October 18, 2004

Water safety programs draw national interest

The CSUS Aquatic Center and University Media Services both drew national attention this summer for their work in promoting water safety and boating education.

UMS won a national Boating Education Advancement Award at the International Boating and Water Safety Summit. The award recognized a body of work UMS has done for the California Division of Boating and Waterways including the educational water safety videos Champions of the Waterways and On the Line.

And the Aquatic Center’s boating safety program “CSUS Aquatic and Boating Safety Center” was selected as a regional winner by the Western State Boating Administrators Association. The center went on to compete for the National Safe Boating Council’s Boating Education Advancement Award. The regional award carried a $1,000 cash award.

The Aquatic Center went one step further in the spotlight in August when Olympic silver medalist in rowing Mary Whipple mentioned the Center in an interview during NBC’s Olympic telecast from Athens. Whipple, who grew up in Sacramento, told the reporter that learned her sport on the Aquatic Center’s Capital Crew team.

Safety on the water is a prime concern in a water sports-friendly place like Sacramento. And it’s the primary reason the University, the California Department of Boating and Waterways, and the California Department of Parks and Recreation teamed up to create the Aquatic Center.

As a certified state regional boat safety center, the center offers dozens of aquatic, boating and safety programs. Some courses are available to Sacramento State students for credit, while others are group or private lessons and clinics that are also open to the public.

And every year more than 3,500 children and teens take part in summer camps as well as after-school and spring break programs including special “Guppies” camps for seven-year-olds.

The Center also functions as a recreation destination with beach and grass areas, picnic tables, barbeques and docks. Guests can rent keelboats, sailboats, surf skis, windsurfers, canoes and kayaks for personal use. Special rates are available for Sacramento State faculty, staff and students.

For more information on Aquatic Center offerings, call 278-2842 or visit www.csusaquaticcenter.com.

####