A Century in Aquatics

Helping Tens of Thousands Gain Life Saving Water Competency

For the past century, the American Red Cross has helped millions of people learn to swim and be water smart. To honor our 100 years of water safety, we launched the Centennial Campaign - a multi-year action to lower drowning rates in communities where those rates exceed the national average or the numbers of drownings are high.

Significant milestones have been met — and we are still going strong! In the summer of 2017, we met our initial metric goals of delivering an additional 50,000 sets of swim lessons and training 500 more lifeguards and 500 more swim instructors — a full year earlier than expected.

As reported as of September 30, 2022, since our launch in 2014 we have

• Delivered 120,496 sets of lessons (that's nearly 960,000 individual lessons!) to children and adults, teaching them to learn the life skill of swimming. These are families who likely wouldn't otherwise participate in this lifesaving training.
• Developed 2,132 future lifeguards through Junior Lifeguarding.
• Trained 2,774 lifeguards, water safety instructors and lifeguard managers.
• Equipped 17,492 parents and caregivers with water safety knowledge and skill, with 697 of them receiving focused pediatric CPR/AED training, many resulting in certification.

See our State Listing below for a full list of our Centennial Campaign programs.

Staying Safer In, On and Around the Water

The Red Cross and its partners train more than two million people a year in swimming. The Centennial Campaign goal is to increase our impact by teaching more families in communities that are at the highest risk for drowning and hopefully inspire more people to sign up for swimming and water safety lessons. "We are so proud of the way our training provider partners have embraced the Centennial Campaign," says Connie Harvey, director of the Red Cross' Centennial initiatives. "Together, we are reaching children and adults who would likely not otherwise have the opportunity to access swim lessons and water safety education - which will no doubt help save lives."

Alabama

YMCA of South Alabama

The Centennial Campaign has partnered with the YMCA of South Alabama to provide Red Cross aquatics training to members and non-members at all branches with swimming pools. Scholarships are available for children to learn to swim and to be safer in and around water. Parents of children in swim lessons are encouraged to participate in water safety/drowning prevention education and pediatric CPR training. Scholarships are also available for qualified candidates for Red Cross Junior Lifeguarding, Lifeguarding and Water Safety Instructor training.

Alaska

Kenai Peninsula Borough School District

The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District teamed up with the Centennial Campaign to expand their swimming and water safety program. The primary locations are the Ninilchik Swimming Pool in Ninilchik and Susan B. English Swimming Pool in Seldovia. This collaboration provides scholarships to children and adults to significantly reduce the cost of swim lessons. It is also helping offset the cost of training to qualified candidates interested in participating in Junior Lifeguarding, Lifeguarding and Water Safety Instructor training. Families of children participating in swim lessons will have the opportunity to learn about water safety and get trained in pediatric CPR at no cost. Children through the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District are learning about being safer in, on and around water safety through Longfellow’s WHALE Tales.

Yukon Kuskokwim Regional Aquatic Health and Safety Center

In collaboration with the Yukon Kuskokwim Regional Aquatic Health and Safety Center – also known as YK Fitness - the Centennial Campaign is helping provide Red Cross swim lessons and aquatics training at significantly reduced rates to residents of the YK Delta. Swim lessons are available for children, adults and elders until they reach water competency. Water safety courses will be available to parents, caregivers, schools and the community. Additionally, the Centennial Campaign is supporting the training of qualified individuals who want to become lifeguards or Water Safety Instructors.

Arizona

City of Cottonwood Parks and Recreation

The City of Cottonwood joined the Centennial Campaign in 2019 with a focus on providing scholarships to significantly reduce the cost of swim lessons for those with a financial need. Parents and caregivers of youth participating in swim lessons will have the opportunity for water safety and CPR/AED training. Junior Lifeguarding scholarships are also available to support youth with a desire to become future lifeguards. Lifeguard Management training is being provided to the leaders on the lifeguard team.

City of Tucson Parks and Recreation

Residents of the City of Tucson are eligible for swim lesson scholarships for children and adults at City of Tucson Parks and Recreation pools as part of the Centennial Campaign. Scholarships are also available to help cover the costs of Junior Lifeguarding courses for eligible participants. Pediatric CPR and water safety education provide parents of children participating in City of Tucson swim lessons with lifesaving knowledge and skills.

California

City of Bakersfield, CA

The Centennial Campaign is helping the Aquatics division of the City of Bakersfield Recreation and Parks Department reach more families with lifesaving training. Scholarships will help children and adults who need financial support get swim lessons until they reach water competency. Free water safety and Pediatric CPR/AED certification training will help parents and caregivers of children in these swim lessons learn how to prevent emergencies around the water and what to if things go wrong. Scholarships are available for eligible youth to participate Junior Lifeguarding, which puts them on the path to becoming future lifeguards.

City of El Centro Parks and Recreation

The City of El Centro Parks and Recreation Division is partnering in the Centennial Campaign to help to provide low-cost swim lessons and water safety education to children and adults. Additional lifeguards and Water Safety Instructors are being trained to help provide more swim lessons in the city of El Centro than ever before. Junior Lifeguarding courses will be available to help develop lifeguards of the future. Pediatric CPR/AED for parents of children participating in swim lessons is also part of the Campaign.

Los Angeles County Parks and Recreation - South Agency

The Centennial Campaign is in its second year with Los Angeles County Parks and Recreation - South Agency. Scholarships are available for children and adults to learn to swim and to be safer in and around water at Alondra Community Regional Park Pool, Cerritos Community Regional Park Pool, Lennox Park Pool, Franklin D Roosevelt Park Pool, Jesse Owens Community Regional Park Pool and Ted Watkins Memorial Park Pool. Parents of children in swim lessons are encouraged to participate in water safety/drowning prevention education and pediatric CPR training. Red Cross Junior Lifeguarding, Lifeguarding and Water Safety Instructor training is also part of the Centennial Campaign in LA County - South Agency.

City of Riverside Parks, Recreation, and Community Services

The Centennial Campaign, in partnership with the City of Riverside Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Department, is helping to provide low-cost swim lessons and water safety education to children and adults who live in neighborhoods near the Villegas Park and Reid Park Pools. The Centennial Campaign will also help offset the cost of training to qualified candidates interested in participating in Junior Lifeguarding and Lifeguarding. Hands-on water safety and pediatric CPR training is available for parents of children enrolled in swim lessons.

Connecticut

Boys & Girls Club of Greenwich

The Centennial Campaign kicks off at the Boys & Girls Club of Greenwich in spring of 2018 through support of the The ZAC Foundation. This club is the original location of the ZAC Camp, which is a weeklong water safety and drowning prevention program by The ZAC Foundation. Lifeguards will be trained as Red Cross Water Safety instructors or Basic Swim Instructors who will teach the Red Cross Learn-to-Swim program. Additional Water Safety instructors will supplement the existing aquatics team to help provide more swim lessons than ever before. The year-round free swim lessons will help children who participate in the ZAC Camp along with other club members continue swim lessons at least until they reach water competency. The Centennial Campaign is also providing scholarships to youth and young adults for Lifeguarding and Junior Lifeguarding courses. Families of children participating in swim lessons will have the opportunity to learn about water safety and get trained in pediatric CPR at no cost. The Red Cross Aquatic Examiner Service will provide objective third-party review of the Lifeguarding operations throughout the year.

Greenwich YMCA

The Greenwich YMCA joined the Centennial Campaign in 2018 to initialize a program to offer swim lessons to kindergarten through second graders with financial support from The ZAC Foundation. Year 1 is focusing on the area's Title 1 and charter schools that serve at-risk youth, with the goal of expanding to include all public schools in Greenwich. These lessons, taught by American Red Cross-trained Water Safety Instructors, will teach children the life skills of swimming and water safety. Parents and caregivers of youth participating in swim lessons will have the opportunity for water safety and CPR/AED training at no cost.

Florida

Boys & Girls Clubs of Bay County

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Bay County has joined forces with the Red Cross Centennial Campaign to help expand their capacity to provide swim lessons and water safety training to those who might not otherwise have access in the Panama City area. Scholarships are available to eligible children and adults to significantly reduce the cost of swim lessons as well as for qualified individuals who want to help in this effort by becoming Red Cross-trained Water Safety and Basic Swim Instructors. Parents or caregivers of children participating in swim lessons will have the opportunity to learn how to prevent and respond to water emergencies through water safety and pediatric CPR training.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County

In the summer of 2018, the Centennial Campaign teamed up with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County. The campaign is helping significantly reduce the cost of Lifeguarding and Water Safety Instructor training to qualified candidates which opens the door to many job opportunities. With more WSIs at the Levine/Slaughter and Carver Ranches clubs, even more youth will be able to gain the life skill of swimming. Youth may also participate in Junior Lifeguarding which will help put them on the pathway to becoming future lifeguards. Scholarships are available to those with a financial need for all Red Cross programming. Families of children participating in swim lessons will have the opportunity to learn about water safety and get trained in pediatric CPR/AED at no cost.

Brevard County Parks and Recreation

The Centennial Campaign is underway at three neighborhood pools in the Central and North Areas of Brevard County Parks and Recreation. Children who attend the parks and recreation summer camps in neighborhood-strategy areas are receiving swim lessons and learning about water safety from Red Cross Water Safety Instructors. The County's first-ever Junior Lifeguarding course was held this spring with more courses to come during breaks in the upcoming school year. Lifeguarding and Water Safety Instructor training are also available.

Charlotte County Community Services

In partnership with Charlotte County Community Services, the Centennial Campaign is underway at South County Regional Park in Punta Gorda and Oyster Creek Pool at Ann Dever Memorial Regional Park in Englewood. Scholarships are available for children and adults to learn to swim and about water safety. Pediatric CPR is offered to parents of children participating in swim lessons at Charlotte County aquatic facilities. There are also opportunities for adults who would like to volunteer to become Red Cross Aquatics Leaders to help educate others in the community about how to be safe in, on and near water.

Citrus County Parks and Recreation

Kicking off in 2017, the Centennial Campaign is partnering with Citrus County Parks and Recreation to provide scholarships for swim lessons and other aquatics and lifesaving training at the Bicentennial Park Pool. Lessons are available for children and adults to gain the important life skill of swimming as well as to help individuals build their skills to become future lifeguards and Water Safety Instructors. Those who meet eligibility requirements may enroll in Junior Lifeguarding, Lifeguarding and Water Safety Instructor training at a reduced cost. Water safety and Pediatric CPR/AED training for parents of children participating in swim lessons is also part of the Campaign.

Collier County Parks and Recreation

Collier County Parks and Recreation has partnered with the Centennial Campaign to provide scholarships to children to help them learn to swim and how to be safe in and around water at the Golden Gate Aquatic Center and Immokalee Sports Complex Pool. Scholarships are available for older youth and adults to reach water competency as well as help them improve their skills to be future lifeguards and Water Safety Instructors, and then to help offset the costs of the required Red Cross training. Pediatric CPR and water safety education is available for parents of children participating in swim lessons.

City of Fort Lauderdale Parks and Recreation

Carter Park Pool is the 2017 home base of the Centennial Campaign in Fort Lauderdale where children in summer camp are learning to swim and how to be safe in the water as part of their camp experience. Scholarships are also available at any City of Fort Lauderdale Parks and Recreation pool for teens and adults who want to learn to swim or improve their skills so they can become future lifeguards or Water Safety Instructors. Pediatric CPR and water safety education is available for parents of children participating in swim lessons.

City of Haines City Parks and Recreation

In partnership with Haines City Parks and Recreation, the Centennial Campaign is providing funding to train additional Water Safety Instructors to help the Aquatics team provide an expanded schedule of the Red Cross swim lessons to help Haines City residents gain water competency. Scholarships are available to significantly reduce the cost of lessons for families who meet eligibility requirements. These lessons are for young children through adults who want to learn to swim and be safe and in and near water. Junior Lifeguarding will help qualified youth with the goal of helping them be successful in future training to be Red Cross-trained lifeguards. Pediatric CPR and water safety education are available for parents of children participating in swim lessons.

Indian River County Parks and Recreation

In partnership with Indian River County Parks and Recreation and youth-serving organizations in Sebastian, Vero Beach and the Fellsmere and Gifford areas, children are learning to swim as part of their summer camp experience. Scholarships are available at the North County Aquatic Complex and Gifford Aquatic Center for children and adults who want to learn to swim and how to be safe in and around the water. Other aquatics training, including Junior Lifeguarding, are also available for those who qualify.

Florida Keys Community College, Key West

The Centennial Campaign at Florida Keys Community College Swimming Pool in Key West, Florida, helps provide scholarships for people of all ages who want to learn to swim and for youth to participate in Junior Lifeguarding. Financial assistance for those who qualify is available for training those who want to become lifeguards or Water Safety Instructors.

Lee County Parks and Recreation

With our partner, Lee County Parks and Recreation, the activity of the Centennial Campaign is focused at Tice Community Pool in Fort Myers Red Cross Water Safety Instructors are providing swim lessons and water safety education to community members throughout the summer.

City of Miami Gardens Parks and Recreation

Beginning in September 2015, the Centennial Campaign is helping is providing scholarships to children to help them learn to swim and how to be safe in and around water at the City of Miami Gardens Parks and Recreation Department's Betty T Ferguson Pool. Scholarships are available for older youth and adults to help them improve their skills to be future lifeguards and Water Safety Instructors, and then to help offset the costs of the required Red Cross training. Pediatric CPR and water safety education is available for parents of children participating in swim lessons.

City of North Miami Beach

In Spring 2018, the Centennial Campaign kicked off with the City of North Miami Beach Parks and Recreation Department. Through this collaboration, the Red Cross Learn-to-Swim program will be expanded so lessons are offered at all three city of North Miami Beach pools. The community has benefited from a very robust swim lesson and water safety program at Victory Pool Family Aquatics Center for many years. Starting this summer, swim lessons will also be offered at Washington Pool and Uleta Pool. The Centennial Campaign is helping offset the training costs of Water Safety Instructors and Junior Lifeguarding for qualified candidates. Families of children participating in swim lessons will have the opportunity to learn about water safety and get trained in pediatric CPR at no cost.

City of Orlando Families, Parks and Recreation

The City of Orlando Families, Parks and Recreation is in its second year of the Centennial Campaign. Dozens and dozens of Water Safety Instructors have been—and continue to be—trained to provide swim lessons in five neighborhood pools throughout the city of Orlando. Swim lessons and water safety education are integrated into many city of Orlando summer day camp programs and other youth-serving city partners. Contact the Aquatics Division with the City of Orlando Families, Parks and Recreation to become involved.

P-SWAP, Opa Locka

Professionals Serving with a Purpose-P-SWAP-joined forces with the Centennial Campaign in spring 2017. Through their Child Safety Learn to Swim Program, youth ages 1 to 14 years old can enroll in swim lessons that emphasize water safety and the achievement of water skills. Parents and caregivers learn about water safety and gain CPR skills so they know how to protect their children during recreational water activities. The Centennial Campaign is also helping develop swim instructors and lifeguards to support this free program.

Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation

In partnership with the Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation Department, the Centennial Campaign is helping make swim lessons available to groups who have a financial need, including day care centers and summer camps, at Aqua Crest Pool and Pioneer Park Aquatic Center. In 2016, these lessons will be extended to include the Santaluces Aquatic Complex. Scholarships are also available for children and adults to learn to swim and for youth to participate in Junior Lifeguarding.

St. Lucie County Parks and Recreation

In partnership with St. Lucie County Parks and Recreation, youth enrolled in the Lincoln Park after school program will be provided swim lessons and water safety education at the Lincoln Park Pool. These children, their families and residents of St. Lucie County are encouraged to continue to gain swimming skills to the level of water competency and learn to be safe in an around the water by taking advantage of scholarship funding that can be used at all three St. Lucie County Parks and Recreation pools: Lakewood Park Pool, Lincoln Park Pool and Ravenswood Pool. The Centennial Campaign will also help offset expenses for qualified candidates for Lifeguarding and Water Safety Instructor courses.

• Junior Lifeguard Camp Teaches More Than Just Lifeguarding
• Swimming Safety: No More Excuses
• Free Swim Program Offered to Children in Opa-Locka, Liberty City
• How This Local Restaurant is Trying to Reduce Drownings in Palm Beach County (Event Flyer)

Georgia

City of Atlanta Parks and Recreation

In partnership with the City of Atlanta Parks and Recreation Department, the Centennial Campaign is helping train additional Red Cross Water Safety Instructors to provide quality swim lessons throughout the city of Atlanta. Youth who enroll in the Camp Best Friends Summer Program will receive swim lessons at the city's three indoor pools: Adamsville Natatorium, Rosel Fann Natatorium and Washington Park Natatorium. Pediatric CPR and water safety training will be available to parents and caregivers of children enrolled in swim lessons at no cost. Beginning this fall, qualified youth will have the opportunity to participate in low-cost Junior lifeguarding courses to help them gain knowledge and skills to become future lifeguards.

• View the PSA Highlighting the Red Cross Swim App (Channel 2, Atlanta, GA)

The Salvation Army Kroc Center of Augusta

The Centennial Campaign has joined forces with The Salvation Army Kroc Center of Augusta to bring the American Red Cross Swimming and Water Safety program to those served by Kroc Augusta. Through funding made possible by the Centennial Campaign, staff will be trained as Red Cross Water Safety Instructors who will teach water safety education and swimming lessons to children and adults. The Centennial Campaign will provide scholarships to significantly reduce the cost of swim lessons and will help offset the cost of training to qualified candidates interested in participating in Junior Lifeguarding and Lifeguarding training. Hands-on water safety and pediatric CPR training is available for parents of children enrolled in swim lessons.

SwemKids and Atlanta Swim School

The Centennial Campaign has teamed up with SwemKids and the Atlanta Swim School to help children and adults overcome barriers for learning how to swim and be safer in and around water, including financial barriers. This collaboration will help SwemKids – a school-based swim lesson and water safety program for K-12 students – expand its operations. Scholarships are available for children and adults to gain the skills of water competency at the Atlanta Swim School. The Centennial Campaign funding is also providing scholarships to qualified candidates who want to become trained in Junior Lifeguarding, Lifeguarding and as Water Safety Instructors. Hands-on water safety and pediatric CPR training is available to parents of children in swim lessons.

Hawaii

City of Honolulu

The Centennial Campaign, in partnership with the City and County of Honolulu Parks and Recreation Department, is helping provide Red Cross swim lessons and aquatics training to the community. Red Cross-trained Water Safety Instructors are teaching children and adults how to swim and to be safe in and near water in all City and County aquatic facilities. The Centennial Campaign is also helping offset the training costs to qualified candidates in Junior Lifeguarding, Lifeguarding and Water Safety Instructor courses. Parents of children enrolled in swim lessons can learn the lifesaving skill of pediatric CPR at no cost.

• City & County of Honolulu and Red Cross Offer Free Swim Classes (Honolulu, HI)

Illinois

Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago

The Centennial Campaign with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago began in January 2016. Certified Red Cross Water Safety Instructors are providing low cost swim lessons to children and adults throughout the year at these facilities with indoor pools: Pederson-McCormick, True Value and Valentine Clubs. are Scholarships are available for qualified youth candidates to gain skills to become future lifeguards Junior lifeguarding courses. Parents and caregivers of youth members are encouraged to participate in free water safety training and CPR training.

Louisiana

BREC - Recreation and Park Commission for The Parish of East Baton Rouge

The Centennial Campaign in Baton Rouge is helping train Red Cross Water Safety Instructors to provide swim lessons, which will be at a reduced or no cost to the community at these BREC locations: Liberty Lagoon, City-Brooks Community Pool, Howell Community Pool, and Anna T. Jordan Community Pool. Scholarships will help reduce the costs for qualified candidates in Red Cross Junior Lifeguarding and Water Safety Instructor courses. Parents and caregivers of children enrolled in swim lessons may enroll in lifesaving water safety and CPR courses.

Ward 3 Recreation, Lake Charles

The Centennial Campaign has teamed up with Ward 3 Recreation in Lake Charles to provide more swim lessons and water safety training than ever before. Once again, Ward 3 Recreation will provide swim lessons to the community for just $1 per student at the Ward 3 Recreation aquatic facilities: 2nd Avenue Pool, University Aquatics Center and Foreman/Reynaud Aquatics Center. Starting in 2016, these lessons are being taught by Red Cross-trained Water Safety and Basic Swim Instructors. Scholarships for lifeguard training are available for qualified candidates. Families of children participating in swim lessons will have the opportunity to learn about water safety and get trained in pediatric CPR at no cost.

• SPECIAL REPORT: Reporter Maranda Whittington Learns to Swim
• Ward 3 Recreation Offering Dollar Swim Classes This Summer

Maryland

Coppin State University, Baltimore

The Centennial Campaign and Coppin State University Aquatics in Baltimore have joined forces to provide low-cost swim lessons and water safety training to eligible members of the CSU community and the surrounding neighborhoods. Starting in 2017, these lessons are being taught by Red Cross-trained Water Safety and Basic Swim Instructors. Scholarships for the Junior Lifeguard and Safety Camp and lifeguard training courses are available for qualified candidates. Families of children participating in swim lessons will have the opportunity to learn about water safety and get trained in pediatric CPR at no cost.

Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission - Prince George's County

The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, Department of Parks and Recreation, Prince George’s County has teamed with the Centennial Campaign to offer low-cost swim lessons and aquatics training for residents of Prince George's County since the fall of 2015. The Department of Parks and Recreation has over 12 facilities that participate in the Centennial Campaign. The Centennial Campaign is also helping to reduce costs for qualified candidates who want to become trained in Lifeguarding and as Water Safety Instructors. Virtual and in-person water safety and pediatric CPR training is available to parents of children in swim lessons at participating facilities.

Mississippi

City of Pascagoula

The City of Pascagoula is teaming up with the Centennial Campaign to provide more swim lessons to children and adults in the community than ever before. Through funding provided by the campaign, the City of Pascagoula Pool will triple the number of Red Cross-trained Water Safety Instructors on staff to teach families the skills needed to achieve water competency. Junior Lifeguarding courses will help qualified youth prepare to become future lifeguards. Water safety and pediatric CPR courses will help parents and caregivers learn how to be safe in and around water and what to do in a water emergency.

Mississippi State University – University Recreation

Mississippi State University – University Recreation joined the Red Cross Centennial Campaign in spring of 2021. The Campaign is helping train Red Cross Water Safety Instructors to provide swim lessons and water safety education to the local community at its Sanderson Center. Scholarships are available to significantly reduce the cost of learning these life skills for children as well as adults. The Centennial Campaign is also helping offset the cost of training for those interested in becoming swim instructors and/or lifeguards. Pediatric CPR and water safety training is available for parents and caregivers of children enrolled in swim lessons.

Missouri

Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis

The Centennial Campaign is partnering with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis and The ZAC Foundation to provide the Red Cross Swimming and Water Safety program to members and their families. This summer will mark the third year that the Herbert Hoover Club has hosted a ZAC Camp, which is a weeklong water safety and drowning prevention program by The ZAC Foundation. So that children can continue their journey to learning to swim, starting in 2018, free swim lessons, taught by Red Cross-certified Water Safety or Basic Swim Instructors, will be available year around. The Centennial Campaign is also providing scholarships to youth and young adults for Lifeguarding and Junior Lifeguarding courses. Families of children participating in swim lessons will have the opportunity to learn about water safety and get trained in pediatric CPR at no cost.

New Jersey

Boys & Girls Club of Paterson and Passaic

The Centennial Campaign has teamed up with the Boys & Girls of Paterson and Passaic to expand its aquatics program. The community they serve has benefited from a very robust swim lesson and water safety program at the Paterson Clubhouse for many years, and the Centennial Campaign will help extend similar programming to the Passaic Clubhouse. The Centennial Campaign is providing scholarships helping offset the training costs of Water Safety Instructors and Junior Lifeguarding for qualified candidates. Families of children participating in swim lessons will have the opportunity to learn about water safety and get trained in pediatric CPR at no cost.

New Mexico

City of Farmington Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs

The Centennial Campaign is underway with the Aquatics division of the City of Farmington Parks, Recreation & Cultural Affairs Department. The Red Cross Learn-to-Swim program is offered at both the Farmington Aquatic Center and Lions Pool. The Centennial Campaign will help expand this strong program by providing scholarships to those with a financial need, bringing the cost of lessons down to $5 per session. Campaign funding also helps offset the training costs of Water Safety Instructor, Lifeguarding and Junior Lifeguarding courses for qualified candidates. Families of children participating in swim lessons will have the opportunity to learn about water safety and get trained in pediatric CPR at no cost.

New York

New York State Parks

In a partnership among New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation; the American Red Cross; the National Swimming Pool Foundation; the Northeast Spa and Pool Association Foundation and the New York State Department of Health, swim lessons are being provided by Red Cross-trained Water Safety Instructors for free at state parks throughout New York.

• Governor Cuomo Announces Free Learn-to-Swim Programs Open To Nearly 3,000 Children At State Parks This Summer
• New York State Parks Announces Expansion of Free Learn-to-Swim Programs at State Parks This Summer
• Centennial Campaign Launches in New York State Parks
• State Parks Offer Free Swim Lessons for Kids
• State Parks Offer Swim Lessons

Nevada

City of Las Vegas Parks and Recreation

The Centennial Campaign kicked off with the City of Las Vegas Parks and Recreation in the summer of 2015. Scholarships for swim lessons are available at these neighborhood pools: Baker Pool, Doolittle Pool, Carlos L. Martinez and Darrio J. Hall Family Pool at Gary Reese Freedom Park. Training in Pediatric CPR and water safety education are available for parents of children participating in swim lessons. The Centennial Campaign will also help offset the cost of training to become a Water Safety Instructor for qualified candidates.

• Red Cross and the City of Las Vegas Team Up to Teach Swim Lessons
• $5 Swim Lessons Offered at 3 Las Vegas Community Pools

North Carolina

Greensboro Aquatic Center

Starting in 2021, the Greensboro Aquatic Center joined the Centennial Campaign, with opportunities focusing on two programs areas. The Campaign is helping support the 2nd Grade Learn to Swim Extension Program which makes swim lessons available at a significantly reduced cost for children who have completed the one-week school-based program through Guilford County schools. This effort is also supporting a collaboration with Carolina Swims Foundation, which is a non-profit that serves foster families. Our combined goal is to provide swim lessons to children of all ages and to help the older youth attain the skills and confidence needed to get more advanced aquatics training, such as Lifeguarding and Water Safety Instructor training, that can lead to great jobs. For all involved, parents and caregivers will be provided opportunities to participate in water safety and CPR training.

NSEA Swim Foundation, Wilmington

The Centennial Campaign has joined forces with NSEA Swim (Northside Elite Aquatics) to help support its mission to bring swim programming to underserved parts of the Wilmington community. This collaboration will first focus on helping develop more Red Cross Water Safety Instructors. With the addition of more skilled swim instructors, NSEA Swim can expand the availability of swim lessons and water safety education to children and adults throughout the community. The collaboration will also allow NSEA Swim to offer Pediatric CPR and water safety training to parents and caregivers of children who participate in swim lessons. Funding from the campaign will help offset the cost of lifeguard training and certification for eligible candidates.

Ohio

Cincinnati Recreation Commission

The Cincinnati Recreation Commission became part of the Centennial Campaign in 2021. This collaboration is helping to expand the availability of low-cost swim lessons to residents throughout the city of Cincinnati. The Centennial Campaign is helping reduce the costs of training for those interested in becoming American Red Cross Water Safety Instructors – a certification that leads to employment opportunities. Funding through the campaign will help offset costs of the Junior Lifeguarding program for eligible youth to learn skills that can help prepare them for future employment. Pediatric CPR and water safety training is also available to parents and caregivers of children participating in swim lessons.

Oklahoma

YWCA Tulsa

The Centennial Campaign with the YWCA Tulsa is helping expand the strong learn-to-swim program that is already serving the families of Tulsa. Funding through the campaign will provide even more opportunities for youth to participate in the Los Pesecitos program. Scholarships are available for teens and adults swim lessons at a significantly reduced rate. Scholarships are also helping reduce the cost of Junior Lifeguarding and Lifeguarding courses for qualified candidates. Parents and caregivers of children enrolled in swim lessons will also have the opportunity for water safety and CPR/AED training at no cost.

Saipan, Northern Marianna Islands

Saipan, Northern Marianna Islands

Swim for Life CNMI became part of the Red Cross Centennial Campaign in May 2021. The focus will first be on helping develop more Red Cross Water Safety Instructors who will educate the community about water safety and provide swim lessons throughout the CNMI Public School System. This collaboration will help further the Swimming for All, Swimming for Life Program that was initiated through a grant from the Administration for Native Americans and the Public School System. Funding from the Centennial Campaign will also help support training eligible candidates for Lifeguarding and Junior Lifeguarding. Pediatric CPR and water safety training is available for parents and caregivers of children enrolled in swim lessons.

• PSS provides summer swim camps for NMI youth

City of Myrtle Beach

As one of the pilot test sites for the Centennial Campaign, the City of Myrtle Beach Parks and Recreation Department is teaching residents served by the Mary C. Canty Recreation Center (formerly the Canal Street Recreation Pool) how to swim and be safe in and around water at a significantly reduced cost. Centennial Campaign funding is also helping reduce costs for qualified candidates who want to become trained in Junior Lifeguarding and Lifeguarding and as Water Safety Instructors. Hands-on water safety and pediatric CPR training is available to parents of children in swim lessons at participating facilities.

The Salvation Army Kroc Center, Greenville

The Centennial Campaign has teamed up with The Salvation Army Kroc Greenville to expand their swimming and water safety program. This collaboration will provide scholarships to children and adults to significantly reduce the cost of swim lessons. It will also will help offset the cost of training to qualified candidates interested in participating in Lifeguarding and Water Safety Instructor training. Families of children participating in swim lessons will have the opportunity to learn about water safety and get trained in pediatric CPR at no cost. Children at Kroc Greenville will learn about being safer in, on and around water safety through Longfellow’s WHALE Tales.

Tennessee

Kingsport Aquatic Center

Beginning in 2019, the Centennial Campaign with the Kingsport Aquatic Center is helping extend an existing scholarship program to further reduce the cost of swim lessons for children and adults. The funding will also reduce the costs of Lifeguarding and Water Safety Instructor training for qualified candidates. Water safety outreach for the community will be a focus of this program, and parents and caregivers of youth participating in swim lessons will have the opportunity for low- or no-cost CPR/AED training.

Texas

City of Dallas Aquatics

In partnership with the City of Dallas Aquatics, a division of the City of Dallas Parks and Recreation Department, the Centennial Campaign is helping provide an outreach program that brings the American Red Cross Swimming and Water Safety program to children in Dallas who would not otherwise have access to these programs. Staff on the City of Dallas Aquatics team, who are also Red Cross Lifeguards and Water Safety Instructors, travel to selected apartment complexes that are located in areas not convenient to Dallas Parks and Recreation pools. Teens from the complexes are recruited to assist with the Learn-to-Swim classes for mentoring and job-skill opportunities. Water safety training is available for parents and family members of youth who are learning to swim.

City of Pasadena Parks and Recreation Department

The City of Pasadena Aquatics, a division of Pasadena Parks and Recreation, has joined forces with the Centennial Campaign to train Water Safety Instructors to provide the Red Cross Learn-to-Swim program. Through this partnership, scholarships will help reduce the cost of swim lessons to $5 per session at all City of Pasadena aquatic facilities for children and adults with a financial need. Children enrolled in local schools and city camp programs will learn about water safety with Longfellow the Whale through the Red Cross WHALE Tales program. Water safety education and pediatric CPR training is available to families of children who are participating in swim lessons.

Wisconsin

Kenosha YMCA

The Centennial Campaign has teamed up with the Kenosha YMCA to help advance efforts in the Kenosha community to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to learn to swim. This funding will help the Kenosha Y provide the Red Cross Learn-to-Swim program at a significantly reduced cost to people of all ages with a financial need. The funding will also reduce the costs of Lifeguarding and Water Safety Instructor training for qualified candidates. Water safety outreach for the community will be a focus of this program, and parents and caregivers of youth participating in swim lessons will have the opportunity for low- or no-cost CPR/AED training.

Milwaukee Recreation Aquatics

The Centennial Campaign has teamed up with the Milwaukee Recreation Aquatics (of the Milwaukee Public Schools Department of Recreation & Community Services) to provide scholarships to help build their Water Safety Instructor and Lifeguarding corps which will in turn help them provide more swim lessons. Funding will also help extend their existing scholarship program and to further reduce the cost of swim lessons for those with a financial need. Lifeguard Management training is being provided to the leaders on the lifeguard team. Parents and caregivers of youth participating in swim lessons will have the opportunity for water safety and CPR/AED training. In future years, Junior Lifeguarding scholarships will also be available to support youth with a desire to become future lifeguards.