Boyscout Merit Badges


Canoeing	Whitewater

Boy Scouts can earn their Canoeing or Whitewater Merit Badges in just two fun-filled days on the Kern River! We have programs already in place that follow all the guidelines from the Boy Scouts of America Merit Badge series. The programs are run by Boy Scouts counselors and Eagle Rafting staff.

In this two-day program the scouts will learn how to use and care for the equipment, how to paddle properly to maximize performance, how to use different strokes, how to safely recover if the boat capsizes, how to handle the canoe alone and with others, and much more. The scouts will use Scout Gates to demonstrate their skills and familiarize themselves with gates to prepare for a Whitewater Merit Badge. The Scout Gates are not a requirement for the Canoe Merit Badge Program but are used to help the scouts memorize paddle strokes, and control their canoes in a tight area. Using the Scout Gates also familiarize the scouts with the course for future attempts to earn the whitewater merit badge. Scouts that choose Eagle Rafting for their Canoe Merit Badge Program not only get a Canoe Merit Badge but they are ready to tackle the Scout Gates sooner in the Whitewater Merit Badge Program which allows more time on the river.

Whitewater Merit Badge
Prerequisites: First Aid Merit Badge, Swimming Merit Badge, Canoeing Merit Badge

Once you have mastered canoeing on still water you are ready to challenge yourself with the thrills of whitewater. Once again, we strongly emphasize safety along with the fun.

In this two-day program the scouts will learn how to use and care for the equipment, learn the International Scale of River Difficulty, how to read a river, kayak maneuvers, canoe maneuvers, self and buddy rescue, safety, rafting, and many more exciting subjects.

The scouts are required to pass a Scout Gate Test in under 120 seconds. If they do it in under 60 seconds they achieve an 'exceptional time'. Testing with the Scout Gates is done at the end of the first day and morning of the second day. Once all the scouts have completed the course on the second day the rest of the trip is spent on the river for the one day adventure.

During the one day adventure the scouts learn how to eddy up and how to enter the moving river. Scouts also capsize their Inflatable Kayaks (I.K.'s) and recover. Time is spent above Big Daddy where we introduce surfing on waves to the scouts. This is where all their skills are pushed, learning how to stay on the wave and building on their skills.
This program is $100.

This one day program is an outstanding day on the river in Rafts and Inflatable Kayaks (I.K.’s). The day starts with two rafting trips in the morning with guided rafts. The troops, typically supply their own lunch, however, lunch can be provided at an additional charge. Eagle Rafting supplies grills and tables to support lunch. After lunch the scouts go to the eddies where the scout gates are and the scouts learn how maneuver the I.K.'s around the scout gates. After a couple of hours of practice, the group goes back up stream for the scouts first decent in I.K.’s.
This program is $50.