The World is 70% Water. Your Child is 100% Curious.
May is Water Safety Month, a time to raise awareness about a simple truth. Water can be fun, but it also requires respect, knowledge, and preparation.
At the Whatcom Family YMCA, we believe that teaching kids how to be safe around water is not a luxury. It is a necessity. Every year, preventable water accidents impact families across the country. With the right skills and confidence, those risks can be reduced.
That is why we offer our free Safety Around Water program, designed to give children the tools they need to stay safe wherever they encounter water.
💧 Why Water Safety Matters
Drowning can happen quickly and silently, often in places you would not expect, even in small amounts of standing water. As caregivers, we want kids to enjoy the water while building confidence and independence.
Water safety is about more than swimming. It includes:
- Knowing how to respond in an unexpected situation
- Learning how to reach the surface if submerged
- Safely getting to the edge and exiting the water
- Building confidence and reducing fear
These are life saving skills that open the door to lifelong enjoyment of water activities.
🏊♀️ A Program That Saves Lives
Our Safety Around Water program is led by certified YMCA instructors who create a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment for every child, regardless of ability.
Children ages 3 to 11 learn:
- Essential water safety techniques
- Confidence in and around water
- Skills that help them stay calm and act safely
Because we believe every child deserves access, this program is free for families of non swimmers in Whatcom County.
🤝 More Than Lessons, It Is Community
At the Y, we are more than a place to learn skills. We are a place where families connect, grow, and feel supported. The YMCA is committed to strengthening community by helping people reach their potential and build meaningful connections .
When kids learn water safety, they gain confidence. When families feel safer, the whole community grows stronger.
💦 Get Started Today
This Water Safety Month, take the first step toward protecting your child.
👉 Register for Safety Around Water using code SAW-BC for free registration
👉 Ages 3 to 11, Whatcom County families
👉 Spots are limited, register today • whatcomymca.org/saw
Because safe swimming saves lives.