The KATS program was started after three boy scouts sadly drowned in a small boat accident off the shore of St John, USVI in the 80’s. In response to this tragedy the founders of the program, Tom and Barbara Gerker (Parts and Power) and others, very carefully put together our curriculum to provide future KATS students with swimming instruction along with basic boating skills in a fun and safe environment. This is still the core of our programming.
Since 2022, each week 28 students focus on learning proper knot tying, how to safely capsize and right a rowboat, along with practicing man-overboard drills with Virgin Islands Shipping and Marine Authority. In addition, the program also exposes our students to rowing, sailing, diving, snorkeling, power boating, mangrove education, kayaking, and marine conservation.
ABOUT KATS
INSTRUCTORS
CAPTAINS IN TRAINING
In 2023, we introduced our new Captains In Training (CIT) program which started with four of our alumni students J’sean, Tyrique, Eljay and Dillon who volunteered their time to assist our instructors. As the program evolved we provided training and mentorship to our CIT’s so they can reach the goal of qualifying to become a KATS instructor. We are very proud that J’sean and Tyrique are now employed as KATS instructors while Eljay has been promoted to a senior CIT and Dillon is interning at a charter company!
This spring we put the call out for KATS alumni over fourteen years old to apply to the CIT program and we had fourteen alumni apply. The application process involves either sending in a video or writing a short essay telling us why they want to be a CIT. Next they attended an in person interview with myself and our assistant Program Director, and were asked to demonstrate our core eight knots while explaining their function and finally they were asked to teach one knot. For the summer of 2025 we will welcome seven senior CIT’s and nine new junior CIT’s.
2026 CIT applications period will open in March and interview will be held two weeks later.