04/19/23 OTW Overview 1

On-The-Water Education Overview

Prepared for

USPS Fall Governing Board – 2008

Presentation/Article Authored by Tom Alley, SNSeneca, NY Power Squadron

District 6

Detroit – 5 September 2008

04/19/23 OTW Overview 2

Prolog: Why? … Why Not?

• Driver Education: Classroom and “Behind-the-Wheel”

• Airplane Pilots: “Ground School” and “Flight School”

• USPS Boaters: “Classroom” and…. what?

• Why not?...no reasons, only issues to be worked on and resolved!

The Overview

• Basics of On The Water (OTW) Education

• Planning an OTW Class

• Executing/Modifying the Plan

• OTW Education Issues and Current Status

• Futures ?

04/19/23 OTW Overview 3

04/19/23 OTW Overview 4

Why Bother?

• It’s more work.

• Logistics take longer to organize.

• More instructors are needed.

• Need boats & willing boat owners.

• But……It’s all worth it!!!

04/19/23 OTW Overview 5

Because…

• Students really want hands-on education; there will be a direct tie to Boater Certification!

• USPS is positioned to deliver it Nationally.

• There is no competition (yet) on a national scale. OTW can really set us apart!

• It offers a tangible opportunity to attract new members with real boating interests!!!

04/19/23 OTW Overview 6

AND Proven Results

• Not new! Niagara Squadron has been doing for 10 years! Seneca, 3 years – many others in some form

• Seneca Squadron has a waiting list for classes!

• Seneca Squadron membership is UP! Way up!– Mid-2006 - 68 members (+12% over prior year)– May 2007 - 82 members (+20% over prior year)– Now - ~100 members (65%+ GROWTH in 3 yrs.)

04/19/23 OTW Overview 7

Today’s Objectives

• Familiarize you with the steps needed to organize OTW training classes.

• Share with you what has worked at the Niagara and Seneca Squadrons.

• Raise issues and concerns to a larger audience so as to discuss and identify solutions.

04/19/23 OTW Overview 8

Planning the OTW Class

• Determine the class size

• Considerations for lesson plans

• Class schedules

• Marketing & advertising

• Instructor coordination

04/19/23 OTW Overview 9

Class Size

• Basic factors:– Number of boats available– Number of instructors available

• Each boat will need (at least) one instructor

• Boat type and variety (power/sail/cruiser/sport)

• Seneca/National experience: Number of instructors is usually the limiting factor

04/19/23 OTW Overview 10

Lesson Plans

• Lead instructor defines lesson plans and course schedule

• An on boat show-do format is best

• Boat education is event-driven

• Keep lesson plans flexible

04/19/23 OTW Overview 11

Lesson Plans (con’d)

• Maximize on boat time to permit seeing and doing – then let the book present the details

• Leave time to cover Navigation Rules and other important peripheral subjects

• Leave time for repetition so all students can try what is being taught

04/19/23 OTW Overview 12

Boat Class Schedules

• Time is limited – Daylight hours (when taught in evenings)– Boating season (especially in the North)– Availability of volunteer boat owners

• Intense competition for students and instructors leisure time, especially during boating season

• Want younger members? Remember that most have jobs - this limits scheduling options

04/19/23 OTW Overview 13

Marketing OTW Education

• Price the class carefully– SEO and Treasurer need to work closely– Identify “hidden” costs, overhead, burdens– 100%-200% markup is not unreasonable– Don’t overlook remaining competitive

• Sell the benefits of the student’s time and $ investment in On The Water Training:– Be up front about cost & expectations– Don’t be afraid to make the course intensive, say so

up front, and sell the payoff for the student

04/19/23 OTW Overview 14

Instructor Coordination

• Multiple boats & multiple instructors make coordination important & challenging

• Synchronized lesson presentations important

• Diverse teaching/presentation methods among instructors are encouraged

• Coordinate content and style! – Style variations OK and have been well received

04/19/23 OTW Overview 16

Executing the Plan

• Overall guidelines:– Continuing and thorough communication enhances

student understanding, comfort and involvement – You can’t communicate too much

• Have a face-to-face meeting with all instructors:– Review lesson plan & philosophy - get everyone

synchronized– Provide a checklist of “must-cover” topics– Tell instructors WHAT to teach, but now HOW

04/19/23 OTW Overview 17

Execution (con’d)

• Student communications:

– Begin 2-3 weeks before class– Tell them what to expect– Tell them what is expected– What should they bring?– What shouldn’t they bring?

– Mention boating etiquette and how to be considerate of the owners volunteering their vessels

04/19/23 OTW Overview 18

Execution (con’d)

• Regular class sessions– Need overall, consistent structure– Meet at a common space, not on the boats

• Once on the boats…– Quick homework review– Short Q&A session– Topic-of-the-Day (mini-lecture)– Head out to sea!– Or go to sea first if daylight is limited

04/19/23 OTW Overview 19

Execution (con’d)

• Conduct an “Orientation Night” 1 week prior to class – Plan to use this time effectively to:– Hand out books, collect fees, etc– Introduce instructors– Have students introduce themselves– Organize students into crews– Allow students to “tour” boats– Provide basic safety orientation for each boat– Give students encouragement and a head start on

reading & homework assignments

04/19/23 OTW Overview 20

OTW Training Issues

• Liability

• Operational Expense

• Boater Reimbursement

04/19/23 OTW Overview 21

Liability Coverage

• No question some risk exists:

– National USPS coverage only recently well defined:• “As soon as someone steps aboard a boat for USPS

instruction the new USPS hull and liability insurance kicks in and we are covered”

– Needs to be communicated by National HQ

– Needs to be clarified and updated if Boater Certification Program and expanded OTW Education Courses and Seminars are to be successful

04/19/23 OTW Overview 22

Operational Expenses

• Operational expenses:

– Finding people to volunteer time plus many $$$ of boat fuel is hard!

– Need a fair, consistent and easily administered process if squadrons elect to reimburse

– Be ready to address simple breakage and/or loss

04/19/23 OTW Overview 23

Boater Reimbusement

• Reimbursement ideas…

– Direct reimbursement

– Proportional reimbursement

– Formalized donation

– Hybrid - some combination of the above and/or other unique approaches

04/19/23 OTW Overview 24

Remember

• OTW education is in demand

• OTW instruction offers a unique opportunity to rebuild membership and enthusiasm in USPS

• The time to act is limited!

• Student feedback is overwhelmingly positive

04/19/23 OTW Overview 25

Futures

• Full report of OTW activities was submitted to the Governing Board for review:

– Download a copy of the report• http://seo.SenecaPowerSquadron.US• User Name: d6seo• Password: educate

• Education Department is actively pursuing right approach to further disseminate this information

Briefer’s Personal Observations

• Attended pre-brief and 2 hr. OTW Class

• Students on-time, attentive and enthused

• Lesson plan and preparation effort pays off

• Numerous opportunities for other subjects

• Clearly a different environment, atmosphere and student involvement from the classroom

04/19/23 OTW Overview 26

04/19/23 OTW Overview 27

Challenge to your Squadron(s)

• When the opportunity arises:

– Attend and observe an OTW class

– Improve upon the methods suggested here

– Jump in and teach your own OTW class!

– Share what you learn about OTW Education!

04/19/23 OTW Overview 28

Summary

• On water instruction has difficult challenges, but can be enjoyable and fun!

• OTW students become enthusiastic and get more involved in Squadron activities sooner

• PAYOFF:– More active members…real boaters!

– Our USPS increasingly serves the interested and developing boater, grows, and becomes a stronger organized advocate for all boating interests!

“Boating is Fun…We’ll Show You How”

WHAT BETTER WAY THAN ON A BOAT WITH EXPERIENCED

BOATERS????