So far this year, 80 Vashon children have received coupons to take advantage of this wonderful opportunity, and help reduce the risk of drowning on Vashon.

Who is eligible:
All resident Vashon students registered in second, third and fourth grade at Chautauqua Elementary, Carpe Diem and Harbor School during the 2008-2009 school year are eligible for a coupon for FREE lessons.

Even if your child knows how to swim he/she can benefit from lessons to improve their swim skills and water safety knowledge.

How to get a coupon?
Pick up a FREE coupon for classes at one of the following locations:

• Chautauqua Office: M-F, June 8-19
• Vashon Park District Office: M-F, 8:00am-4:00pm

When and where classes are offered:
Coupons are good at King County Vashon Pool. Visit the pool beginning June 15 to get more information about ARC classes or sign up for a class.

Who teaches the classes:
All American Red Cross Learn-to-Swim and Water Safety classes are taught by certified ARC instructors.

For more information about the national Make A Splash initiative visit; www.swimfoundation.org.

Contact our Make a Splash Vashon program at: makeasplash@www.swimvashon.org, or call Gary Gray at: 463-6561.

What is Make A Splash?

Make a Splash is a national child-focused water safety initiative created by the USA Swimming Foundation. Make a Splash educates parents through a national awareness campaign, saves lives by joining forces with grassroots learn-to-swim programs and reaches thousands of children through wide-reaching initiatives.

How is Vashon involved?
Vashon Aquatic Club and its Seals Swim Team have teamed up with USA Swimming Foundation and Vashon Park District to form a Local Partner Program called MAKE A SPLASH Vashon. This local program is dedicated to carrying out the mission of a national initiative to use the sport of swimming to decrease the number of drowning accidents, foster diversity in the sport and encourage people of all ages to embrace swimming as a route to a healthier lifestyle.

Why?:
According to the Centers for Disease Control, nine (9) people drown every day in the United States! DROWNING is the second leading cause of unintentional injury-related death in children 1-14 years old.

You and Make A Splash Vashon can help by:

• First, teach children to swim and water safety from an accredited and reliable institution and certified instructors.
• Second, ensuring all family members know how to protect children around water. 
• Then, making swimming a regular part of the families’ year-round activities to improve skills.

Why use the American Red Cross Learn-to-Swim and Water Safety lessons?
This is the oldest and most recognized course of its kind in the world. They help swimmers of all ages and abilities develop their swimming and water safety skills and give students a positive learning experience.

These lessons are taught in logical progressions from curriculums based on the latest improvements and research. The objective is to teach people to swim and to be safe in, on and around the water.

How long do the lessons take?
American Red Cross Learn-to-Swim and Water Safety classes are offered at different levels based on the students abilities in morning and afternoon sessions. Morning sessions contain 10 – one-half hour lessons; Afternoon sessions contain 8 – one-half hour lessons. Lessons are offered every two weeks through out the summer.

Check with King County Pool for specific information:
(206) 463-3787.