CASPER - The Wyoming Game and Fish Department is teaming up with the National Safe Boating Council, Inc. for the second annual Boating Safety Sidekicks contest, which is open to children ages 4 to 15.

This year’s contest is titled "I’m a Safe Boater, Are You?" Children are invited to submit essays, posters or videos to tell others what kids do to be safe boaters and to encourage family members and friends to wear life jackets and boat safely.

Deadline for entries is Jan. 1, 2007. Essays should be 150 to 750 words about a particular boating experience or safe boating habit in which life jackets are worn and other safe boating practices followed. Posters should be 8.5 by 11 inches or 8.5 by 14 inches and contain a simple message to inspire others to boat safely. Computer generated submissions must be as one jpg, tiff or eps file. Videos can range from 30 seconds to two minutes and must show individuals wearing life jackets. The videos can be submitted as mpeg files on CD or DVD. The title of all entries should be "I’m a Safe Boater, Are You?" and demonstrate how to be safer on the water.

The NSBC was organized in September 1958 and presently has a membership of more than 350 U.S. and Canadian organizations, all with an interest in boating safety and education. The NSBC membership is diverse, with approximately 65 percent of the membership being nonprofit organizations and 35 percent being for-profit organizations.

The NSBC is the foremost coalition for the advancement and promotion of safer boating through education.
(contact: Robin Kepple (307) 473-3400)