Boater education courses offered

GRANT COUNTY - The Grant County Sheriff’s Office and the Quincy School District will offer the Washington State Boater Education Course to students, school staff and the public on June 3-5 from 3:30-6:30 p.m.

The class will be held at the Quincy Junior High School, 417 C St NE, Quincy. Attendance on all three days is necessary for completion of the course. ?

Since the late 1980s, Quincy Junior High School has included a water safety, boating safety, and canoe class as part of its 8th grade physical education curriculum.

The Sheriff’s Office Marine program has participated with this effort. It assists with instruction and providing a safety boat when students are on the water with the canoes and kayaks. ?

This year the Sheriff’s marine deputies will also instruct the State boater education course at the Quincy Junior High School after the normal school day is completed. Completion of a Washington State-approved course is required for persons operating vessels of 15 horsepower or more.

The requirement is being phased in based on a person’s age. This year persons 50 years old and younger are required to have completed the course. Next year all persons born after January 1, 1955 will have to complete the course.

Persons born before 1955 are exempt from the boater education requirement. All boaters who have not completed the course are encouraged to do so. ?

The Quincy Junior High School class is designed for students, teachers and staff at the schools but is also open to the public. Members of the public who would like to attend need to register with the Sheriff’s Office at 509-754-2011 extension 468 or bpoplawski@co.grant.wa.us.

Persons from the school who wish to participate need to register with Teresa Goninan at the school. Registration assures available materials and space. There is no cost to participate in the course. ?