The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Spirit of America youth program hits the waters
Participants in the 2108 edition of Lake Metroparks’ Spirit of America youth boating education program trained on the water at Fairport Harbor Lakefront Park this week .
The national program, which dates to 1995, follows an established curriculum including an orientation, classroom instruction, a swimming-pool session and actual on-water practice providing seventh-grade students with a wealth of knowledge and training relative to safe boating.
Program administrator Leigh Garam, outdoor education manager at Lake Metroparks, said the local program has its roots with the Lake County Board of Education, Perry Schools and Great Lakes Power founder Harry Allen, Jr., who was an offshore boat-racing enthusiast who wanted to get more young people involved in boating.
For more than 15 years, Lake Metroparks has been offering the Spirit of America Youth Boating Education program to boys and girls in the seventh grade who want to become better boaters, Garam said, adding that, besides preparing them for a lifelong adventure that provides ample opportunity for competition, recreation and relaxation, the Spirit of America program helps to build care, confidence and common sense in its participants.
Garam said the program’s participants, along with their parents, routinely give it rave reviews.
“We get a lot of positive feedback from parents,” she said.
“And the kids always say how much fun they have and that they learn so much.”
Learn more about the Spirit of America program, along with a variety of other Northeast Ohio summer boating and watersports camp options available to kids as we continue our series on area summer camp options in the July 3 edition.