Here We Go Again

Nope.  No Pin Hunting, no mulching, no painting (thank heavens!).  Something different, but something very familiar.

We had to be to the J. Strom Thurmond COE Visitor Center at 8:30 this morning, a little earlier than we usually start, but we were rewarded with a beautiful sight, fog rolling over the Thurmond dam.

                  

We were at the Visitor Center to present to two classes of homeschoolers the Corps Water Safety Program.

Last winter when we were here, we worked with several other volunteer couples to design and write a Water Safety Program to present to many local schools in towns and counties surrounding Thurmond Lake.  It was a necessary undertaking because there have been at least three drownings each summer at the lake, mostly of young children.  The target audience was to be grade school age kids.

We left Thurmond COE last April and personally only participated in one school presentation, but other volunteer couples carried on the program and by the end of summer had reached over 6000 children with the Water Safety Program.

It was a tremendous success, and the wonderful result was there were no drownings last summer. 

As word of mouth passed from person to person about the program, more and more schools and organizations contacted the Corps requesting the Water Safety Program presentation.

This morning, Marti and I jumped right in and presented the Water Safety Program to the two home school organizations, with about 70 kids and teachers.  The program came right back to us, we had a blast teaching about life jackets, proper fits, how to don them properly and all aspects of safety around the Thurmond Lake swim areas.

                    

We even demonstrated toys, like this inflatable ring, that are not life jackets.

                    

Yep, we even sank a few oranges to hammer home the need to wear a life jacket, and wear it correctly.

                    

We had two new volunteer couples observing the presentations as they will soon be involved and participating, too.

We have as our traveling motto:  “Semper Gumby” (Always Flexible) and it works for us whether we’re driving on the road or volunteering here at Thurmond COE.  We never know quite what we’ll be doing next but we’re always happy to step in and do our best at whatever the need. 

Plus, it’s a lot of fun!  :c)

Thanks for visiting and feel free to leave a comment.