llowed to get chilled. At the
first sign of pinchedness, shivering, or blue lips the child should be
called out of the water, and instructed to rub herself briskly and dress
at once.
[Illustration: THE MORNING AFTER]
Bathers should always be counted immediately before going into the
water, and immediately after being called out. It is well to have
assembly and roll call for this.
Suits
A word as to bathing suits may not be amiss. Care should be taken that
the shoulder straps are tight enough and the under arm seam sewed up
high enough to keep the top part of the suit in place. It is recommended
that camps adopt a uniform style of bathing suit and that all classified
groups wear bathing caps of the same color, as for instance, first
class swimmers wear white caps, second class blue caps, third class
green caps, and fourth class, red caps.
The Float
Probably there is more fun experienced by the Scouts who are privileged
to use a raft or float, than by all the other campers put together. To
get out of the crib group and go for the first time to the float is a
thrilling experience and one that is much discussed and enjoyed. Water
sports without a float cannot be imagined, neither can a camp really be
called a Girl Scout camp unless it possesses this important piece of
floating property, which may be large or small, but must be properly
built to be safe. For a camp of 150 or more, a float 20 x 40 feet is
none too large. It should be equipped with spring board, diving tower
and life lines, and moored in deep water, not too long a swim from
shore.
Bath houses are not always considered necessary to campers but the use
of them does much toward keeping tents and tent equipment in good
condition. Wet floors, cots, blankets and so forth are always a
detriment and should not be allowed. If bath houses are impossible,
erect a large tent with a clothes line running from pole to pole and low
benches under it to serve as racks for clothing. Have pails at hand for
holding rinsing water. This kind of bath house is easily arranged.
Where possible it is an excellent idea for girls to be able to take a
quick dip before dressing for breakfast, but in a large camp this is not
always possible, and other arrangements have to be made for the morning
ablutions, as have been suggested in another part of this book.
Boats
Only first class swimmers should be allowed the use when alone, of boats
of any kind. The flat botto
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