A Letter from the Executive Director
As we head into another busy boating season, I’m excited to share several opportunities and resources designed to support your outreach efforts and help keep our waterways safe. Registration is now open for the International Boating and Water Safety Summit (IBWSS)—and this year, it’s completely free. IBWSS remains a cornerstone event for our community, bringing together professionals and advocates from around the world to share ideas, innovations, and best practices in boating safety. If you haven’t already, I encourage you to register at IBWSS.org and be part of this important conversation. We’re also gearing up for National Safe Boating Week, and we have a wide range of free resources available to support your local campaigns and events. From educational materials to outreach tools, everything you need to engage your community is ready and accessible. Please check out the resources page of SafeBoatingCampaign.com. In addition, free shipping for Safe Boating Campaign outreach materials will open in April. All materials are provided at no cost, and orders can be placed directly through the NSBC website. This is a great opportunity to stock up and prepare for a strong, visible presence during peak boating season. I also want to highlight our Boat On Course program— with our monthly, live, and interactive video learning series. Each session focuses on a specific navigation rule, helping boaters build knowledge and confidence on the water. It’s an engaging and practical way to reinforce safe boating behaviors. You can learn more and register at BoatOnCourse.com. Thank you for your continued dedication and partnership in advancing boating safety. Together, we’re making a real impact. We will see you online at IBWSS in May.
Safe boating,
Captain Peg Phillips
Executive Director
Sponsored by Recademics
Keep Your Skills Sharp: Join Free Boat On Course Live Training Sessions
At the National Safe Boating Council, we know that safe boating is built on knowledge—and that knowledge should evolve as conditions, technology, and waterways change. That’s why we’re excited to promote the Boat On Course live training sessions, a free series of interactive online programs designed to keep boaters engaged, informed, and confident on the water. Hosted by licensed Captains, these live sessions offer practical instruction focused on real-world boating scenarios and the rules that govern them. Participants can ask questions in real time, hear directly from experienced professionals, and walk away with a clearer understanding of how to navigate shared waterways safely and responsibly. The sessions serve as a valuable refresher and an opportunity to deepen skills that matter every time you leave the dock. NSBC Instructor, Allan Rex, has attended all sessions so far. "As a person with extensive boating experience, I recognize that certain safety practices can be overlooked if not practiced regularly. To maintain comprehensive knowledge in this area, I have relied on the National Safe Boating Council as a valuable resource," Rex shared. "These sessions offer participants the opportunity to engage directly and have questions answered in real time. I find them to be helpful and highly recommend these resources to both novice and experienced boaters, as continuing education is essential for ensuring safety on the water." Patrick Kleeman, U.S. Navy veteran (PO3 Class), Safe Boating Campaign partner, and kayak, SUP, and bike guide with Outside Hilton Head, has also generously shared his feedback with us and attested to the quality of the training sessions.
"The instructors are well-trained, articulate, and provide excellent education throughout each session. One particularly helpful lesson covered the proper use of signaling equipment when passing another vessel. It was a great reminder of the correct procedures to follow and how to interpret the response from the other vessel. I have found each class to be very valuable and look forward to the upcoming instruction. I also appreciate the input from the other participants, as everyone has a unique way of supporting the material." Boating is a lifelong pursuit, and staying sharp benefits everyone on the water. These free training sessions reinforce the idea that learning is not a one-time requirement, but an ongoing commitment to safety, responsible seamanship, and community. Be on the lookout for accompanying video content this spring at BoatOnCourse.com. Sign up for the NSBC's next free Boat on Course training session, and be sure to follow the entire series.
Attend (or catch up on) all 15 sessions to receive your Boat on Course completion certificate!
High School Senior Launches “Choose Life Jackets” Nonprofit to Promote Water Safety
A new youth-led nonprofit is working to change the way young people think about water safety. Choose Life Jackets, founded by high school senior Briar Dohner, aims to encourage Gen Z and Gen Alpha to make wearing life jackets a normal and lifesaving part of enjoying time on the water. Dohner’s mission is deeply personal. As a freshman in high school, she survived a sailing accident when a sudden gust of wind flipped her family’s catamaran, leaving her in rough conditions until search and rescue teams located her. She credits her survival to the life jacket she decided to wear that day. Inspired by that experience, Dohner founded Choose Life Jackets to promote a simple message: Wearing a life jacket can save lives. The nonprofit focuses on youth outreach and education, encouraging younger generations to see life jackets not as optional gear but as an essential part of enjoying water recreation safely. Its mission is to “empower Gen Z and Gen Alpha to protect what truly matters - your life.” Choose Life Jackets also uses creative awareness efforts to reach new audiences. In 2025, Dohner ran a half-marathon while wearing a life jacket to spark conversations about boating safety and to spread the organization’s message. As the organization grows, Dohner is working with national partners to expand its impact. The National Safe Boating Council (NSBC) is partnering with Choose Life Jackets to support her mission through both the Safe Boating Campaign and Waves of Hope, programs dedicated to promoting life jacket wear and preventing boating-related tragedies. Together, the collaboration aims to amplify youth voices in the boating safety movement and help ensure that more people, especially young boaters, make the choice that saved Dohner’s life: Wearing a life jacket.
Follow Briar's journey on Instagram @choose_life_jackets.
A Thank You to Our Members
To our NSBC members: Thank you. Your commitment, leadership, and service over the past year have made a real difference on the water. Because of you, more boaters are educated, more risks are reduced, and more lives are protected. As we look ahead, we invite you to renew your membership and continue standing with a national community dedicated to safer boating for all. Your support strengthens education, outreach, training, and partnerships that move boating safety forward every day. Renewing is a simple way to reaffirm our shared mission and to ensure this important work continues. Learn more and renew your membership by visiting SafeBoatingCouncil.org/Memberships. Questions? Drop us a line at outreach@safeboatingcouncil.org. Thank you for being an essential part of the National Safe Boating Council and for all you do to keep our waterways safe.
New Enhanced Recreational Boating Certificate Pilot Launches in Florida
A new credential designed to recognize advanced boating education is now available through the Enhanced Recreational Boating Certificate (ERBC) program, a collaborative effort between the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA), the National Safe Boating Council (NSBC), and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). The ERBC recognizes boaters who complete both a NASBLA-approved boating safety course and verified on-the-water skills training, combining classroom knowledge with practical experience on the water. This approach provides a more comprehensive boating education and reinforces real-world boating skills that promote safer operations. Currently launching as a pilot program in Florida, eligible boaters can apply for the state’s Florida Gold Boating Safety Card, which serves as the ERBC designation. The credential demonstrates a higher level of boating knowledge, skill, and commitment to safety. Participants complete an application through NASBLA and submit proof of their boating safety certificate along with documentation from a National Safe Boating Council On-Water Training Program. The NSBC is grateful to partner with NASBLA and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission on this initiative. By combining knowledge-based education with hands-on training, the ERBC program highlights the value of comprehensive boating instruction and helps strengthen boating safety nationwide.
Advancing Boating Safety Together
Join us for the 29th Annual International Boating and Water Safety Summit
The 29th Annual International Boating and Water Safety Summit (IBWSS), hosted in partnership with the U.S. Coast Guard, will take place May 7–8, 2026, as a 1.5-day virtual event bringing together boating safety professionals, industry leaders, researchers, and policymakers from across the nation and around the world. United by our shared mission, IBWSS celebrates how recreational boating and water safety communities collaborate to save lives around the world. This year’s Summit, themed “Advancing Boating Safety Through Data, Design, and Policy Integrity,” is intentionally aligned with Recreational Boating Safety (RBS) initiatives, focusing on measurable outcomes, evidence-based decision-making, and real-world impact. Sessions will explore pressing safety challenges such as illegally imported vessels, counterfeit and mislabeled safety equipment, post-accident product assurance, life jacket wear rates, and the role of data in shaping effective outreach, enforcement, and policy. Attendees will hear directly from U.S. Coast Guard leadership, state boating law administrators, manufacturers, public health experts, and international partners, creating a full-spectrum view of the boating safety ecosystem. Day two places special emphasis on RBS program measurement, data transparency, and continuous improvement, reinforcing the importance of demonstrating impact and strengthening grant-funded safety efforts nationwide. The virtual format expands access and impact, allowing participants to join from anywhere, eliminate travel costs, and engage with a broader range of experts and peers. Our team has thoughtfully selected Zoom Events powered by OpenEXCHANGE to help deliver a recognizable, user-friendly platform that enhances accessibility, engagement, and meaningful connection throughout the Summit. If your work supports boating safety education, outreach, enforcement, manufacturing, research, or policy, #IBWSS26 is an opportunity to connect, learn, and contribute to solutions that matter. Join us as we work together across agencies, industries, and nations to advance boating safety and save lives.
Learn more about our program, secure your spot today, and be part of the ongoing mission to make boating safer for everyone: IBWSS.org
Spring Outreach Made Simple. Get Adventure Ready.
We’ve streamlined our Resources page to make spring outreach planning easier, faster, and more accessible than ever. Whether you’re gearing up for a local event, education campaign, or on-the-water engagement, everything you need is now easier to find and ready to use. All resources are coordinated with the 2026 Boating Safety Calendar, so you can quickly align your outreach efforts with key moments throughout the season—no guesswork, no extra digging. It’s planning made practical, so you can spend less time searching and more time connecting with boaters. This year’s campaign theme, Adventure Ready, is all about meeting boaters where they are, encouraging preparation, smart decisions, and confidence before the adventure begins. From spring launch to peak season, these new and refreshed tools are designed to help you inspire safer choices and support a fun, responsible boating experience. Take a look, start planning, and get ready to make an impact. This boating season, let’s help everyone be Adventure Ready.
Make sure to register as a partner of the Safe Boating Campaign to be notified first when free shipping is available in April.
Share Your Story: Write for the Safe Boating Campaign
We’re looking for voices from across the boating safety community to contribute blog articles for the Safe Boating Campaign website and network. If you’re doing something impactful in your community or have insights, ideas, or lessons learned around safe boating - we want to hear from you. Articles can cover any safe boating topic, from outreach and education efforts to innovative partnerships, local success stories, or seasonal safety reminders. Selected pieces will also be shared across our social media channels, helping amplify your work and reach a broader audience. Have a story to tell? Let’s share it and help more boaters be Adventure Ready this season.
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