Forty-nine snowmobile riders ages 11 and up sat through an all-day safety course instructed by Les Cheneaux Snowmobile Club President Rod Walch and his wife, Becky, on Saturday to learn all about safe and legal trail riding in the state of Michigan.
"Kids between the ages of 12 and 16 need a valid snowmobile safety certificate to ride on snowmobile trails," Walch said. "We provide safety certificates."
But the course was not designed exclusively for kids.
"We encourage adults to come if they have never taken the course before," Walch added. "We have three or four adults in the class today. We have invited the adults and parents to stay because there's a lot of good information to be passed on to everybody. Parents are the ones there with the kids when they go on these trails."
The class ran from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. with lunch provided by Les Cheneaux Snowmobile Club and volunteers. Students received Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) approved materials to go over state snowmobile laws and safety.
"We talk about everything ... ice safety, cold temperatures, and hypothermia," Walch said. "We try to educate students on the trails and state requirements."
According to the DNR, children under the age of 12 cannot operate a snowmobile in the state of Michigan unless under direct adult supervision, or on property owned by a parent/legal guardian.
"I didn't know your had be 12 to cross the road," Danika VanSloten of Sault Area Middle School said during lunch break. "You can be fined for not having a permit."
"I was excited that I learned the seven traits of a safe snowmobile rider," friend Lily McKelvie added, listing off the importance of understanding how a snowmobile works, respecting its capacity and limitations, learning how to maneuver skilfully through a variety of weather conditions, knowing and observing the laws governing snowmobiles, using good judgment, respecting others and the surrounding environment, and only operating snowmobiles with a label of certification from the Snowmobile Safety and Certification Committee.
Eleven-year-old Raya Morley joined the class as part of her Christmas present.
"I have to wait till I'm 12, but then I'll have me certification," she said. "My parents won't have to watch me."
The number one thing Morely learned was to always wear a Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) helmet.
Sault Area Middle School student Joel Rice learned how to safely pass and avoid snowmobile trail grooming machines.
"I don't want to hurt my snowmobile," he said. "You can hear groomers coming and they go really slow."
One student asked Walch what the Les Cheneaux Snowmobile Club was all about and why it existed.
"Our club has approximately 80 members and about 30 business sponsors to help keep it running every year," Walch answered. "As we go through this course, we teach about cleaning and keeping things up. We also touch on respect for the land."
The club's snowmobile safety course was organized by club members and other volunteers.
"We want to promote trail safety and keep our youth enthusiastic," Walch said about grooming the next generation of snowmobile riders. "The average snowmobile rider is 45-years-old. So, we want to make sure our youth is informed and educated."
Walch was sure to thank the club's sponsors for keeping it running for nearly two decades.
"We put our sponsors on the website to give them some recognition," he said. "Sponsors and club members help donate to make everything happen. We couldn't do it without our volunteers."
At the end of the class, each student received a snowmobile certificate to begin their many adventures on Michigan trails.
Did you miss the class this year? If so, snowmobile classes can also be completed online at snowmobile-ed.com/michigan. Simply take and pass the final exam then print the permanent snowmobile safety certificate.
Search here for a list of classroom-based snowmobile safety education courses near you.
Lean more about the Les Cheneaux Snowmobile Club by clicking here.
