Boating Season Has Begun!

May is packed full of boating events and activities in case you needed a reason for getting out on the water. Our "Wear It Ohio!" lifejacket campaign kicks off this month at the beginning of National Safe Boating Week (May 17-23). Two summer-long activities begin on the 10th: "Explore the Outdoors" is a Dept. of Natural Resources program aimed at getting children out-of-doors to reconnect with nature; and "PaddleQuest 2008" is a series of paddling events sponsored by Gander Mountain that occur at a variety of Ohio State Parks. If your weather isn't cooperating yet, there are plenty of ways to "limber up" for the season, from public forums to boating classes to vessel safety checks. We hope to see you on the water!

"Explore The Outdoors" Activities for Kids

This summer the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, along with several key partners, will launch a new campaign, called “Explore the Outdoors,” which is designed to help reunite children with the great outdoors. The cornerstone of this campaign is the Explore the Outdoors Challenge, in which kids will be challenged to complete 8 out of 10 outdoor activities over the summer.

Highlight on Access: Archbold

In 2005, the Village of Archbold completed a small boat ramp that accesses their city reservoir. Assistance from the Division of Watercraft was approximately $64,000 through the Cooperative Projects Program. The site has a one lane ramp with a boarding dock and ample parking. The site is for electric and non-motorized boats only. This project is unique in that a steel ramp was installed instead of a traditional concrete ramp. This allowed the project to be completed in a more reasonable amount of time since the need for weather-permitted construction was limited to the curing of the concrete abutment for the steel ramp to be attached to.

Ohio PaddleQuest Begins May 10

Gander Mountain Company, the nation's largest retail network of stores for hunting, fishing, camping, boating, marine, and outdoor lifestyle products and services, plans to host ten canoeing and kayaking events throughout the state as part of Paddle Quest 2008. The event kicks off May 10 at Shawnee State Park near Portsmouth.

Norm Schultz Retires from Ohio Waterways Safety Council

Mentor resident Norm Schultz, a prominent figure in Ohio's recreational boating community, retired from the Ohio Waterways Safety Council on March 17, following 26 years of service to the organization.

Local Marine Patrol Units Receive Over $564,000

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Watercraft has awarded a total of $564,564 in Marine Patrol Assistance Grants to 28 local communities to assist in enforcing boating laws and maintaining safety on state waterways.

Ohioans Recognized at National Boating Safety Event

Seven awards were presented to Ohio individuals and groups in April at the National Water Safety Congress's annual conference held in San Diego, including a Letter of Commendation to Central Ohio resident and US Army Corps of Engineers employee John Wargo.

Tom Pascoe Appointed to Navigation Safety Advisory Council

Sandusky resident and chairman of the Ohio Waterways Safety Council, Tom Pascoe, has been appointed to serve a three-year term on the 21-member Navigation Safety Advisory Council, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Watercraft. His term expires November 4, 2010.