PUTNAM COUNTY
When local Girl Scout Troop leader Tiffany Ogden contacted George Craig at H20 Adventures about teaching a multi-age and skill-level kayaking class, as a former Girl Scout leader herself, Craig jumped at the chance to help parents and their girls put safety before fun.
'I started working on this idea three years ago, after starting with H2O Adventures as their general manager,” Craig said. “As the months went by, I began noticing the number of families coming to the Lake Country with little to no water safety training.
“This puts both the families and the community at risk for accidents. Life jacket safety was always first on the list, but I really wanted to get out in the lake with the children and equipment so they could have a first-hand, physical opportunity to understand why it's so important to be safe first, before getting into the water for fun.'
Craig’s education began with joining the Coast Guard Auxiliary and taking a multitude of classes and obtaining her Boater Education certificate. Utilizing her past training in Girl Scouts, and present position with H2O Adventures, teaching the program came easy.
Ogden is the troop leader of Historic Georgia Troop 60516, based in Putnam County. Being able to combine one class to meet the developmental needs and program requirements for all the girls was an immediate concern, but after meeting with Craig and planning the course, the delivery was all that remained. It was all made possible by H20 Adventures providing the kayaks and safety equipment, including life jackets and training documents.
The program involved a three-part process beginning with understanding and reducing marine debris. A variety of trash was intentionally, and safely, spread throughout the beach at Oconee Springs Park, along with stuffed marine animals and birds. After acting out a skit where two Girl Scouts were chit-chatting and dropping their garbage on the beach, a “Park Ranger” stopped and questioned them about their behavior.
The troop was asked to locate and pick up all the trash and animals, and then explain what type of trash they found and how it would affect each animal. Parents joined in the discussion, as it also was a mother-daughter excursion in honor of National Mother-Daughter Day (Sept. 25).
Part Two was personal floatation device (PFD), or lifejacket training. The girls took part in choosing their own jackets and determining which was the appropriate size and why. After a discussion about the dangers of slipping and falling into the lake, they each promised to wear their lifejackets on the way to the dock, not just in a kayak or on a boat.
The third and final, and of course the most exciting portion of the training, involved kayaks and paddling. Each girl chose an appropriately sized kayak and soon enough, all paddles were swinging, and kayaks were in motion with parents on stand-by as each girl made her way on the lake.
They each learned how to correctly pull their kayak into the water, how to get seated and then to paddle, turn, circle and return. And not only did they each capsize and remount, they also learned how to help a friend recover without capsizing themselves.
Upon completion of all components of each water-related program, each girl can earn the following badges: Outdoor Skills, Paddling, Water Safety, Eco Learner, Eco Friendly, Kayak Fun, Lifejacket Safety and Trash Pick-up.
Anyone wanting more information about joining Girl Scouts can reach Tiffany Ogden at 678-794-3728. For more information about renting boats, kayaks, jet skis or other vessels, or to book a similar water safety class, contact George Craig with H2O Adventures at 706-800-8420.