The Minnetonka Power Squadron: Quiet Guardians of Our Lake

Aerial photo of Minnetonka Power Squadron

1. A Brief History

Long before Lake Minnetonka was dotted with wake-surf boats and Bluetooth speakers, a small band of skippers worried about crowded channels, unlit dinghies, and novice captains who didn’t yet grasp the rules of the road. In 1963 those boaters formed the Minnetonka Power Squadron (MPS)—a local unit of America’s oldest recreational-boating safety group, United States Power Squadrons® (now “America’s Boating Club”). Their founding pledge was simple:

“We teach, so we can all enjoy the lake safely.”

Sixty-plus years later, the MPS still meets every month, still offers free vessel-safety checks each spring, and still turns out for Tuesday-night classes that cover everything from paper-chart plotting to AIS and radar.

2. What They Actually Do

MPS Program	Why It Matters to You
Boating Safety Courses	Basic Seamanship, Navigation, and “Boat Handling in Rough Seas.” Graduates earn insurance discounts and—most importantly—know how to pass you on the correct side of a green buoy.
Free Vessel Safety Checks	Squadron volunteers inspect life jackets, horns, fire extinguishers, navigation lights—even your battery terminals—then award a 2025 safety decal. No tickets, just education.
Lake-Watch Patrols	On holiday weekends, members cruise the main bays, radio-ready to assist distressed watercraft before a minor issue turns major.
Environmental Stewardship	Shoreline clean-ups and fishing-line-recycling stations keep our coves free of plastic and mono tangles that kill wildlife.
Social Flotillas	From chili cook-offs under fall colors to Big Island raft-ups, MPS events prove safe boating can also be great boating.

3. How the Squadron Shapes Your Charter

1. Chart Updates: Squadron members submit hazard reports to the Lake Minnetonka Conservation District. If a sudden sandbar forms or a navigation buoy drifts, they spot it first—information I use to plot your route.

2. On-Water Backup: While Play Time is meticulously maintained, I take comfort knowing that, on busy weekends, an MPS patrol boat or radio-monitored member is never far away.

3. Continuing Education: Even as a licensed captain, I renew my radar-and-advanced-weather certificates through MPS coursework. Their instructors are the lake’s walking encyclopedias—retired Coast Guard, airline pilots, and life-long sailors.

4. Want to Get Involved?

• Attend a Free Seminar: Check the calendar at [minnetonkapowersquadron.org]. Topics range from “Docking Without Drama” to “Night Navigation on ‘Tonka.”

• Schedule a Safety Check: It’s painless, takes 20 minutes at your dock, and could save a life.

• Join as a Crew Member: Annual dues are less than a tank of marine fuel, and you’ll meet fellow lake lovers who swap the best hidden-cove tips.

5. A Captain’s Thank-You

Whenever you relax on the bow of Play Time, Bluetooth playlist in hand, remember the unseen network of volunteers who keep this lake safe, educated, and welcoming. The Minnetonka Power Squadron doesn’t seek applause; they prefer the quiet knowledge that another day on the water ended without incident.

Here’s to smooth seas—and to the men and women of MPS who help make them possible.

Ready to experience Lake Minnetonka with a captain who values safety as much as fun?

Book your private charter now and let’s cruise with confidence.

Captain (& Power Squadron Member) Todd Trettel