Vamos a Nadar: Let's Swim!
Teaching young children and families how to be safe around water continues to be an urgent summertime issue. In addition to providing Water Safety Patrol lifeguards at our most frequently visited recreation sites, Regional Parks is excited to resume the popular Vamos a Nadar (Let’s go Swimming) water safety program again in 2021.
Designed to reduce drowning deaths in our community, Vamos a Nadar has reached more than 2,000 young people in Sonoma County since launching in 2004. In 2021, Vamos a Nadar program will be offered at the Spring Lake Swimming Lagoon and Healdsburg Veterans Memorial Beach. For each program date, there are two sessions: one taught in Spanish and one taught in English. The hour-long workshops, taught by Regional Park lifeguards and staff, educate parents and children about the hazards presented by pools, rivers, and lakes. Among other things, the classes inform parents how to evaluate conditions, emphasize the importance of observing aquatic safety rules, provide tips for monitoring children as well as rescue techniques for areas where lifeguards are not present.
Both the Parks Foundation and Regional Parks’ lifeguard staff strongly believe in the efficacy of Vamos a Nadar, which typically serves families with limited resources who otherwise probably could not afford swim lessons. After each workshop, families are invited to enjoy and explore the swimming areas together. Each family also receives a coupon for additional swim lessons at Santa Rosa City Pools for a reduced price of $15 (normally $50 per child).
The Foundation is seeking to raise $10,000 for Vamos a Nadar, which would offset costs for lifeguard instructional time and help underwrite discounted swim lessons at Santa Rosa City Pools. While current health safety guidelines cap participation (12 children per session), this summer’s Vamos a Nadar will introduce nearly 250 children, their parents, and extended families to a broad set of water-safety skills.
We hope you’ll join us in support of this critical life-saving program. Simply select “Water Safety” from the drop-down menu using the DONATE button.
For more information, please contact Melissa Kelley at melissa.kelley@sonoma-county.org.
Designed to reduce drowning deaths in our community, Vamos a Nadar has reached more than 2,000 young people in Sonoma County since launching in 2004. In 2021, Vamos a Nadar program will be offered at the Spring Lake Swimming Lagoon and Healdsburg Veterans Memorial Beach. For each program date, there are two sessions: one taught in Spanish and one taught in English. The hour-long workshops, taught by Regional Park lifeguards and staff, educate parents and children about the hazards presented by pools, rivers, and lakes. Among other things, the classes inform parents how to evaluate conditions, emphasize the importance of observing aquatic safety rules, provide tips for monitoring children as well as rescue techniques for areas where lifeguards are not present.
Both the Parks Foundation and Regional Parks’ lifeguard staff strongly believe in the efficacy of Vamos a Nadar, which typically serves families with limited resources who otherwise probably could not afford swim lessons. After each workshop, families are invited to enjoy and explore the swimming areas together. Each family also receives a coupon for additional swim lessons at Santa Rosa City Pools for a reduced price of $15 (normally $50 per child).
The Foundation is seeking to raise $10,000 for Vamos a Nadar, which would offset costs for lifeguard instructional time and help underwrite discounted swim lessons at Santa Rosa City Pools. While current health safety guidelines cap participation (12 children per session), this summer’s Vamos a Nadar will introduce nearly 250 children, their parents, and extended families to a broad set of water-safety skills.
We hope you’ll join us in support of this critical life-saving program. Simply select “Water Safety” from the drop-down menu using the DONATE button.
For more information, please contact Melissa Kelley at melissa.kelley@sonoma-county.org.
