Boys & Girls Clubs of America and the ZAC Foundation, an organization advocating water safety education, announced a partnership to bring water safety skills and basic swim instruction to thousands of members nationwide through weeklong swim camps.
Named in honor of 6-year-old Zachary Archer Cohn, who drowned as a result of being entrapped in a swimming pool drain, ZAC Camps are designed to teach children, ages 5 to 9, water safety through classroom curriculum and in-pool swim lessons.
Unlike many other swim safety initiatives, ZAC Camp involves engagement with local first responders. The camps will be held at 10 Boys & Girls Clubs from March to August this year, expanding to 25 camps in 2014.
“ZAC Camps will give our younger club members the essential basics to keep them safe in and around the water,” said Jim Clark, president/CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs. “Helping our young people, especially at a very young age, will prevent needless drowning incidents that take place every day in this nation — primarily due to lack of basic knowledge and skills related to water safety.”
