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[Fast Electricals]

Whilst touring a local school with my daughter, I was informed that the school was taking part in The Schools Marine Challenge. This is a  design and racing competition for IC, electric and solar powered model boats ( http://www.schoolsmarine.com/curriculum.htm ).

Much has been written on this forum on how to attract new blood into the hobby and my proposition is this:

If the local clubs could introduce racing classes that follow similar class rules as the Schools Marine Challenge, then local model builders could compete against the kids, passing on their expertise and maybe learning a thing or two themselves! 


Neil

[Circlip]

        Whilst I agree with the notion of getting our little darlings to move away from the fantasy world
        of computer games I find it somwhat perterbing that to enjoy our hobbies that terms such as
        'Risk assesment,Team finance Et al' have to come into the equasion? OK some may go on to find
        that they can actually find A sense of achievement from wood whittleing & tin bashing without
        having to think of the overiding vision that you must follow all these 'Grown up bulls**t rules' to
        actually ENJOY yourself. It doesn't take A genius to realise that if you paper round pays less in one
        week to buy a propeller then you have to wait to afford it, or If A craft knife can cut plastic, rubber
        etc. then don't get your finger in the way.Does A grown man really have to try to prove that you
        really need an OS61DF to power your boat and not an ED BEE? (Sorry, showing my age, don't know
        what the new 'must haves' are.) Why not go to the local school as A club and show what real grown
        up boy's do for 'FUN'?


       

[anmo]

I had a look at that 'Risk Assessment' form, and had to go and sit in a quiet place to calm my nerves. I never realised that model boating could be so dangerous.

[sweeper]

In addition to the above points, consider the fact that you will have to be "vetted" before you can get involved - either as an individual or as a club.
I used to be involved in the Neighbourhood  engineers scheme (with our local comprehensive school) as I already had police clearance from my previous job in education. I must say that I enjoyed seeing what the youngsters could evaluate and solve. They then introduced a new set of rules for clearance, from memory,four sides of questions. Pure fantasy time in someones devious mind.

Sadly I would think that many people would walk away from this type of activity. Everyone loses out. A sad reflection on the modern world.

[Fast Electricals]

My suggestion is not for clubs to become directly involved with the scheme, but for clubs to run their own events that would be attractive to youngsters taking part in the Marine Challenge. The schools competition is quite strict and carefully controlled, but a club could offer a more relaxed atmosphere where the kids could practice racing before the big schools event. 

Neil