Boating Education Program Spotlight: Lake County Metroparks
 Lake County Metroparks is a leading provider of boating safety education programs for northeast Ohio residents. An annual recipient of the Division of Watercraft’s boating safety education program grants, Lake County Metroparks this year received a grant award of $11,634.96.
The grant is being used to offer to Ohioans of all ages 11 Ohio Boater Education Courses and multiple hands-on and boating skills development courses that include kayaking, sea kayaking, sailing, catamaran sailing and operation of personal watercraft. More than 2,300 Ohioans are expected to be directly served by these boating programs, including persons with special needs.
 Lake Metroparks is committed to providing quality boating and water education programs to the residents of Northeastern Ohio. Lake Metroparks manages five properties along the Lake Erie shoreline and over 20 properties along the navigable rivers and streams of Lake County.
Lake Metroparks facilitates a grant-funded program for Lake County 7th graders called Spirit of America. This program involves over 150 students and 60 volunteers annually. It takes place through the month of June and beginning of July.
Lake Metroparks utilizes and recruits volunteers to assist paid staff in the instruction of its boating programs. The organization hosts U.S. Sailing Small Boat Instructors Certification programs, kayak certification programs through the American Canoeing Association, Ohio Boating Education Courses, and this year introduced personal watercraft instructors training programs through the National Water Safety Congress. The goal is to provide ongoing training programs for paid staff, volunteers and other boating professionals in Northeastern Ohio.
 Lake Metroparks partners with the ODNR Division of Watercraft and the U.S. Coast Guard to promote boating safety awareness and the importance of wearing a life jacket.
Visit Lake Metroparks at Fairport Harbor Lakefront Park this summer!
For more information on instructor training programs, dates and times contact Leigh Garam at lgaram@lakemetroparks.com. |