Jupiter, FL— Last summer the Jupiter/Tequesta community struggled with the devastating loss of Austin Stephanos and his friend. As we anticipate spring break and summer vacation, our minds naturally turn to time spent on the Caribbean-blue waters that make Jupiter such a special place. And the River Center is gearing up to make a difference beginning in March.
Whether heading out on the open ocean for an epic fishing adventure or up the intracoastal for a leisurely cruise, South Floridians enjoy boating. While boating can be fun and relaxing, operating a boat, especially for young people, can be dangerous. Even with boater safety training, the boys still found themselves in a dangerous situation. According to United States Coast Guard statistics, there were over 4,000 watercraft-related accidents in 2014 resulting in millions of dollars of property damage, thousands of injuries, and hundreds of fatalities. In the vast majority of these accidents, the vessel operator had received no boater safety training.
Participating in effective boater safety training is the most significant thing boaters can do to decrease their risk of mishap while on the water. Potential boaters need to understand the dangers of boating in hazardous waters like the Jupiter Inlet, how inclement weather can ruin a good day on the water, why speed kills, the importance of navigation, and the downside of carelessness.
Beginning in March, the Loxahatchee River District’s River Center is collaborating with the US Coast Guard Auxiliary “Flotilla 52” in Jupiter to provide Boating Safely Classes targeted specifically to young boaters in our community. All boaters operating a boat with 10 or more horsepower in Florida (born on or after January 1, 1988) are required to have a Florida Safe Boating Card. The River Center is pleased to announce that these classes are provided through a generous sponsorship by the AustinBlu Foundation, a not-for-profit founded in Austin’s name and dedicated to raising awareness and promoting educational programs to improve boater safety. These classes are offered free and will equip participants with the information they need to successfully maintain safety while on the water. Completion of the class will allow the student to obtain a Florida Safe Boating Card.
Boating Safety Classes taught by Flotilla 52 Members will be offered monthly from March through August at the River Center. These classes will begin at 8:30 a.m. and end at 4:00 p.m. on the following Saturdays: March 12, April 23 (taught in Spanish), May 15 (Sunday), June 18, July 23, and August 20. Although there is no cost for the class, a $10.00 deposit per student is required to reserve a seat. This deposit will be refunded in full to all students who complete the class. For more information or to register for a date, please call the River Center at 561-743-7123 or send an email to Rivercenter@lrecd.org. The River Center is located inside Burt Reynolds Park at 805 N US Highway 1 in Jupiter.
For more information about the River Center, please call 561-743-7123 or visit http://www.loxahatcheeriver.org/rivercenter.
