Water Safety Camp In Greenwich April 9-13

From the ZAC Foundation: The ZAC Foundation will join with the Boys and Girls Club of Greenwich and First Responders to host a four-day water safety camp April 9-13 for Greenwich area children and families.

Founded in 2008 in Greenwich by Karen and Brian Cohn, the ZAC Foundation joins with local organizations in cities all across the nation each year to sponsor ZAC Camps such as next week's event.

The award-winning ZAC Camp brings life-saving water safety skills to local five to nine-year-olds. Nearly 15,000 kids all across the country have participated in the camps in recent years, including hundreds in the Greenwich area. Combining ‘classroom’ instruction with swimming lessons and opportunities to learn important skills from First Responders, the camp provides children and parents with tools to enjoy the water safely while understanding avoidable risks.

Sponsored in partnership with the Boys & Girls Club of Greenwich, the ZAC Camp will be held April 9-13 at the Boys & Girls Club of Greenwich, 4 Horseneck Lane, Greenwich, CT 06830.

Community leaders, along with representatives from local police and fire departments, will participate alongside professional water safety instructors.

The Camp will kick off at 9:00 a.m. Monday with an opening ceremony featuring local leaders, the ZAC Foundation's Karen Cohn, along with special guest Rowdy Gaines IV, U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame member, three-time Olympic gold medalist, and member of the International Swimming Hall of Fame.

The ZAC Foundation was established by Karen and Brian Cohn after the loss of their six-year-old son, Zachary Archer Cohn, who became trapped in a drain in their backyard swimming pool. The Foundation’s advocacy and education efforts have reached thousands of children and their families directly, with millions more reached through social media and news outlets.

In addition to in-pool lessons and safety classes with First Responders, campers will learn the fundamental tenets of water safety from a classroom curriculum based on The Polar Bear Who Couldn’t, Wouldn’t Swim, a children’s book co-authored by Zachary’s parents.

Announcing the Greenwich camp, ZAC Foundation co-founder Karen Cohn said, “Each year, it is tremendously gratifying to see our son Zachary’s legacy live on in the faces and laughter of kids across the country who participate in ZAC Camps. Of course, the camp here at home in Greenwich is especially rewarding. We couldn’t offer this life-saving opportunity without our amazing partners, the Boys & Girls Club, and we’re excited for what I am confident will be an amazing camp. Nothing is more important than the safety of our kids, and it brings us all great joy to provide kids and their parents with the tools to enjoy the water more safely.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control, drowning is the leading cause of accidental death among children aged 1-4, and the second leading cause among those aged 5-14. Drowning risk is highest in minority populations, with drowning rates nearly three times that of Caucasian children. Many of these tragic deaths are preventable through proper water safety skills and measures.

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