Ohio Boat Safe 3-Day Youth Experience

Hands-On Boater Education for Ages 10–18

The Ohio Boat Safe 3-Day Youth Experience is a state-approved program that teaches young learners how to enjoy the water safely and confidently. Students learn through a mix of classroom instruction, hands-on skill building, and real on-water practice—all in a small group of just four students, with guidance from certified captains who put safety first.

WHAT WE DO

What This Course Offers

Students gain practical boating skills they can use for life. Each day combines clear instruction with supervised activities that help young people understand safety, equipment, navigation, decision-making, and communication on the water.

The program is aligned with the Ohio Boat Operator’s Guide and the U.S. Safe Boating Course, ensuring students learn exactly what the state requires.

Boating laws, registration, and responsible operation
Required safety equipment and onboard preparedness
Navigation rules, markers, and right-of-way awareness
Safe operation at night and low-visibility conditions
Accident response, environmental care, and public-water etiquette

WHY BOATING SAFETY MATTERS

Building Confidence and Preventing Accidents

Boat Safe gives young people a safe, supportive place to learn boating skills with guidance from certified captains. Our programs are built around hands-on experience, small-group instruction, and a focus on safety that gives families confidence.

After returning to shore on day 3, students wrap up the program with reflection activities and receive their Certificate of Completion (issued upon passing the state exam).

Foundations of Safe Boating

Students begin with the basics of boating safety in a calm, supportive classroom setting. They learn:

How life jackets work and how to fit them properly
Navigation rules and understanding markers and buoys
Weather awareness and how to read changing conditions
Common boating hazards and how to avoid them
Online components of the Ohio Boater Education Course

At the end of Day 1, students take the official Ohio Boater Education Test. Passing this test meets the state requirement for earning the Ohio Boater Education Certificate, which is required for operating a powered vessel in Ohio.

Hands-On Safety & Skill Building

Students move from the classroom to hands-on practice. With close instructor supervision, they learn:

These activities help students build confidence and understand how to respond safely in real situations.

Lake Erie On-Water Experience

The final day takes students onto Lake Erie with certified captains and instructors. Students rotate through real boating roles such as:

This day brings everything together—students apply what they’ve learned in real boating conditions while receiving calm, steady coaching from experienced captains.

Practical Skills

What Students Learn

This experience teaches practical, real-world boating skills, including:

Safe boat handling and docking
Navigation basics and buoy markers
Weather awareness and hazard identification
Communication skills, including VHF radio use
Emergency readiness, including man-overboard recovery
Teamwork, problem-solving, and leadership

Students finish the program with a deeper understanding of boating safety—and the confidence that comes from learning on the water.

supervised Sessions

Who Teaches the Course

Parents can feel comfortable knowing students learn in a safe, closely supervised environment.