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About Education Program
In June of 2004, following training, background checks and finally receiving their instructor license, two club members were now licensed ATV instructors. The next step was to complete the WATVA/NOHVIS trail ambassador workshop. This workshop (sponsored by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources) was designed to train "Trail Ambassadors". What is a trail ambassador? A trail ambassador serves three main purposes - one, he/she helps to protect the ATV trail system by patrolling the trails periodically to monitor and alert authorities to possible ATV violations. Two, he/she helps to protect the ATV'ers by patrolling the trails to alert emergency services and/or to render basic aid to stranded or disabled riders. And three, he/she helps to educate both young and adult ATV'ers through training and public assistance. On March 15, 2004 two members of the North East Wisconsin Riders Inc. ATV Club attended the recreational safety course at White Lake High School in Langlade County. Recreational safety warden Jeffrey J. Dauterman of the DNR - Bureau of Law Enforcement taught the class. The purpose of the class was to train and certify additional Wisconsin DNR ATV Instructors to teach ATV Safety Education classes. On August 7th, 14th and 21st 2004 the North East Wisconsin Riders ATV Club conducted an All-terrain Vehicle certification course at the Coleman, Wisconsin High School. Nineteen students where certified to operate an All-terrain Vehicle in accordance with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources guideline. The education course consisted of two in classroom sessions, three hours in length each; and one outdoor hands-on session, four hours in length. The total registration fee’s where then remitted to the Department of Natural Resources upon completion of the course for the purchase of training booklets, test papers and certificates of completion. Eighty hours of instructor time was donated by the North East Wisconsin Riders Inc. ATV Club for this first course. The clubs goal at the time was to continue the tradition of teaching an ATV safety course each year in August. In the future, through the support of the community, local and state governments the North East Wisconsin Riders Inc. ATV Club will conduct multiple All-terrain Vehicle training courses. The additional courses will be held in the early spring, summer and late fall of the season each year. Instructor training, educational materials and training aids for the courses will be provided through donations and grants received. We would like to plan for the future and begin working on grant plan to further our education process by purchasing or leasing a building. Suitable building space and equipment would allow us to conduct All-terrain training courses more efficiently and allow us to advance the training methods of other All-terrain vehicle organizations. On March 22, 2004 two members of the North East Wisconsin Riders Inc. ATV Club attended the WATVA/NOVHIS Group trail ambassador workshop. The course certified the two club members as volunteer trail ambassadors. Per the standards established by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, our clubs new trail ambassadors would help ATV'ers while patrolling the trail system. Trail patrollers are trained to act as role models for other ATV'ers to follow, distribute regulations and information; assist stranded ATV'ers and report violations if problems cannot be addressed through on site education. Since then, several of our clubs members have gone on to become ATV instructors and trail ambassadors, to help us patrol our trail system and other clubs trail systems; and to protect the sport of ATV'ing. On August 13, 2005 the club graduated 24 students in its ATV certification class held at the Coleman High School. On Aug. 20 the students completed an out door hands-on training session. Instructor John Krause taught the classes while instructors Mike Krause and Cal Makos helped out. On August 12, 2006 the club graduated 20 students in its ATV certification class held at the Coleman High School. On Aug. 19 the students completed an out door hands-on training session. In 2007 Fran Makos completed her ATV education training and became an instructor. This allowed the club to increase its class room size and have some flexibility on instructors teaching courses. In 2008 the club determined the three weekend class would be changed to a two day one weekend course. With the exception of the August class where students are provided an outdoor hands on session. And based on the number of requests for class dates, decided to offer two training course in April and August. Upon special request the club was asked to provide a class in the Silver Cliff area do to a lack of instructors in that region.
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