Education
Classroom and Community
We are creating curriculum in partnership with Racine Unified School District, as well as local private schools that will span kindergarten through 12th grade. By teaching water safety in every class year, the goal is to empower students to be more confident in and around water while fully understanding the risks that go along with it.
To develop this curriculum, current and former educators are being utilized to ensure our lessons are engaging to students and fit within a classroom setting. This education program would provide a growing understanding of water safety topics that are age appropriate and build on the previous years program.
We will also be offering supplemental educational resources for RUSD and other schools which will include:
-Boating Safety
-Kayak Safety
-Small Watercraft Safety
-Proper Use of Personal Protective Equipment
-Identifying and Understanding High Risk Areas in Bodies of Water
These educational programs will also be presented to the public as we host Water Safety Workshops around Racine County. Workshops will be posted on the Events page as they are scheduled.
Middle and High School Public Service Announcement Contest
SWIM Racine will be hosting a PSA Contest for middle and high school students. The 30 second videos will be shown at a Viewing Event where they will be judged as well. A winner from each age bracket will be selected, and winners will receive age appropriate prizes such as personal protective equipment, water related equipment, or scholarship dollars. Details will be posted on our Events page once they are finalized, and distributed to the participating schools as well.
Growing the Number of Certified Swim Instructors
Our program will be working to increase the number of certified swim instructors in our community. This will lead to more availability of swim lessons for our residents. SWIM Racine will cover the costs of certification for qualified individuals who wish to teach swim classes and pledge to provide lessons in Racine County.
Adult and Youth Swim Classes
SWIM Racine will provide free of charge swim lessons for youth and adult residents in Racine County. These lessons will be at various locations across our communities, and be offered at varied times to reach the most people. Much like cost should not be a barrier to learning to swim, neither should transportation. Our program is working on partnerships to provide a transportation option to the facilities hosting the swim classes.
Open Water Swim Lessons
Open waters such as Lake Michigan offer different challenges and risks to swimmers than they face in a pool. We are developing a program for swimming lessons in the lake and other inland bodies of water.
Events & community Outreach
Safety Fairs, Workshops, and More!
Summer Kick Off Safety Fair
At the beginning of the swimming season every year, roughly the end of May or beginning of June, SWIM Racine will host a Family Water Safety Fair. This event will include water safety educators, first responders, lifeguards, in water demonstrations, swim lessons (water condition dependent), community organizations, presentations, food & music.
Community Outreach
Representatives from SWIM Racine will attend various events throughout Racine County to ensure that residents are aware of the water safety resources available to them through our or one of our partner programs. Community groups and organizations can also request SWIM Racine to present to to their membership as well.
Infrastructure
Providing Additional Safety Equipment
SWIM Racine is working acquire and deploy additional life saving equipment such life rings and vests around our waters. Research is being done in to the advances in life saving equipment, and how that may be utilized across Racine County.
In addition, we are developing more visual, easy to understand signage for hazardous areas that better inform swimmers about the WHY there is no swimming in particular areas.
Supporting Our Lifeguards
One of our goals is to support the recruitment and retention efforts for certified lifeguards. SWIM Racine is developing a program to provide a grants or scholarships to individuals who serve as a lifeguard in Racine County for the swimming season.
For Racine County residents who would like to become a lifeguard, SWIM Racine will cover the costs of education and certification from an accredited institution for qualified individuals who pledge to work as a lifeguard in our community.
As life saving equipment evolves, SWIM Racine will work to provide gear to the various organizations proving lifeguard services within our community.
Large Scale Projects
SWIM Racine will work with local, state, and federal government officials on projects to improve the safety of known hazardous areas such as the North Pier Breakwater.