Lake Nesbit
Waterfront safety
Raft swimming assessment
First hour of the first general swim
Given during the first hour on the first day of general swim. Completed by the camp coordinators. Late arrivals must schedule a makeup with coordinators.
All children (preteens through senior teens) who want to swim beyond the roped area.
- Consecutively swim the width of the swimming area two (2) times and tread water for 60 seconds.
- A log will be kept of the children who have passed. They will not have to reassess every year. A copy of this log will be kept by the oar house.
Adult kayaks
Khaki or hunter green
Solo OK for adults and senior teens
Youth kayaks
Lime green · 120 lb max
Youth may use adult kayaks too
Adult paddle boards
Lime green / black
General swim only · lifejacket on
Youth paddle boards
White / blue · 120 lb max
Qualified junior teens may go solo
General waterfront
- All adults have the responsibility of enforcing these rules.
- A parent or other responsible adult (someone who has agreed to this responsibility and has parental permission) will be at the beach whenever their preteen children are in the water.
- Everyone is responsible for their family's cleanup of the waterfront at the end of the day. This includes placing life jackets, canoe paddles, flotation devices and toys in the oar house.
- The Rock is off-limits at all times to all pre-teens unless a parent or other responsible adult is present.
- Fishing / canoeing / boating / kayaking are permitted prior to the first scheduled morning activity, during general swim periods, family activity periods, and after dinner.
- Any adult may also engage in these activities during any free time they have except during liturgy / prayer service.
- All parties are responsible to be on time for the next scheduled activity.
- Be respectful of the cabin dwellers on the lake front during early morning hours.
Swimming
- Swimming from a canoe, boat, or kayak is prohibited.
- Lake swimming — swimming beyond the designated swimming area — is only for swimmers who have demonstrated the ability to swim 1/4 mile and have their parents' permission. Communicate with the camp coordinators.
- A minimum of three canoes, boats, or kayaks with an adequate number of life preservers for the swimmers will accompany the swimmers. A noodle does not qualify.
- Adults may swim the lake at any time if they have a companion on the beach and/or in a canoe, boat, or kayak.
Watercraft
- Pre-teens and junior teens must be accompanied by an adult / parent or senior teen when using a canoe or boat.
- Junior teens and younger must wear a life jacket at all times while in the kayak. Adults / senior teens must have a life jacket in the kayak with them at all times but they are not required to wear it.
- No standing on, jumping from, or ramming into other canoes, boats or kayaks while on the water. Gaining access to the raft from a watercraft is not allowed.
- Occupancy of a canoe is limited to one (1) adult / senior teen and two (2) people of any age.
- Occupancy of a boat is limited to two (2) adults / senior teens and three (3) people of any age.
- Use is not allowed on the lake after dark.
Kayaks
- Adult kayaks are khaki or hunter green.
- Youth kayaks are lime green. Maximum weight limit is 120 lbs. Youth are not limited to using only the youth kayaks.
- Adults / senior teens are allowed to take a kayak out solo.
- Adults / senior teens are allowed to take any youth with them with parental permission.
- If kayak availability becomes an issue, camp coordinators may set time limits.
Paddle boards
- Adult paddle boards are lime green / black.
- Youth paddle boards are white / blue. Maximum weight limit is 120 lbs.
- Paddle board usage is allowed only during general swim time due to the higher probability of ending up in the water.
- Adults / senior teens / qualified junior teens are allowed to take a paddle board out solo.
- Adults / senior teens / qualified junior teens may accompany any youth, with parental permission. The adult / senior teen / qualified junior teen must be on a paddle board or in a kayak.
- Everyone is required to wear a lifejacket at all times.
Fishing
- When fishing from a canoe / boat / kayak, the rules for canoeing / boating / kayaking must be observed.
- Adult or senior teen supervision is encouraged for young fishermen.
- Fishing from the shore around the swimming area (beach front) is not permitted during general swim time.
- Fishing from the dock is permitted; preteens must have adult supervision.
- Fishermen are responsible for the safety of their equipment when it is not in use. Equipment must be taken up to the oar house. All rods and tackle boxes must be stored in a safe manner, all hooks secured, and tackle boxes latched.
Dock
- Pre-teens and under must be accompanied by an adult / parent or senior teen when on the dock.
- Life saver ring will be on a dock pole or near the dock at all times.
- No jumping in or swimming around the dock.
- No running.
- Clean up after yourself.
Raft use
- The lifeguard will use their discretion as to who may be on the raft or beyond the ropes and when. The lifeguard has the final say and may send swimmers back inside the ropes.
- Coordinators may adjust raft usage based on who is actually present on the beach — for example, allow younger children on the raft earlier if no teens are present.
- A maximum of ten children who have passed the raft swimming assessment will be allowed on the raft at any given time.
- Do not use the raft as a trampoline.
- Life vests or preservers are not allowed on the raft during general swim time, with the exception of the last ½ hour for children who have not passed the assessment. They must have adult / senior teen supervision and must wear a life vest.
- When jumping from raft to the water, jump towards the swim area / beach or to the side. Jumping towards the lake side is not permitted.
- Adults may use the raft at any time during general swim time. They may not be accompanied to the raft by members of a group not scheduled for that designated time.
- Use during family activity is allowed with parents present.
Lifeguarding & beach duty
- Lifeguarding takes place during general swim periods. The first person scheduled for lifeguarding must be to the beach and in the boat before anyone is allowed in the water. They must take the life saver ring with them in the boat.
- Lifeguarding consists of being on the water and patrolling the swim area between the roped swimming area and the raft buoy. If no one is in the water swimming, floating or on the raft, the lifeguard may come ashore until the water is being used.
- Parents are responsible for family members inside of the roped swimming area.
- Beach duty takes place after both meals. Beach duty is responsible for ensuring campers do not play or swim in the lake.
- Every family should clean up their beach toys and lawn chairs prior to leaving the beach after swim time. Anything left should be picked up after dinner.