Paddlesport Safety Curriculum Development Begins

paddlesport-safety

The Indiana Sailing Association is kicking off the 2015 sailing pre-season with a twist – developing a paddlesport safety program. With sea trials completed in the fall of 2014, the sea kayaks owned by the Indiana Sailing Association have been fully tested and configured. Now the curriculum development that corresponds with these unique vessels is underway.

Geoffrey Barrow, Executive Director of the Indiana Sailing Association explains, “The kayaks were added to our inventory through a grant made possible by the Foundations of East Chicago. It will add a new dimension to the youth sail training that we have been known for over the past 25 years. We are excited to help the youth in our program to learn the important aspects of safety that are unique to these types of watercraft. There are so many small lakes and rivers throughout Northwest Indiana, we believe the students in our programming on the big boats out here on Lake Michigan will be able to transfer their enthusiasm to the easily accessible kayaks that can be used throughout the region and beyond.”

Christopher Kosovich, Acting Chief Operating Officer of the Indiana Sailing Association added, “We are developing the curriculum this year so we can try to fit in some pilot programming in the fall when we are normally pulling the big boats out of the lake to winterize them. Ideally, having this new facet to our programming helps to extend our on-water activity later into the fall season, particularly on the smaller inland waterways.”

The paddlesport safety curriculum development is an ongoing initiative of the Indiana Sailing Association to expand the variety of programming it is able to offer, to increase water safety and expand access to the precious local natural resources, particularly to the students and youth of East Chicago.


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