Don White wrote:

Rosalie B. wrote:
"Sal's Dad" wrote:

In a few weeks, we will have a bunch of 10-year-old kids at our waterfront
home for a week. There are a number of small boats available: power, sail,
row, paddle. Our daughter is very capable on the water, and we have been
working to gradually increase her skills and independence - we now feel
confident in her skills operating a small motor skiff without direct
supervision. But the other kids have little to no experience on the water.

It would be nice to provide a "formal" boater ed program over the course of
their stay, so the kids can build skills and confidence. Also, some sort of
testing would provide an objective measure of when kids are ready to do
specific things on their own.

I have not found a good text or program for this kind of education; most
seems to be geared at adults who are buying their first over-powered tub!
The CYA has a nice program for sailing, but I am interested in more
all-around lessons.

Any recommendations or suggestions?

Sal's Dad

How about the CGAux sailing and seamanship course? I have a copy of
the old text (which I think is better than the next one. It is a book
course, but it will give you the larger categories of things.

Also Annapolis Sailing School has a nice step by step course. I took
the beginner course in 1998 when we bought our boat. It was an our in
the classroom for each hour on the water. Each group of 4 went out
with an instructor and all had to do each skill.

Failing all else, there is the power squadron.


Failing all else...??
I'd t following...
http://www.cps-ecp.ca/courses/eng/boatpro.htm

I knew I would get some flack for that.

IMHO in the USPSs that I have observed, there was more emphasis on
power boats. The OP asked specifically about human powered and sail
rather than just power. We took a course with the CG Aux at the same
time as there was a Power Squadron course, and we joined up for some
classes. I had an opportunity to look at their text books and I noted
that they did not have as extensive a course (it was shorter for one
thing), and less rigorous.

I admit however, that I have not taken a Power Squadron class.

To the OP - you might also investigate Girl Scout or Boy Scout badge
training - I went to Girl Scout camp for a watercraft for a week or
two (it was in the early 50s), and we learned how to paddle and how to
swamp a canoe, how to shake it out and various other skills.

I'm sure that you have already addressed this, but in addition to
wearing PFDs, the kids should all know how to swim well.