19 Vol. 83, No. 1 | Proceedings many of the grant funded deliverables for their own boating safety efforts and programs. In conjunction with state and federal efforts, the grant recipients work to implement the three initiatives of the National Recreational Boating Safety Program’s Strategic Plan:2 • Positively Influence Recreational Boater Behavior • Positively Influence Recreational Boat and Accessory Manufacturers • Leverage Recreational Boating Data Many projects from these organizations address multiple initiatives, especially those that provide outreach to both boaters—Initiative 1—and manufacturers— Initiative 2. Recipients also provide measurements of their efforts per increased focus on data under Initiative 3. Grant Funding at Work The following nonprofit organizations have recently received funding for recreational boating safety activities. American Boat & Yacht Council Annapolis, Maryland American Boat & Yacht Council (ABYC) develops voluntary global safety standards for design, construction, maintenance, and repair of recreational boats. The Coast Guard provides grant support to ABYC to maintain these standards, encourage boat manufacturers to achieve a higher level of safety standards in boat building, and to fund technical education and training of boat building professionals. American Canoe Association Fredericksburg, Virginia The American Canoe Association serves the broader paddling public by providing educational programs and supporting stewardship initiatives that affect paddlers. The Expanding Virtual Paddling Education project builds on the Paddlesports Safety Facilitator online course, which teaches basic safety and paddling knowledge, trip planning, group management, and rescue priorities for canoeing, kayaking, and stand up paddleboarding. The Education Through Geofencing project provides a direct- to-mobile, location-based information-sharing technol- ogy, which provides information to operators based on their physical activities and the places they go. American Whitewater Springfield, Oregon American Whitewater, a river conservation organization, updates river data nationwide for high-use rivers. This initiative has expanded hazard alerts and mapped water flows. An outreach campaign encourages crowdsourced safety contributions, providing real-time tools to over 1 million users annually. BoatU.S. Foundation Springfield, Virginia The BoatU.S. Foundation promotes safe, clean, and responsible boating. The Foundation was funded to modernize its national Life Jacket Loaner Program by piloting digital check-out Smart Stations that track usage and provide QR-enabled safety education. This initiative will expand access to properly fitting life jackets, includ- ing inflatable options for adults, and promote behavioral change through a national public service announcement campaign. By leveraging technology, this program will reduce drowning fatalities and increase life jacket wear rates. The organization’s project on the Multipronged Approach to an Educated Boater provides micro-courses on important lessons to increase boating safety via 30-minute interactive courses. Coast Guard Auxiliary Association Granite City, Illinois The Coast Guard Auxiliary Association is dedicated to strengthening the Coast Guard Auxiliary by supporting and enhancing member experiences, securing resources, and ensuring the Auxiliary provides effective support of the Coast Guard’s mission. Its Paddlesports Safety Initiative expands awareness of paddle craft safety through outreach activities geared to influence paddle craft manufacturers, vendors, dealers, and liveries. These professionals then influence the paddling public toward increased safety. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Natural Resources Education Foundation Pisgah Forest, North Carolina The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Natural Resources Education Foundation, or Corps Foundation, supports Through its Search Engine Content Marketing Project, the Water Sports Foundation engages boaters and paddlers when search for information online. Photo courtesy of the Water Sports Foundation
