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Education Programs | Spirit of America | Boating Programs
Boating Events/Races | Small Boat Access | Kayak Rentals
by Brian Fowler, Chief of Recreation
 Lake Metroparks is located
on Lake Erie, one of the largest
bodies of freshwater in the world.
With such a wonderful natural
resource as our county’s front yard,
park staff recognized that no one
in our area was providing boating
education programs.
Consequently,
Lake Metroparks established a
comprehensive program to offer
boating education opportunities for
all ages and abilities on all types
of watercraft on Lake Erie and its
tributaries.
Click here to read the entire article (PDF)
National Award Winning Education Programs
The
National Association of County Park and Recreation Officials
2011 Class I  Parks and Recreation Program Award
(presented to agencies in counties with a population fewer than 500,000)
was awarded to Lake Metroparks in July, 2011 for its aquatic programs.
Click here to see program offerings.
Lake Metroparks has one of the best, most comprehensive boating education programs in not only the state of Ohio, but in the entire United States. Lake Metroparks won the Outstanding Boating Education Program for the state of Ohio at Confluence 2005, Ohio's statewide boating conference. We were then awarded the National Boating Education Advancement award at the International Boating and Water Safety Summit in Palm Harbor, Florida in March 2006.
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Spirit of America Youth Education Program
 The Spirit of America Program offers girls and boys in the seventh grade the opportunity to develop self-confidence, set goals, build social skills, practice self-control, and demonstrate responsible behavior – all while having a great time learning to operate and maintain power craft, paddle craft and sail craft! This summer education program will be offered at no charge to interested seventh graders from Lake County Schools.
2011 Spirit of America registration form (PDF)
Click here to register for the Spirit of America Program.
For Spirit of America programs outside Lake County, please contact Celelia Duer at the Foundation office: 440-209-9805
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Boating Programs
Lake Metroparks offers a wide variety of boating programs year-round for all ages and abilities. Our fleet of over 60 boats includes canoes, sea kayaks, single and double sit-on-top kayaks, Jon boats, mono-hull and Hobie-Cat sailboats, and personal watercraft or PWCs (wave runners). We offer all levels of instruction with every type of boat in our fleet, from the never-ever boater to avid boat owners who wish to improve their boating skills. Lake Metroparks also offers the Ohio Boating Education Course - a NASBLA approved, mandatory boating safety course required for any person born on or after January 1, 1982 who will operate a powerboat more than 10 horsepower. We teach this course year-round at several of our facilities.
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Boating Events/Races
Grand River Canoe & Kayak Race
Begins at Harpersfield Dam - Harpersfield, Ashtabula County
Finish at
Hidden Valley Park, Madison Twp.
April 21, 2012 • 8:00 am
Highwater date April 28, 2012
 19th Annual Pirate Triathlon / Kayak Triathlon
Fairport Harbor Lakefront Park
July 22, 2012
8:00 am
Pre-registration requested
Ohio State Canoe & Kayak Marathon Championships
Grand River Landing
July 28, 2012
6-mile race - 9:30 am
12-mile race - noon
Pre-registration requested
Small Boat Access
Lake Metroparks manages several parks with small boat access facilities. These include:
- Chagrin River Park
- Fairport Harbor Lakefront Park
- Grand River Landing
- Hidden Valley Park
- Mason's Landing Park
Access to the Chagrin River, Grand River, and Lake Erie combined with an award winning, comprehensive boating education program makes Lake Metroparks a great place to boat here in Northeast Ohio!
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Kayak Rentals
 In addition, Lake Metroparks also rents single and double sit-on-top kayaks by the hour at Fairport Harbor Lakefront Park during our summer season from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend.
- Single: $10 per hour
- Double: $15 per hour
- Ages 16 and over 15 and under must be accompanied by an adult
Call (440) 639-9972 for availability
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