Boating on Rivers, Locks and Lakes: New Online Course Can Be Taken at Home

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/.

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