Fatalities spur schools’ interest in Waterwise training

Ashley Busch, student at Kohia Terrace School in Epsom, Auckland, on a recent Youthtown Waterwise course.

Safety on the water shows signs of becoming an issue of concern for Auckland schools, following last summer’s much-publicised spate of fatalities.

Youthtown reports an increase in enquiries from schools across the region, interested in using its expertise in running ‘Waterwise’ training programmes.

“There’s nowhere in or around Auckland that isn’t close to the sea and large numbers of young people will always want to spend time on the water, particularly during the summer months,” says Youthtown outdoor programme co-ordinator, Graeme Thorpe, pointing out that many of the summer’s fatalities involved young people.

“However, the long list of fatalities and other severe accidents this year, has made schools, parents and the kids themselves more conscious of the need to be safe , knowledgeable and confident in that environment.

“We’ve noticed enquiries about Waterwise training are coming from schools in both high and low decile areas and places in between, reflecting the widespread nature of the concern about safety. It’s certainly not just something for the boat-owning middle class.”

Youthtown is an accredited provider for NZ Schools Waterwise Inc., an organisation that seeks to teach children about water safety whilst providing practical experience in controlled marine environments.

Waterwise programmes run by Youthtown offer tuition in sailing and kayaking, as well as in the essentials of staying safe. The charity trust also recently became the first Auckland-based Waterwise supplier to include windsurfing in the mix.

“We added windsurfing earlier this year, when running a six week programme for intermediate students from Kohia Terrace School in Epsom, a school that has used our training services for a number of years,” said Mr Thorpe.

“The innovation proved popular, particularly with those who were already proficient in sailing and kayaking and needed a new challenge.

“Our hope is to give windsurfing greater prominence in future programmes, both because it’s an increasingly popular sport and because it’s a very effective way of teaching young people to read the wind and to balance their bodies. These are skills that are important whatever you’re doing on the water.”

Praise for Youthtown’s role has come from Louis Heap, a year 7/8 teacher at Kohia Terrace, who described the Waterwise course as having had an impact far beyond the specific skills taught.

“A lot of kids, who are not confident on the water, might also lack confidence about themselves generally. They get a big boost when they learn that they can do something new and do it well.

“It also helps that the programme is delivered by an outside organisation, like Youthtown, as it makes the course special and generates a lot of discussion amongst the kids about what they’ve learned and how much they’ve enjoyed it.

“And, of course, Youthtown is able to supply highly qualified instructors, as well as a great array of boats and equipment,” he says.

The Youthtown team consists of accredited Waterwise instructors along with staff, who have Yachting NZ or NZ Outdoor Instructors qualifications.

Youthtown’s purpose is to help young people express themselves, develop skills and build self-esteem, in safe, open and stimulating environments.

Formed in Auckland during the 1930s, the trust has in recent years started expanding its operations to other parts of NZ.

“Waterwise training is likely to be one of the fields of expertise that we bring with us, as we put down roots in new areas. Safety on the water is an issue all over NZ, including inland areas with their lakes and rivers,” says Mr Thorpe.