Water Safety- Waterwise invited to be an Aquatic Partner

by NZBoating-World on 19 Jun 2012
Waterwise had its beginnings in April 1980 on the shores of Lake Pupuke, Auckland, during a school-working bee.

The principal of Milford Primary School and a group of parents had a vision, which after many hours of voluntary work would see the formation of The Pupuke Schools Waterwise Society. Representatives from six member schools, The Education Department, Yachting N.Z., The Water Safety Council and local service organisations and businesses worked together to provide yachts, kayaks, patrol boats, life jackets and other facilities.

The society was incorporated in February 1982 and commenced operation in October that year. In April of 1983 the late Diana, Princess of Wales officially opened the Pupuke Waterwise Centre.

There are now four http://www.waterwise.org.nz/index.php/centres!Waterwise_centres in North Shore City catering for in excess of http://www.waterwise.org.nz/index.php/schools!5000_pupils per year. One centre in Rodney, three in Auckland with two more being developed, and a number in varying forms throughout N.Z. Waterwise is now operating in the USA and enquires have been received from Australia.

Waterwise is not a learn to sail programme, it is a programme which operates in schools to promote confidence in the marine environment through education and a thorough understanding of water safety principals.

New Zealand Schools Waterwise was pleased to be invited to take part in the Aquatic Partners resource, an initiative by WaterSafe Auckland.

WaterSafe Auckland identified that there were a number of organisations providing water related activities to school aged children and believed that there could be an improved rationale applied to the supply of activities.

The participating groups agreed and believed that a school resource needed to be developed, that would present a road-map / progression of learning, related to the age and abilities of the children.

Further the resource would provide contact details such that schools could plan a co-ordinated approach for their water activity programmes.

Objectives of Waterwise

1.To develop an integrated outdoor education programme of aquatic awareness through learning:
• Self Confidence
• Basic Rowing skills
• Basic Canoeing / Kayaking skills
• Basic Sailing skills

2.To cater for varying pupil interests and abilities by planning sequential learning activities for each child

3.To place enjoyment, the understanding of the water environment, an awareness of personal limitations and the knowledge of conditions which could cause danger, ahead of competitive endeavour

4.To widen the concepts of conservation, responsibility and common sense, applying these to safely enjoy the marine environment of New Zealand.

Programme Suitability

Schools Waterwise is suitable for upper Primary aged:

• Intermediate and Junior High School students.

• Students from Year 5 to Year 9 have the physical skill and maturity to be introduced to a waterwise programme and to progress with growing confidence and skill.

• It is preferable that students prior to entering a Waterwise activity course be able to swim 25m unaided but this is not essential as measures can be put in place to ensure no student is excluded. 

Waterwise and the Heath and Physical Education Curriculum

Waterwise looks to meet the Strands and contexts in the Health and Physical Education Curriculum Levels 3 and 4

Personal Health and Physical Development

Personal Responsibility
Regular
Physical Activity
Safe Practices
Sense of Self Worth
Decision Making

Movement Concepts and Motor Skills

New movement skills
Increasing competency in movement skills
Consistency and control development
Willingness to accept challenge

Healthy Communities and Environments

Relate safe practices to other activities
Individual responsibilities
Collective responsibilities
Care and Safety of Others

Relationships with Other People

Dealing with discrimination
Effects of changing roles, situations and responsibilities

Assertiveness communication skills
Developing Self Confidence In a safe aquatic environment

Classroom Activities

Classroom Activities that will broaden pupils knowledge and understanding in other Curriculum Learning Areas

Natural Navigators

Sail Safe resource (Yachting New Zealand)– Major focus Science, with minor foci in English, technology, Social Studies and Mathematics. The achievement objectives are drawn from the Science strand - “Sense of Planet and Beyond”, where children through interactive activities explore and question how the night sky was used for navigation by ocean travellers and through weather study they begin to understand the significance of wind for sailing.

Sea Salts

Sail Safe resource (Yachting New Zealand) – Major focus Social Studies, with minor foci in English, Technology and Science. The achievement objective relates to the Social Studies context - How ideas and actions of people in the past changed the lives of others. This unit gets right into the people, the charismatic leadership, the colour, the courage and creativity, the use or abuse of power, the will to survive. Through the study of leaders like Captain James Cook and Sir Peter Blake, the children are able to enquire, explore, question and decide how the actions of people in the past not only influenced and changed the lives of their contemporaries but also influenced the lives of people in the future.

Techno Sailors

Sail Safe resource (Yachting New Zealand) – Major focus Technology, with minor foci in English, Science and Social Studies. The achievement objectives are drawn from (1)Technological Knowledge and Understanding - where children explore the technologies operating inside a yacht and their significant features, particularly for safety. (2) Technological capability – where children embrace the challenge and the opportunity to conceptualise an opportunity, to plan and design a solution and to test the solution against discussed theories – using technology, communication, time, resources and finance (3) Technology and Society – where children look for a specific technologies developed through sailing that has influenced and impacted the wider community over time.

Capsize Challenge

Sail safe resource (Yachting New Zealand)) – Major focus English and Social Studies, with minor foci in Science and Technology. The achievement objectives open the children to respond to and discuss meanings ideas and effects, identifying the purpose for which things are designed (Viewing); and to write factual accounts and explanations, in a range of authentic contexts appropriate for the audience (Transactional Writing). The children further explore situations where people are challenged, particularly under stress and they organise themselves to cope and succeed.

Getting to Know Yachts

Sail safe resource (yachting New Zealand) – Major focus Technology / Health and Physical Education with minor foci in English and Mathematics where children through interactive activities become familiar with water and boat safety, the different parts of a yacht and how these work, know (and practice if possible) the sailor overboard drill, identify appropriate clothing to wear when yachting, know what to do in an emergency on a yacht, and to organise a race day with radio controlled yachts

The above resources are available through Yachting New Zealand www.yachtingnz.org.nz Email mail@yachtingnz.org.nz

Knowledge



Skills

Developing Attitudes and Values

Waterwise programmes contribute to the well-being and development of individuals within their close learning and living environment and promote attitudes and values for acceptance and growth within a wider society context. 

Conducting a Waterwise Programme

Waterwise programmes are delivered by qualified Waterwise Instructors as approved by New Zealand Schools Waterwise.

NZSWW has developed a set of policies and programmes to ensure the safety of all within a Waterwise programme.

• Validation of Instructors
• Determined rules for Instructor to pupil ratio’s, use of and maintenance of equipment, management and instruction of a Waterwise Session
• RAM’s (Risk Assessment Management)

Access to a Waterwise programme is through a local Waterwise Centre or New Zealand Schools Waterwise Inc. 
NZSWW, PO Box 5, Orewa 
Phone 09 424 1746, 027 229 5622, eMail: info@waterwise.org.nz