Virgin Islands students have a chance to learn about boating next month — for free.
Throughout July, the youth programme Kids and the Sea will host four one-week summer camps for ages 10-16 at the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College’s Centre for Applied Marine Studies and other venues on Tortola.
Each session will accommodate 28 students, who must have competent swimming abilities and be comfortable in the water, according to KATS, which is hosting the camps with support from Unite BVI and HLSCC.
The camps’ morning sessions will focus on educating students in basic boating skills and safety. Participants will learn about docking, anchoring, knot tying, basic first aid, and other subjects, according to KATS.
Afternoons will include other water-based activities, including mangrove nursery tours at HLSCC, sailing lessons with the Royal BVI Yacht Club, eco-tours with Ground-Sea Adventures, surfing and boogie board lessons with BVI Surf School, conservation projects and others.
Programme registration opened on Saturday at www.bvikats.org. Enrollment of the maximum 112 students will be final once the students pass a swim test with BVI Swim School, which will test them on basic swimming skills with and without a lifejacket.
KATS is also looking for volunteers to assist the team of instructors throughout the programme. Students looking for community service hours towards graduation who are over the age of 16 are encouraged to apply.
Email admin@bvikats.org to express interest.
Want to go?
Four free camps will be held next month: from July 5-9; from July 11-15; from July 18-22; and from July 25-29. To register, go to www.bvikats.org.