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

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) Wayne – Notes for your consideration: *****Follow Up here: There are numerous courses that contain hands-on training. ***Currently there are no NASBLA standards for On-the-water / Hands-on Education. ***There is also little data available from course providers on certificates earned. ***However, NASBLA’s website maintains a Seal of Safe Boating Practices Database which lists 44 various “items” that have been awarded the seal of safe boating practices.

Advanced and/or On-Water Training Courses What are we trying to prevent? USCG would like to facilitate a meeting/symposium to bring providers together and establish some recognized standards for course providers to follow. NASBLA should create and maintain a list of all on-the-water course providers.

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

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

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 How will all registered boat owners be reached? What is the best way to ensure they are aware of the on-the-water courses and have access to courses and trained instructors?

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 St. Louis Chapter American Red Cross is developing a Basic water Rescue and Small Craft Safety (BWRSCS) Web-Based Blended Learning Educational Program Course. Their goal is for the Web Based Training (WBT) component to create a course that is engaging to learners, help the learner become acquainted with ARC’s learning content and then to demonstrate proficiency through like-life scenarios and knowledge builders before completing the final certification assessments. The Basic water Rescue and Small Craft Safety (BWRSCS) is current only offered in a traditional Classroom setting. ARC’s key objective for this project is to create a seamless online training solution which will allow learners to take the course at their own convenience, thus reaching more people. The actual name of the ARC course is: “Blended Learning for Small Craft Safety ”

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 From Chris Stec email: *Please note, it is not a requirement for an ACA Instructor to report every course they teach, so the actual on-water outreach of ACA Instructor’s is far greater than the above figure. For example, we have a number of certified Instructors who teach at summer camps every summer and they do not report every on-water course as 1 Instructor might teach hundreds of on-water course throughout a single summer. Through a recent USCG grant, the state of Florida estimated that each of their newly certified ACA paddlesports Instructors would reach approximately 900 people (on-water) over the course of the upcoming year. Some of our professional Instructors, teaching for paddlesports schools, routinely teach several hundred people a year, but do not necessarily report every single course.   **To make a rough guess of the number of people that ACA certified Instructors taught on the water in 2011: 132,725 (5,309 x 25)

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

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 US Sailing is developing an Expanded On-the-Water Boater Safety Training through Drivers Education for Boaters. US sailing’s Grant Narrative discusses how this would meet objectives 1-2-3-4 and 5 of the strat plan. Their goal is to leverage its extensive network of instructors and waterfront training centers to grow the footprint of its existing NASBLA –approved Safe Powerboat course. Thus reaching hundred if not thousands, of new boaters annually. It will further support USCG Specific Area of Interest , such as Life Jacket Wear Rate.

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

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

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. US Sailing Grant awarded to bring SME’S together and establish some recognized standards . NASBLA should create and maintain a list of all on-the-water course providers.

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