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Beach school kids learn kayaking

By Staff | May 26, 2009

Beach Elementary School fourth and fifth graders learned the experience of kayaking at the Town of Fort Myers Beach pool Tuesday.

Fish-Tale Marina Owner Al Durrett along with Principal Larry Wood arranged the hands-on experience. Durrett supplied the kayaks, instructors – Captain Pete Migliazzo and Patrick Secretan -as well as the lifeguard pay.

Secretan wrote lesson plans for the event. Students learned how to wear personal floatation devices and were schooled on many protective procedures before stepping into the kayaks.

“This is to encourage other businesses to jump in and ask the school what they can do to help the school,” said Durrett. “It can be something minor or it can be something major. There are a lot of businesses here on the Beach that would be willing to do something for the elementary school that hasn’t been thought of before, especially with the funding cuts that the school systems are getting. It’s really a great thing to do.”

Wood could see the excitement in the elementary children’s eyes when the project was announced.

“They were just really excited when we talked about it on Friday,” said Wood. “Today, most of them had their bathing suits on under their school clothes already. I’ve never heard of this (concept) being done before.”