Youth Activities
Spokane Sail & Power Squadron actively promotes boating safety to the Youth of the region through seminars and demonstration/ participation programs. In recent years Spokane Sail & Power Squadron has provided such programs free to the Boy Scouts of America 100th Anniversary camporee in Spokane and the National Park Service's "Paddle Days" program at the Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area near Kettle Falls, WA.
The Boy Scouts of America held their Centennial Camporee at the Spokane County Fair & Expo Center in May, 2010. Spokane Sail & Power Squadron members staffed a boating safety activity booth to show Scouts of all ages - from Cubs Scouts to Boy Scouts to Varsity Scouts and Venturers - some of the basics of life jacket safety. What a great way to bring two super themes together: 100 Years of Scouting in America + National Safe Boating Week!
The feature activity was an interactive game involving "riding" in a rowboat and then choosing, donning, and securing a properly-sized life jacket in preparation to "abandoning ship" after a simulated boating accident. As Spokane Sail & Power Squadron members conducted the game for the kids, they had the perfect opportunity to explain the importance of life jacket size, fit, condition, and color. As each "game" came to an end, the participating kids by themselves reached the obvious conclusion that the safest option is to wear their life jacket at all times when they are in a boat. As many parents were there watching and cheering on their kids, they, too, learned the "Wear It!" lesson.
"Paddle Days" is a kids' water safety program developed and run by the National Park Service at the Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area near Kettle Falls, WA. Spokane Sail & Power Squadron members have participated in the program for several years, conducting two kid-involvement activities throughout the day. One is the same type rowboat/life jacket game described above with the Boy Scouts. The other is teaching/coaching the kids in making their own water rescue throw bag and then learning how to use it. Throw bag "kits" were pre-cut and stitched so all the kids had to do was assemble them. While they were doing that, the Squadron members chatted with them about water safety. Each kid got to personalize his/her own throw bag with the name of their parents' boat. They then practiced throwing the bag to a hula-hoop target about 20-25 feet away. The popularity of the events was proven by the number of repeaters who showed up in subsequent years.
