Educational Programs

Spirit of America

Check out the Spirit of America Foundation Webpage!

The Spirit of America Foundation Youth, Family and Community Education Program is highly regarded as an educational program of choice in our country.

Our children and their families learn by doing, learn through hands on training, and by taking responsibility for themselves and their ship mates. As we all know, hands on experiences in education provide the foundation and the desire for future learning.

We are reversing the decline in outdoor recreation, which we believe significant, by providing encouragement and inspiration from some of the finest instructors in the country. The greatest gift we can provide for our future generations is a hope and a promise of lives to be lived to their full potential in a sustainable environment. Spirit of America does both and believes in... No Child Left at the Dock

SOA Promotional Video from Brendan O'Donnell on Vimeo.

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Personal Watercraft Course

The Personal Watercraft Education Basic Operation and Rescue Course is a two day / 16 hour course designed for the educator and rescue professional and provides those students with basic knowledge of personal watercraft operation and rescue techniques. You will leave this course with a certificate of completion. ** This certification does not permit you to teach the National Water Safety Congress Personal Watercraft Course.

Syllabus Includes but is not limited to:

*Classroom

• Review of Personal Watercraft Craft
• Required Equipment Laws specific to PWC's & Operation Laws - Restricted Areas & Reckless Operation
• Navigation Laws
• On Site Pre Operations Maintenance and Preview
• Single Operator Slalom Course
• Two Person Slalom Course and Two Person Slalom/Rescuer Reverse
• Post - Operations Maintenance

* Written Exam - Classroom 2nd 8 hours:

• Rescue Sled
• Unconscious/Cooperative Victims and Conscious/Combative Victims
• Proper victim Approaches/Victim Assessment
• Communications/Hand Signals
• Rescue Basket Sled/Two Person Team and Two Person With Victim
• Operator Assist-Unconscious / Cooperative Victim Rescue Drill
• Conscious/Combative Victim Rescues Victim Assessment and Proper Approach
• Conscious/Combative Victim Rescue Drill
• Two Rescuer/Four Victim Rescue Drill
• Practical Exam Testing
• Post Operations
• Evaluations

More information & information about hosting a Personal Watercraft Course

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Cold Water Boot Camp USA: From Sudden Immersion to Rescue and Recovery

Click here to request a DVD!!

Check out the videos on the DVD online in our Resource Section.

This one day workshop is a must for the professional or volunteer who work around or near water. If you are in law enforcement, fire/rescue, EMS, or a boating safety instructor you will gain the knowledge from this workshop so that you can develop the skills and ability to survive a Cold Water Immersion.

You will learn the anatomy of an accident, the dangers of inclement weather, understand basic boating safety skills and recognize potential water hazards. You will understand the four stages of cold water immersion and how that affects human physiology. Gain the knowledge to recognize the signs and symptoms of hypothermia along with basic field treatment. You will understand the principals of and the factors that influence ice formation. You will learn safe travel on the ice, and how to self rescue should you break through the ice. This course provides valuable information about how to better survive an accidental fall into cold water and the indisputable fact that the difference between becoming a statistic and a survivor is wearing a lifejacket.

A certificate will be provided following completion of this course.