Kids Don’t Float Education Program
The Kids Don't Float (KDF) Education Program is a model curriculum anyone can use to teach boating safety. While the Alaska Boating Safety Program offers these free boating safety presentations, the curriculum and resources provided here make it possible for anyone to teach these lessons in their community.
The KDF classroom-based presentations include Cold Water Survival and Passenger Safety. We also offer a one-hour KDF Pool Session. Below are further descriptions of each of these options. Use the Menu above to find useful tools and curriculum for implementing boating safety lessons in your school or community, to schedule a pool session, and more.
Please contact Kosette Seibert with questions about this program or if you are interested in being trained as a Kids Don’t Float instructor.
Cold Water Survival
The Cold Water Survival classroom lesson covers the three stages of cold water immersion and the importance of wearing a life jacket (including how to choose a life jacket, how to make sure it fits, and the legal requirements related to life jackets). A fun life jacket relay race wraps up the lesson!
Grades: PreK-12th
Length: 45-60 minutes
Passenger Safety
The Passenger Safety lesson provides an overview of emergency communication and signaling devices, including how to file a float plan and how to make a mayday call on a radio. This lesson is designed to equip students with the knowledge and awareness necessary to be safe and responsible boat passengers.
Grades: 4th-12th
Length: 45-60 minutes
Pool Session
The Kids Don’t Float pool session gives students a chance to learn and practice hands-on boating safety skills in a controlled environment to encourage transformational learning and application of critical thinking. The pool session includes four interactive activity stations. Learn more about what’s included and how to schedule a pool session here: (link to pool page).
Grades: 2nd-12th
Length: 60 minutes
Kids Don’t Float Ambassador Program:
The Kids Don’t Float Ambassador Program prepares high school students to become influential youth leaders in their community and encourage safe boating behaviors in others. This program provides instructor training so teens can volunteer in the classroom and at the pool to earn volunteer hours with the Kids Don’t Float Program.
Grades: 9th-12th
Length: Varies
2026 Kids Don't Float Poster Contest
