From United States Power Squadrons and BoatUS Foundation
ANNAPOLIS, Md., October 30, 2013 – Boating on swift-moving waters, locking through deep, canyon-like lock chambers, and avoiding the daily buzz of commercial ship and barge traffic are some of the most challenging aspects to freshwater boating. But thanks to a partnership with the United States Power Squadrons (USPS) and the BoatUS Foundation, these tough challenges can be overcome with a new online course, “Boating on Rivers, Locks and Lakes.” The course teaches boaters how to recognize features, “read” the river and lock through with confidence. This is the second USPS/BoatUS Foundation course offering after “Partner in Command,” which acquaints the First Mate with basic skills he or she may need in an emergency.
Now available at http://www.usps.org/edonline/, Boating on Rivers, Locks and Lakes will help boaters navigate safely and increase their fun on the water. “We all learn to some degree by trial and error,” said BoatUS Foundation Director of Education Amanda Suttles Perez. “The problem is that these unique waterways sometimes don’t leave much room for error. By using an advanced online educational tool, we’re helping boaters gain that experience in a stress-free environment that will help them get more out the inland boating lifestyle.”
Taken in the comfort of home, time-challenged boaters can progress at will, starting and stopping at any time. The cost is $40 or just $31.60 for members of USPS, US Coast Guard Auxiliary, Great Lakes Cruising Club and, for a limited time, BoatUS members.
The United States Power Squadrons is a non-profit, educational organization dedicated to making boating safer and more enjoyable through teaching boaters courses and seminars covering dozens of topics. To date, over four million boaters have taken a USPS course or seminar. The partnership with the BoatUS Foundation aims to increase the accessibility to boating education courses by tapping into the Foundation’s expertise at presenting engaging and effective course materials for online study at home. United States Power Squadrons have over 30 advanced courses and seminars taught by local squadrons that will be made available online in the next two to three years.
“The United States Power Squadrons has taught this seminar to thousands of boaters who felt uneasy going through locks and boating near large commercial vessels,” said USPS Chief Commander John Alter. “Now, with the online version of this seminar available, we can help every boater become more comfortable on our vast inland waterways.”
The BoatUS Foundation has its roots when Boat Owners Association of The United State’s (BoatUS) Founder and Chairman Richard Schwartz testified before Congress in 1969 that led to the watershed Federal Boat Safety Act of 1971. Today, BoatUS’ member-funded 501(c)(3) nonprofit BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water is a national leader promoting safe, clean and responsible boating, and provides innovative educational outreach directly to boaters and anglers with the aim of reducing accidents and fatalities, The Foundation’s Online Boating Safety Course is the only free, NASBLA-approved online boating safety course in 33 states. To date, over one million boaters have taken the course.
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About United States Power Squadrons:
Organized in 1914, United States Power Squadrons (USPS) is a non-profit, educational organization dedicated to making boating safer and more enjoyable by teaching classes in seamanship, navigation and related subjects. Our members are boating families who contribute to their communities by promoting safe boating through education. We enjoy participating with our fellow members on the water and in the classroom. USPS has nearly 40,000 members organized into over 400 squadrons across the country and in some US territories. USPS is America’s largest non-profit boating organization and has been honored by three US presidents for its civic contributions. Each squadron’s activities involve the three primary objectives of USPS: community service, continuing education, and enjoying the friendship and camaraderie of our fellow members. For more information, go to http://www.usps.org/
About BoatUS and BoatUS Foundation:
Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) is the nation’s leading advocate for recreational boaters providing its over half-million members with government representation, services such as 24-hour on water boat towing as well as roadside assistance for boat trailers and tow vehicles, feature-packed boat insurance programs, money-saving benefits and vital information that improves the boating, fishing and sailing lifestyle. Its 501(c)(3) nonprofit BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water is a national leader promoting safe, clean and responsible boating, and provides innovative educational outreach directly to boaters and anglers with the aim of reducing accidents and fatalities, increasing stewardship of America’s waterways and keeping boating safe. It is funded primarily by the members of Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS). For more go to http://www.boatus.com/foundation/.