Number 4-97 -- 24 June 1997
The new Boating Safely Course (BSC) has proven to be a commercial success, thanks to many Auxiliarists who were willing to try this new product. As a reminder, this is a four-lesson, eight-hour course designed for boaters, youth, operators of personal watercraft (PWC), and non-traditional boaters, including hunters and fishermen. The BSC was developed jointly by the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary (USCGAUX) and the United States Power Squadrons (USPS) and is published by Mosby Lifeline, Inc. The text resembles a news magazine; well-illustrated and attractive. The course is approved by the National Association of Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) as a basic boating safety course. Initial success prompted as second printing, which has had minor modifications and now is also NASBLA-approved as a stand-alone PWC course. The BSC is a classroom course with an in-class proctored examination. When supplemental state-specific material is included, this course should satisfy the requirements of states with mandatory education programs.
Since first issued in February 1997, the course was distributed solely through the publisher, Mosby Lifeline, Inc. Many Auxiliary districts were unhappy with this arrangement, and wanted to distribute this through the normal USCGAUX supply chain, as are our other courses, including BS&S, S&S, and ACN/BCN. This arrangement simplifies the logistics of ordering and permits districts and divisions to add a markup to supplement their revenues. In response to these concerns, the National Executive Committee decided that, effective 1 July 1997, the BSC will be distributed only through the Auxiliary supply chain. The instruction for ordering the Boating Safely Course, as issued in Speed-gram 2-97, 6 February 1997, is withdrawn. Consult your flotilla, division, or district materials officer for ordering and pricing information. Because of price increases for the BSC textbook, flotillas may wish to adjust course prices. As stated in Speed-gram 2-97, flotillas are free to charge reasonable and appropriate prices for BSC classes, with due recognition for the price of the materials, costs for classroom space, training aids, and other components of the education effort--subject to competitive pressures.
The BSC contains all the basic boating information deemed essential by NASBLA. But, it is shorter than our traditional BS&S or S&S courses. It may be more competitive than our traditional offerings in those states which have imposed mandatory education requirements because many students will opt to minimize the amount of effort required to satisfy these requirements. The BSC can be taught in four two-hour sessions, two four-hour sessions, or other combinations which total eight hours. The relatively short length of the BSC provides a great deal of flexibility for flotillas. Auxiliarists have taught the BSC over the weekend--or even in a full day. Because of its length, it is often easier to arrange for classroom space for this course. BSC courses have been taught in PWC dealer showrooms, yacht clubs, senior citizen centers, at hunting and fishing clubs, and many other non-traditional locations. The BSC is an ideal summer course that requires less time commitment on the part of both students and instructors--a nice feature considering that time is at a premium during the boating season.
The BSC can serve as a "gateway" course to our traditional curriculum, such as the BS&S or S&S. A good instructor creates a favorable impression of the Auxiliary and may be able to convince students to enroll in more complete courses, particularly in areas of the country where greater knowledge of aids to navigation, plotting, and related topics is beneficial, such as in coastal and Great Lakes states. Make sure that you inform students of the various courses offered by the Auxiliary. Emphasize the fact that, upon completion of the BSC, students may have satisfied the minimum requirements of their state, but that additional knowledge is available. Do not belittle the value of what the student has learned, however. Students will resent this and be less favorably disposed to taking additional courses.
In "mandatory education" states, BSC students may be much younger than those in our traditional classes--and some may be motivated only by the need to fulfill requirements, rather than out of interest. Nonetheless, teaching this group can be challenging and a great deal of fun besides. Younger students may be more irreverent, more easily bored, and less tolerant of "war stories" than their adult counterparts--but they are often less pretentious, more inquiring, and every bit as intelligent. Good teaching is good teaching and this group will respond to your efforts. Be prepared, stay focused, maintain eye contact, observe how each individual responds and you will do fine.
Do not go into the classroom to teach the BSC without having prepared by reading the text and the instructor manual!
If you are teaching a PWC course, make sure that you are familiar with the operation of these craft. At a minimum, study the Owner's Manuals of several PWC before going into the classroom. Talk with fellow Auxiliarists who own these craft for additional pointers--you may even be able to persuade them to let you have a ride! If it is difficult or impractical for you to get the necessary PWC background, team teach with someone who does so that questions on these craft can be answered correctly.
Consider alternative locations for advertising the BSC. Do not limit yourself to adult education catalogs, supermarket bulletin boards, newspapers, etc. Consider posting flyers at yacht clubs, marinas, boat dealers--including PWC dealers, retailers of marine equipment, and hunting and fishing clubs. For the time, money, and information, we feel we have a winner with the Boating Safely Course. Give it a try in YOUR flotilla. New members are also a possibility!