Safety first for young riders
WVU Extension offers ATV safety course in New Cumberland
NEW CUMBERLAND -- A group of area youth hit the course Tuesday morning to improve their skills while riding all-terrain vehicles.
The WVU Extension Office in Hancock County offered an ATV safety course, with five kids learning how to more safely operate the four-wheeled motorcycles on a course set up at the county's 4-H site at Camp Aura.
Carole Scheerbaum, WVU Extension agent for Hancock County, explained the ATV safety program is available for anyone 10 years of age and older, and made possible through a grant from Polaris.
"This is part of our 4-H youth development program," she said.
Scheerbaum noted the class was organized in partnership with the Hancock County Board of Parks and Recreation.
"I've waited a long time for this," she said.
Participants in Tuesday's class had to complete an online training program prior to the event, providing an overview of how to safely operate an ATV.
Tuesday's programs included a variety of range exercises, including loops and figure-eights, provided by Scheerbaum and Jocilyn DePetro, both of whom are certified ATV safety instructors.
Also on hand was David Snively, director of WVU Jackson's Mill, who has been involved in ATV training courses throughout West Virginia.
(Howell can be contacted at chowell@weirtondailytimes.com, and followed via Twitter @CHowellWDT)