Summer teaching at the Lake Thunderbird BoatHouse began over the Memorial Day weekend, May 26-29.   While most sailing classes at the BoatHouse are designed for beginners, accomplished sailors populated this particular class. You guessed it!  This class trained sailors to become sailing instructors.
Nine instructor candidates from as far away as Shreveport, LA participated in the intensive forty-hour course.   Richard Shaw (far right, front row) taught the class with me serving as official ‘gopher’.  In addition to his many sailing and boating credentials, Rick is certified by US Sailing as a small boat Instructor Trainer.  Even for knowledgeable sailors and people that have teaching and public speaking experience the class is nonetheless a challenge.  Sailing skills, both practical and theoretical, are examined.  Teaching and presentation techniques are taught and carefully evaluated.  Concerns of safety and risk are discussed at length.
Having completed the class the students are pictured holding a ‘tell tale’, presented by Instructor Trainer Rick with the thought that this simple tool helps guide boats to places they otherwise could not go.  The class left a ‘Thank you, BoatHouse’ card which is pinned to the east bulletin board in the conference room.  Successful completion of the class entitles students to teach sailing under the auspices and guidelines of the US Sailing. And, for this group, that means..very soon. Sarah Warfield (second from left, front), brother Brett Warfield (fourth from left, front) and Chris Piszczek (mid, second row) will begin teaching at the Walnut Valley Sailing Club, El Dorado, KS later this month.  Elizabeth LaBorde (third from left, front) whose home is Shreveport, will soon be teaching at the youth camp in Ohio.  Neville Koop (left, second row) we all know as the coach and teacher of the youngsters in the Thunderbird Sailing Club Junior Sailing Team. Texanita Randle (fifth from left in front row) will present classes to members of the Ninnescha Sailing Assn., Wichita, KS.  Kenna Green (third from right, front) and Glede Holman (right, second row) lead Sea Scouts in Oklahoma City.  Courtney Holman (second from right, front) will soon join the staff at Slippery Falls Scout Camp and begin teaching sailing.
Certainly an excellent way to launch the 2006 teaching season at the BoatHouse.