Advanced and/or On-Water, Skills-Based Boating Education

1. Advanced and/or On-Water, Skills-Based Boating Education What’s in the Mix? National Boating Safety Advisory Council Arlington, VA April 14, 2012

2. Advanced and/or On-Water Training (Objective 3, RBS Strategic Plan): • BACKGROUND/CURRENT STATE • Boating public lack boat handling skills • Accident statistics, top 5 primary contributing factors • operator inattention, improper lookout, operator inexperience, excessive speed, alcohol use • No nationally recognized standard for on-water boat training • Organizations that provide it (capacity to deliver)

3. Advanced and/or On-Water Training Courses What are we trying to prevent?

4. No Nationally Recognized Standards for On-Water Boat Training • US Sailing awarded a non-profit grant to develop and design a national template for on-water training courses. • 36 subject matter experts • Current grant is for entry-level powerboaters • Identify and validate standards • Preparation, leave dock, maneuver in close quarters, open water, docking, securing, general safety/emergency

5. No Nationally Recognized Standards for On-Water Boat Training • Next steps for standards development. • Adoption by individuals and organizations providing instruction • Standards approval process • International integration? American National Standards Institute (ANSI)? American Society for Curriculum Development (ASCD)? • Paddlesports and sailing

6. Organizations that Provide On-Water Boat Training • American Red Cross - 15,000 for 2011 • American Canoe Association – 132,725 for 2011 • Boy Scouts of America – 77,951 for 2011 • US Sailing- ???? for 2011 • National Safe Boating Council - 417 for 2011 • US Power Squadrons - 215 for 2011

7. On-Water Training Examples • St. Louis Chapter developed a Basic Water Rescue and Small Craft Safety (BWRSCS) Web-Based Blended Learning Educational Program Course. • Web learning and testing • Plus, at a later date, individuals complete the skills/demonstration portion for the final certification process in person

8. On-Water Training Examples • 1,625 new ACA Instructors certified (currently 5,309) • 5,088 on-water skills courses reported. • Estimated number of individuals reached through ACA on-water courses: 132,725

9. On-Water Training Examples Canoe, created in 1927- 41,601 earned in 2011 - Overall 2,919,350 Motorboat, created in 1961 - 12,133 earned in 2011 - Overall 552,574 Rowing, created in 1933 - 15,906 earned in 2011 - Overall 1,682,568 Sailing, created in 1964 - 19,895 earned in 2011 – Overall 600,201 Whitewater, created in 1987 - 4,322 earned in 2011 - Overall 77,486 Total scouts certified earning 77,951 in 2011

10. On-Water Training Examples • US Sailing/US Powerboating is currently working to expand On-Water Boater Safety Training through “Drivers Education for Boaters.” • Regional training centers in first year • Subsequent years will add new facilities

11. On-Water Training Examples • The National Safe Boating Council (NSBC) developed a “Close Quarters” Boat Handling Course. In 2011 - 417 instructors completed the training.

12. On-Water Training Examples Grant deliverable - In 2011 the OTW skills based program – 215 students completed this course.

13. Next Steps for Advanced and/or On-Water Training • Nationally Recognized Standards for On-Water Boat Training • Continue to monitor trends and numbers of organizations who offer on-water training • Measure effectiveness of on-water courses • NASBLA surveys etc.

14. Advanced and/or On-Water, Skills-Based Boating Education Questions?