CALL FOR ENTRIES: BOATING SAFETY YOUTH PROGRAM AWARD

The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary is pleased to share in announcing an initiative from the National Safe Boating Council that will bring increased safe boating awareness to America's boating youth.

Do you know of an individual or group who is helping kids learn how to stay safe on the water? The National Safe Boating Council (NSBC) is calling for entries for its Boating Safety Youth Program Award that recognizes individuals or organizations who have developed and implemented innovative youth boating education programs that focus on recreational boating safety. Co-sponsored by the Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatU.S.), the award includes a $2500 cash prize. The deadline to apply is December 31, 2006.

For a youth boating program to qualify, it must include boating safety practices and be targeted to youth under 18 years of age. Previous awards have gone to school districts, summer camps, scouting groups and U.S. Power Squadrons.

The award's $2500 prize is designed to be used for the implementation or enhancement of a youth-oriented boating safety program. This can include equipment, audio-visual aids, printing, teaching aids, program promotion and advertising, or rental of a meeting space.

The winner will also be invited to attend the annual International Boating and Water Safety Summit in March of 2007 in San Antonio, TX, during which they will present a conference session on their award-winning program. Travel expenses including transportation, lodging and meals for one representative is included.

For more information and an application, go to http://www.safeboatingcouncil.org/ and click on "award programs".


The NSBC is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization for the advancement and promotion of safer boating through education. It is comprised of over 333 national, regional and local boating and water safety agencies, organizations and corporations. BoatU.S. is the nation's leading advocate for recreational boaters providing its 665,000 members with a wide array of safety and consumer services.

The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary is the uniformed, volunteer Component of Team Coast Guard who assist the active duty Coast Guard in all of its varied missions, except for military and direct law enforcement. These men and women can be found on the nation's waterways, in the air, in classrooms and on the dock, performing Maritime Domain Awareness patrols, safety patrols, vessel safety checks and public education.

The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary was founded in 1939 by an Act of Congress as the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve and re-designated as the Auxiliary in 1941. Its over 31,000 members donate millions of hours annually in support of Coast Guard missions.