Wildlife and Parks will conduct boater-education classes Saturday and again May 20 in Lawrence.

Saturday’s class will be at Lawrence Memorial Hospital. The May 20 session will be at Clinton Lake Marina. Also scheduled is a March 25 class at Lake Perry Yacht Club.

The $20 fee includes a textbook.

For information, call Shirley Higgins at 841-1419.

Boating-education courses are organized and conducted by volunteer instructors. To maintain U.S. Coast Guard recognition, the state’s course must run a minimum of eight hours.

The course covers navigation, trailer usage, equipment requirements, personal watercraft, safety tips, drug and alcohol impairment, self-rescue and marine theft.

Any person born on or after Jan. 1, 1989, must complete an approved boater education course to operate a motorboat or sailboat on public waters in Kansas.

This requirement does not apply to a person under the direct supervision of a person older than 17 who either possesses a certificate of completion of an approved boater education course or is legally exempt from the requirement.

Since many insurance providers offer discounts for boater education certificate holders, they may also save money on boat or personal watercraft insurance premiums.

A free home-study course is also available by calling KDWP at 620-672-5911 or by e-mailing ErikaN@wp.state.ks.us.

For a $15 fee, an internet course is available at www.Boat-Ed.com.