Youth Education

Drowning is the fourth leading cause of injury death among children 0-18. What can we do? Educate!

Drownings are preventable by wearing a properly fitting life jacket. To learn more about life jackets and water safety, the Oregon State Marine Board offers, for free, these great educational resources:

"Let's Go Boating" Activity Book
Learn how to be a safe boater and have fun on the water! "Let's Go Boating" is a kids' activity book with puzzles, games, and information about being a responsible, safe boater on Oregon waters.

Bobber Activity Book from the USACE

"Bobber the Water Safety Dog" Activity Book

Follow Bobber as he navigates boating safety through interactive flash games, coloring sheets, and hilarious cartoons perfect for school-age children. Produced by the Army Corps of Engineers. Visit the Bobber Website.

School Programs

Water Wits

The Oregon State Marine Board has a new K-12 classroom curriculum available free for educators: "Water Wits."

The Water Wits program encourages awareness and responsible use of aquatic and marine resources and goes beyond traditional boating and water safety education to include stewardship messages and scientific principles. The program is designed to be interdisciplinary, academically rigorous, interactive, and student-led. Visit our Water Wits page to find out more about the curriculum and request free lesson plans for your classroom.

Classroom Visits

Marine deputies from around the state are trained to give boating and water safety education to schools. If you would like an officer to visit your class, contact your local county Sheriff's office. If you need assistance getting a class visit scheduled, please call the Marine Board at (503) 378-8587 and ask for the Education Section or email our education staff.