, the clear tongue of water, the eddies where you could stop, and the line you'd choose. Explain your plan if you miss your line.
- Requirement 10
In moving water, wearing a proper life jacket and clothing suited to the weather and water, do these skills in an equipped whitewater tandem canoe, solo canoe, or solo kayak (in a tandem canoe, do them from both bow and stern)
Tip: Practice on easy moving water with a qualified instructor before trying harder sections.
- Requirement 10a
Launch and land
- Requirement 10b
Paddle forward in a straight line for at least 10 boat lengths
- Requirement 10c
Paddle backward in a straight line for at least 5 boat lengths
- Requirement 10d
Ferry upstream from each side of the river
- Requirement 10e
Ferry downstream from each side of the river
- Requirement 10f
Do an eddy turn from each side of an eddy
- Requirement 10g
Peel out from each side of an eddy
- Requirement 11
Rescue and river skills
Tips for this section: Practice rescues in a safe setting with an instructor, starting with throw ropes from shore.
- Requirement 11a
Explain and show your counselor how to self-rescue after capsizing in current, including a wet exit when needed
- Requirement 11b
Explain and show your counselor how to throw a rescue rope to a swimmer in whitewater
- Requirement 11c
Explain and show your counselor how to receive a throw rope when you are the swimmer
- Requirement 11d
Explain and show your counselor when a portage makes sense, and when and how to carry it out
- Requirement 11e
Explain and show your counselor the whitewater buddy system with at least 3 people in at least 3 boats
- Requirement 12
Go on one or more whitewater trips by canoe or kayak on Class I and/or Class II water, with at least 6 hours of total paddling; for each trip, do the following
Tip: Plan your trips with an experienced group and a qualified leader.
- Requirement 12a
Help write a trip plan covering the route (put-ins and takeouts), schedule, gear, safety precautions, and emergency procedures
- Requirement 12b
Find out the local rules and get permission ahead of time from landowners and land managers
- Requirement 12c
Explain what was done to follow the Safety Afloat policy and American Whitewater's safety guidelines
- Requirement 12d
Show how to keep personal and group gear dry and how to pack and secure the dry containers in the trip's boats, then carry out the plan with the other paddlers
- Requirement 12e
Tell your counselor how well your plans worked on each trip
Places to visit
Ask an adult to set it up, and go with your family, den, patrol, or crew.
A paddling club's beginner clinic or pool session
Clubs often teach strokes, rolls, and rescues in calm water before taking new paddlers on rivers.
How: Have a leader contact a local paddling club and ask about youth clinics or a session for your troop with certified instructors.
A river outfitter or whitewater park
Guides can show you boats and gear built for moving water and talk about river safety.
How: Have a parent or leader call ahead to ask about instruction for youth groups and what qualified supervision they provide.
Where it can lead
- River guideLeads rafting or paddling trips; many start in their late teens with guide training.
- Paddling instructorTeaches canoe and kayak skills at camps, clubs, and outdoor programs.
- Swiftwater rescue technicianFire and rescue teams train to save people from floods and fast water.
- HydrologistStudies river flows and flooding for government agencies.
Ask yourself
- What did you feel the first time you paddled into moving current?
- How did scouting a rapid from shore change how you paddled it?
- When did you and your partner or group have to communicate fast, and how did it go?
- What did you learn from a swim, a near miss, or a line that didn't go as planned?
- Which river would you like to paddle someday, and what skills do you need first?
Good questions to ask your counselor or an experienced river guide
- How do you decide whether a rapid is runnable for your group today?
- What's the most important rescue skill every paddler should have?
- What mistakes do new whitewater paddlers make most often?
- How do you read a river you've never paddled before?
- What's a river trip you'll never forget, and why?
Helpful reads
- Earning a merit badge, step by step, From picking a badge to getting the final signature: how to find a counselor, set up meetings safely, work the requirements, and keep your progress., Youth · Families · 6 min read
- Contacting counselors, experts, and organizations, Email and phone scripts, who to ask for, how to follow up, and how to say thanks, with a parent copied every time., Youth · Families · 7 min read
- Choosing your next merit badge, How to pick a badge you'll actually finish: start with what you care about, balance Eagle-required and just-for-fun badges, and make the most of camp., Youth · Families · 6 min read
For leaders & parents
- Plan whitewater trips with qualified instructors and the right group equipment.
- Build skills step by step, starting in calm water.
People & places that can help
- Merit badge counselor — Talk with them early; they can explain what's expected.
- American Canoe Association — Paddling instruction and safety information.
- Local paddling club or outfitter — Can help with gear and guided trips.
- American Whitewater (opens in a new tab) — River descriptions, difficulty classes, and safety tips from paddlers.
- USGS Water Data (opens in a new tab) — Check real-time flow levels for rivers near you.
- NOAA National Water Prediction Service (opens in a new tab) — River forecasts and flood warnings.
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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.