MORE FACTS

Tell Me More About the National Marine Youth Alliance…

• The purpose of the Alliance is to help to improve the capacity of existing organizations that offer a water based component for youth and to utilize all methods possible to create a greater awareness of opportunities for the youth segment. With a special emphasis directed to youth that have been traditionally underserved with regard to water based programs; economically disadvantaged and children with physical or mental disabilities.
• The Alliance strives to bridge the divide between water based education programs (conservation and ocean literacy) and the recreational programs that currently exist for youth (community sailing & boating and youth fishing programs).
• The Alliance is committed to building the participation of youth in water based activities through a sustained support system of the grass roots programs that already exist in this country. With nearly 10,000 water based youth programs in communities across our nation, the Alliance recognizes a significant opportunity to provide a working umbrella organization which can unite these efforts and result in cultivating more awareness and participation among youth as well as establishing the resources necessary to sustain the individual efforts. 

What Are Some of Our Accomplishments and Developing Projects? 

• Under the NYMA brand “Captain Kids”, (1999-2007) the following are some significant accomplishments:
  • In excess of 50,000 children across the nation have participated in the Captain Kids Discovery Point Learning Center. The center is a mobile exhibit of 7 interactive learning stations that connects children to water based themes and programs. The outreach exhibit is presented in about 6 cities each year as funding is available.
  • The NYMA / Captain Kids Web Site ( http://www.captainkids.org/ ) attracts upwards of 35,000 visitors each month including kids, parents, educators and local marine program providers. 
  • The NYMA has initiated the “Project Blue” program which provides direct grants to local organizations that are working to grow participation in water based activities for youth.
• On The Horizon:
  • The NYMA is in discussions with a number of organizations in an effort to launch an initiative that will provide a National Fitness Awards to youth that demonstrate a sustained participation in water based activities. This program will strive to engage the recreational community at the state and local levels, after school programs, in-school physical education programs and youth centered community based organizations. It is estimated that the reach into the youth community through the Alliance member organizations is approximately 12 million annually.
  • The NYMA is currently working on a grants project with the U.S. Forest Service to assist in creating a greater awareness of our public lands among children and to encourage their participation in water activities within these venues.
  • The NYMA will undertake a national effort to identify and recognize each and every water based program in communities across the nation. The results of this research engagement project will be made available to the general public via a web based system so that parents and children have an easily accessible pathway to locating water based programs for fun and learning.

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Special Recognition:

The NYMA recognizes the significant support that the marine industry has provided to this national effort. While it is true that the future of this industry is directly related to the number of new participants that are attracted to the boating lifestyle, the commitment they have demonstrated goes far beyond pure business interests. The marine industry recognizes that the investment that is made today will insure we have children that appreciate the outdoor life, are engage in activities that promote good health and fitness and that we have given them the tools to become good stewards of our environment.

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