Whitewater Merit Badge

Our goal with this program is to turn scouts on to a life time sport! Badges are one thing, a new passion is another. Wilderness Voyageurs is the largest provider of High Adventure Merit Badges in the mid-Atlantic. We are registered with the Westmoreland-Fayette Scout Council. We provide the equipment, knowledge and advisors; you provide the boys and the blue cards.

Location: Middle Youghiogheny, Ohiopyle, PA

Day 1

Today our adventure will take place between Confluence and Ohiopyle on the Middle Youghiogheny River. This section of river is 9 miles in length and contains numerous class I & II rapids punctuated by large pools. The rapids contain well defined features such as eddies, hydraulics (holes) that are of manageable size allowing for maximum learning. The course will introduce Scouts to basic whitewater terminology and maneuvering, and will allow them to witness and interact with whitewater as it moves down stream. Scouts will apply this new knowledge by paddling tandem canoes down the river.

Day 2

Location: Z Rapids and the Loop section of the Lower Youghiogheny Today is designed to quickly advance Scouts knowledge of water’s reaction to obstacles on the riverbed and how to use the flow of water to their advantage. Scouts will spend the morning portion of this day in kayaks. Knowledge gained from the previous day’s instruction will be built upon to show them how to read moving currents and understand first-hand how these currents can be used with proper positioning of their paddle and boat.

The afternoon portion of this day will involve Scouts taking “duckies” (inflatable kayaks) down the Loop portion of the Lower Youghiogheny River. The Loop is a mile and half in length and contains six class 3 rapids. Here the Scouts will expand their knowledge by examining some of the more difficult rapids. They will scout several rapids to see how the water is actually moving, and select the best path through the rapid. This session will also consist of certain challenges such as catching eddies (pools of water) or ferrying across the river, and surfing hydraulics (holes).

Wilderness Voyageurs provides river equipment for both days: canoes, kayaks, duckies, life jackets, paddles, paddle jackets, instructors, local transportation, and lunch.

Other Merit Badge Programs:

• Rock Climbing Merit Badge
• Fly Fishing Merit Badge