Public Courses

ATTENTION ALL PADDLERS

NATIONAL USPS NEWS

D23 EDUCATION WORKSHOP

SEMINARS

United States Power Squadrons
Educational Opportunities

A series of short guides on a wide variety of subjects of interest to boaters are also available; these are known as USPS Guides. Some Guides are also available to the public at various marine supply stores and book stores. These items may be used in USPS® classroom courses and seminars or for home study.

Member Educational Opportunities

Recognition Levels

Public Educational Opportunities

USPS Seminars

USPS Guides

Member Advanced Grades

Member Elective Courses

Public Courses

Ponce Inlet Househouse approach from Atlantic Ocean

Ponce de Leon Inlet

Sail & Power Squadron

District 23

www.PonceInletSquadron.org

Our Courses

Our Courses...

● animated, narrated home-
study CD

● digital charting CD with
software and charts

If you are interested in an exciting, in-depth boating safety course, check out America's Boating Course

May 1, 2010 - The Ponce de Leon Inlet Sail and Power Squadron in cooperation with the Marine Discovery Center is proud to present Paddle Smart.

This 2 hour seminar will be held on May 1, 2010 at the New Smyrna Boat and Ski Club at 9:00 and will be followed by an on water experience at the Marine Discovery Center.

This seminar is intended for those about to join the sport and those considering purchasing paddling equipment.

The seminar kit includes several handouts:

attendee workbook for note-taking and reference
“The Complete Sea Kayaker’s Handbook” by Shelly Johnson (msrp $18.95)

See the trifold brochure (1804KB, PDF) for more information.

There is no charge for the instruction, however, there is a $35 fee for the materials provided. Preregistration is required for this seminar. Class will be limited to 20 students. To preregister for Paddle Smart please call our Educational Officer, Will Benny at 386.426.8426.

The decision to remove all restrictions on teaching any and all of our member courses to the public appears to be a popular one. The number of requests for revised nonmember course exams from many squadrons was so numerous that Headquarters asked for a several month delay in getting them out.

April 17, 2010 - The annual D23 Education Workshop will be held at Satellite Beach on 17 April 10. These workshops are always very informative and keep you abreast of the current happenings of the Education Department. I hope that all the instructors will make themselves available for this event. Any instructor needing to be Instructor Recertified can do so at Workshop.

Seminars Chairman, Paul Yeaton , S, and I are working to schedule another PaddleSmart Seminar for late April. P/C Don Woods, AP, has stepped up and will examine the GPS and other technical Seminars to possibly teach them in the near future.

For more information contact:

Lt/C Will Benny, SN - Squadron Education Officer

email me

how not to do it!

Learn

how not to do it!

Educated Boaters Are Safe Boaters - Call Today For A Course Near You!

*** Our local information request hot-line 877-276-0837 ***

email your request for Course Information

Member Courses

NEWS FROM THE NATIONAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

In an effort to inspire more interest in taking in-house boating courses, Headquarters has announced prize giveaways for certain member courses. Here is how it works. Take and complete one of the qualifying courses between 7/1/2009 and 6/30/2010. Successfully pass the examination before 6/30/2010. You will be automatically entered in the drawing. The winner’s names will be drawn at the 2010 Governing Board in Seattle between 8/30 and 9/4/2010. The available prizes are:

1. For Seamanship (3) Handheld VHF Radios
2. For Piloting (3) Handheld GPS
3. For Advanced Piloting (3) Sets of Navigational Software
4. For JN (1) Chart Plotter
5. For Weather (3) Barometers
6. For Marine Electrical Systems (3) Multi-meters
7. For Engine Maintenance (3) Multi-meters

So if your interest has been sparked, contact me to get the course started. Lt/C Will Benny, SN - Squadron Education Officer, email me

ADVANCED PILOTING

So far I’ve heard from one member interested in taking this class. If I do not hear from more members, I’ll assume there’s no interest and canceled.

.
OTHER CLASSES

If you are interested in Seamanship or Engine Maintenance or any other class let me know as soon as possible so that I can get them planned.

For more information contact:

Lt/C Will Benny, SN - Squadron Education Officer

email me

*** Our local information request hot-line 877-276-0837 ***

email your request for Course Information

Keep your mind sharp and your skills up-to-date - enjoy a seminar, take a course, review

by proctoring our safe boating classes - education is a major part of our organization.

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United States Power Squadrons provides many educational opportunities to both the boating public and to its members. One of the key concepts of the United States Power Squadrons is the self-education of its members, meaning that successful students go on to teach other students to perpetuate boating knowledge. USPS instructors who teach public courses are also certified regarding their ability to teach and use modern instructional methods.

USPS University

- is here with new programs targeted to a range of boaters and types of boating. The hallmark of this concept is the Seminar Series. These short seminars are targeted to specific topics and needs with a two-hour format, and valuable take-away guides. Each seminar provides credits toward the soon to be released Boat Operator Certification program, and credit toward elective courses.

Using VHF & VHF/DSC Marine Radio	Using GPS
How to Use a Chart	Onboard Weather Forecasting
Boat Handling Under Power	Sail Trim
Paddle Smart	Knots, Bends, and Hitches

Three New Seminars Available

Anchoring
Hurricanes and Boats
Marine RADAR.

USPS provides basic boating education to the public with no charge for instruction. Local squadrons may teach The Squadron Boating Course, Boat Smart, or America's Boating Course. Squadrons may also follow a Boat Smart or America's Boating Course with a Chart Smart course to provide charting and plotting information not covered in those two courses. Locate a course to be taught near you soon.

USPS has a series of short seminars open to the public on a variety of boating related topics, such as Global Positioning System (GPS), weather, and marine radio. The materials included with each two hour seminar include a Student Note Book and other take-away guides related to that particular topic. Check here to see the offerings.

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Member Educational opportunities are available through two segments, Advanced Grades and Elective Courses. Learn how to become a member.

The Advanced Grades are a series of in-depth navigational courses for members, and completion of the highest level course determines a member's "grade". Letter grades may appear in USPS printed materials while insignia appear on a member's uniform. Descriptions of these courses, as well as the letter grades and insignia, are given on the Advanced Grades page.

A wide discipline of courses that cover related boating topics other than navigation are also offered as part of the instructed course curriculum for members. Descriptions of these courses are given on the Elective Courses page.

Take the finest course available

♦ in classroom

♦ on internet, or

♦ at home

244 page full-color book, comprehensive boating information, introduction to navigation, and two CDs.

USPS awards grades to its members to indicate how far they have progressed in the continuing education program. Since one of the USPS objectives is boating safety through education, USPS encourages every member to strive to achieve the Educational Proficiency level, with the ultimate goal being that of the Educational Achievement Award.

Educational Proficiency Insignia Anyone completing a grade level of at least Advanced Piloting (AP) and three Elective Courses receives the Educational Proficiency Award. Shown below is an AP insignia with the Educational Proficiency bar below it.

Senior Navigator Insignia Anyone completing all Advanced Grade navigational courses that results in a grade of Navigator (N) and all Elective Courses receives the Educational Achievement Award. This award, also known as the Senior Navigator award, is the highest educational recognition awarded by USPS. Holders of this honor can be recognized in print by the "SN" following their name. Shown here is the Educational Achievement Award insignia that you might see on a member's uniform.