Boating and fishing offer families a great way to spend time together and create fun memories that will last a lifetime.  Here are a few ideas to help you make the most of your time together:

Involve your kids from the beginning
They enjoy feeling included and what better way to instill some responsibility in your children. Depending on their age, give them small things for which they are responsible, such as ensuring that everyone has a personal floatation device, or teaching them to coil a line.

Keep them busy
Kids like to stay active. Plan an outing on the boat that includes water activities such as snorkeling, tubing, looking for various wildlife or learning how to fish.

Teach them new skills that will last a lifetime 
Being on the water provides an excellent opportunity to teach kids new things about their environment, and boating, fishing and safety skills. Try to incorporate these teachings into fun activities and gradually introduce your kids to new things as they are ready. For example, you might want to create a game that teaches nautical terminology such as port, starboard, stern, bow, etc.  Once your kids master this terminology, help them learn how to safely drive the boat or cast a fishing line. Boating and fishing provide an unlimited amount of learning - learning that lasts a lifetime

Plan family outings and include others
Use this time to gather as a family and create lifelong memories. Plan short outings such as a picnic on the boat or let the kids find a new creek or lake on the chart and plan a picnic at that destination. This creates a sense of adventure and allows valuable family time together. Maybe let your kids invite a friend or relative along to share in the fun!

Check out these great organizations and programs that will help you get your kids out on the water today!