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Sunday, February 2, 2003
Safety course targets middle schoolers
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It only makes sense to offer snowmobile safety classes to kids in areas where just about every home has a snowmobile or two parked in the front yard. Learning snowmobile safety at a young age is something that can save lives. That is just the idea behind a course that was started by Oxford Hills Middle School science teacher Chuck Martin and substitute teacher Perry Edwards, who is also a recreational safety coordinator for Oxford and Franklin counties for the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. The two started teaching the class to seventh-graders for the first time in 1995, following the snowmobile death of a student in the area. "Kids in middle school are risk-takers at this age. They'll take a jump on a sled if they have the opportunity," said Martin. "We see a lot of expensive machines on the trails and the kids are driving, sometimes alone and unsupervised. Kids like talk about speed. The course creates a heightened alertness around safety. Our aim is to pull together and make snowmobiling a safe and wonderful sport." Since 1995, more than 1,000 seventh-graders have taken the course, which consists of written work as well as hands-on testing of snowmobile safety practices. The practical part of the course has students driving a snowmobile on the school football field, putting what they learned on paper to test, literally in the field. "We make the course, which is offered in January and February, part of the school curriculum," said Martin. "We integrate it into the subject areas by tying the written work into English and the reading of maps and calculating distances as part of science and math." "We wanted to offer the course during the school hours with the parents' consent because it works better. You don't reach the kids you really need to reach if the course is held after school," said Edwards. "It is part of the curriculum in the seventh grade and most kids take it." Kids like what they took. "I liked learning all the new stuff and safety rules," said eighth-grader Alyssa Snow, who took the class last year. "At the end of the course, we got to ride a snowmobile and that was really fun." "I found the course very interesting and gave kids information about snowmobiles that they need to know," said eighth-grader Bernadette Fuller. "I have a snowmobile at home, but before the class, I never really rode it because I didn't know all the rules." "We should have more safety courses in school because a lot of kids are getting in accidents," said eighth-grader Kaymala Eells. "I feel safe getting on a snowmobile now because I know how to ride and what to do." "There is no question in my mind that the safety course saves lives," said Edwards. The course has been so successful at Oxford Hills Middle School that similar safety courses are springing up at other schools across the state, with ATV safety courses being taught as well. Safety is especially on the minds of many snowmobilers this season, with the rash of fatalities that have plagued the sport in recent months. "When you hear about one fatality after another, you think to yourself, 'What can we do to prevent future fatalities?' and at the same time, you really do some soul-searching," said Edwards. "The end goal of this course at school and all courses is to make the sport safer." SNOWMOBILING CALENDAR Today Snofest, on No Name Pond, hosted by the Hillside Family Riders, Lewiston. Radar runs, poker run, hay rides, cook shack. Winter carnival at Highland Lake Beach, Bridgton. Food, snowmobile rides, ice fishing derby, snowmobile parade, horse-drawn hayrides, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, timed rally. For more information, call Bridgton Easy Riders at 647-4567. Club overnight trip, Portage Lakers SC, leave 9 a.m. To Umcolcus Sporting Camps in Oxbow. Poker rally, held by the Moonlighters Limited of Buxton at Rick and Ray's Small Engine on Route 22. Registration 9 a.m.-1 p.m., tickets $8 per person. For more information, call Ray Phillips, 929-8011. Poker run, hosted by the Winterport Riverside Riders SC. Begins at 10 a.m. at the clubhouse. Radar run, hosted by the Interstate Snogoers SC of Fryeburg. Radar run, hosted by the Hillandalers SC, at the head of Maranacook Lake in Winthrop. Registration 9-10 a.m. Racing 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Concessions and trophies. For more information, call Chris at 377-8542. Fishing derby, held by the Pittston Prowlers SC. Prizes, concession stand, bonfire. Poker run, hosted by the Breakneck Mountain Sno-Riders, register at the clubhouse in Alexander, 9 a.m.-noon, prizes awarded at 3 p.m. Proceeds benefit Pine Tree Camp. Meeting, Goodwill Riders SC of Hampden, 7 p.m. Meeting/club ride, Wales Ridge Runners SC, 9 a.m. meeting followed by family club ride. Meeting, Muddy River Sno-Seekers, 9 a.m. at Naples Town Hall. Public breakfast 7:30-10:30 a.m., Pine Tree SC, Outer Call Road in Milford. Feb. 4 Club directors meeting, Chapman Ridge Runners, 6:30 p.m. Feb. 5 Meeting, Benedicta Snowgang, 6:30 p.m. at the Parish Center. Meeting, Portage Lakers SC, 7 p.m. Meeting, Blue Ridge Riders SC, 7 p.m. at Rockwood Community Building. For more information, call Steve Lane, 534-7362 Meeting, SnowValley Sno-Goers SC of Andover, 7 p.m. at the Fire Station. Meeting/potluck, Pine Tree SC, 6:30 p.m. at the clubhouse on Outer Call Road in Milford. (Bring casserole, salad or dessert). Feb. 6 Meeting/potluck, Abnaki Sno-Riders, clubhouse, Route 201 Madison. Potluck 6 p.m., meeting 7 p.m. Feb. 6-8 Polar Blast Winter Carnival, annual celebration of winter in the Eustis-Stratton area. Variety of snowmobiling events including a Radar Run in Eustis and Poker Run in Stratton, casino night and raffle. Meet at Arnold Trail SC site or contact Flagstaff Area Business Association, 246-4221. Feb. 7 Meeting, Molunkus Valley Sno-Drifters of Sherman. Club directors meeting, Nordic Lakers. 7 p.m. Stockholm American Legion. Feb. 7-9 Moosestompers Weekend, hosted by the Greater Houlton Chamber of Commerce. Parade, poker run, cross-country skiing, sleigh rides, human curling/human dogsled events, gigantic sliding hill, Moosestompers Ball and more. For more information, call 532-4216. International Snowmobilers Festival, hosted by the cities of Madawaska, Maine, and Edmunston, New Brunswick, Canada. Featuring a cross-border passport to ride on both sides of the border during the event. Friday and Saturday: International Lucky Run – 400 miles of trails to choose from on both sides of the border; Friday evening: Snowmobile parade and opening ceremonies; Saturday: Super Fun Night at Club ASNO; Sunday: Snowmobilers' Breakfast, drawing of prizes for passport holders, Snowcross event in St. Agatha. For more information, call 728-0949. Club trip, Hillside Family Riders, Lewiston. To Millinocket. For more information, call Steve Morin, 782-2087. Feb. 8 Public spaghetti supper, held by the East Branch Sno-Rovers SC of East Millinocket, at the clubhouse. Poker run, held by the Snow Valley Sno-Goers SC of Andover. Meeting/potluck supper, Chapman Ridge Runners SC, 6 p.m. Discuss Poker Run, March Club Ride. Annual snowfest, held by the North Augusta Trailblazers. Poker run/supper, held by the Molunkus Valley Sno-Drifters of Sherman. Registration from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Sherman Gym. Supper at 4 p.m. with awarding of cash prizes at 5 p.m. Public bean supper, held by the Goodwill Riders SC of Hampden, 5-6:30 p.m. Snowfest, hosted by the Washington Hill and Gully Riders. Games, food and fun, fishing derby, prizes. At the Washington Boat Landing. Fishing derby deadline is 3 p.m. Traveling supper, Turner Ridge Riders SC, time and stops TBA. Radar run, Moosehead Lake, Rockwood, near public launch, Route 66, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., $5 for two runs, $20 for all-day pass. To benefit Blue Ridge Riders SC. Contact Steve Lane, 534-7362 Meeting/potluck, Moosehead Riders SC, Greenville, at the clubhouse. Potluck begins 6 p.m. Dinner on the run, Ashland SC. Leave Four Seasons at 4 p.m. Feb. 8-9 Jefferson/Nobleboro Sno-Packers radar runs and drag races, Saturday: Radar runs. Sunday: Snowmobile Drag Races. Call 549-3008 Sno-cross races, annual event hosted by the Lincoln Snowhounds SC, at the clubhouse, Town Farm Road, Lincoln. Cash prizes and trophies. Races begin 11 a.m.; registration 8-10:30 a.m. Lunch available. For more information, call Kevin and Kelly Steward, 794-1037 Naples Winter Carnival, 5th annual event filled with snowmobiling events and other winter activities, on the lake at the Causeway. Hosted by the Muddy River Sno-Seekers SC and the Naples Fire Department. Poker Rally Saturday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Radar run Saturday and Sunday 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Kid's games, rides, food and more. Radar runs, held by the Sabattus Mountaineers, on Sabattus Lake. Wales Ridge Runners man the food shack. Feb. 9 25th annual chicken barbecue, hosted by the Snow Dusters SC at their Unity clubhouse. Chicken, salads, beverages and desserts. Proceeds benefit Pine Tree Camp. Radar run, held by the Harrison Friendly Riders SC. on Crystal Lake, Harrison (along Route 117). Registration 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Racing 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Trophies. Minimum age: 16 years. Food concessions, 50/50 raffle. For more information, call Stacey Worster, 583-6914. Annual ride-in, hosted by the Thirty Mile River SC, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Ladd Center, Gott Road in Wayne. Proceeds to benefit Pine Tree Camp and local charities. Serving beans, franks, coleslaw, desserts and drinks for $4 per person. Ninth annual fishing derby, held by the Northport Ridge Riders SC. Wendell Caverhill Memorial poker run, held by Nordic Lakers SC (Stockholm, New Sweden, Westmanland). 'One Stop' Poker Run at the Stockholm Legion, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. $5/hand; $10/3 hands/chicken stew, hot dogs, etc. Top prize: Half of proceeds up to $250. Portion of proceeds benefit Union 122 Schools. Trail cookout/snack sale, held by the Thorndike Trail Twisters, located on trails in Thorndike, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Look for the signs. Club ride, Tri-Town Penguins (Freeport, Pownal, Durham), from Runaround Pond in Durham to Cole Farm in Gray for lunch. Meet at pond, 10 a.m. Pledges benefit Durham Fire Department. Meeting, Skowhegan Sno-Hawks SC, 6:30 p.m. at the clubhouse on Route 2 in Skowhegan. Public breakfast, 7:30-10:30 am, Pine Tree SC, Outer Call Road in Milford. Courtesy of Maine Snowmobile Association
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