We Are a Student-Led Initiative
A National Water Safety Movement
Own Your Float.
Learn To Swim.
We bring free water safety education to preschools, community organizations, houses of worship, and pediatrician offices — because every child deserves to know how to be safe in the water.
HELP US PASS New York Senate Bill S9480
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HELP US PASS New York Senate Bill S9480 〰️
Proud Partner of FINIS
We’re excited to partner with FINIS, a global leader in innovative swim training equipment.
WHAT WE DO
Mission
Own Your Float was founded in 2022 by Kate Casciato, then 12-years old, What started as one girl handing out water safety flyers outside of community centers and pools has grown into a student-led movement after a family member nearly drowned in a riptide. A competitive swimmer her entire life, Kate knew firsthand what water literacy could mean — and she saw clearly what happened to kids who never had access to it. What began as one student's mission has grown into a student-led movement: young people who believe water safety education shouldn't depend on your zip code. The gold standard is a swim lesson. But some children never get one. Own Your Float exists because that gap is not acceptable.
Why We Exist
Swim lessons save lives. We know that. We believe in them. We even help other organizations fundraise for them.
But here's the reality: some kids will never get one.
The reasons run deep — cost, access, and generations of families who were kept out of pools by law. Those reasons don't disappear overnight.
And while we work toward a world where every child has access to a swim lesson, children are around water right now without the knowledge to survive it.
That's why we start with education. Early. Because a child who knows the rules of water safety is safer than a child who doesn't — swim lesson or not.
Founded
Own Your Float believes every child deserves to be safe in the water, even children who haven't had
a swim lesson.
We go directly into preschools and elementary schools to teach water safety. Our classroom visits start with a story. Our original children's books open the conversation. Then we go deeper with age-appropriate discussion, coloring activities, and take home rules. Children leave knowing how to stay safe in and around the water.
The Crisis We’re Addressing
Drowning is preventable.
Fear is inherited.
We’re here to break the cycle.
The gap is real. So is the solution.
#1
Cause of accidental
death in children ages
1–4 in the U.S.64%
Of African-American
children have little to no swimming ability3×
Higher drowning rates for African-American children
than white children13%
Chance a child learns
to swim if their parent
never didMeeting families where
they are.
Preschools
We visit preschool classrooms to introduce water safety concepts before cultural barriers take
hold — reaching children as young as three years old.
Houses of Worship & Community Centers
Faith communities are trusted gathering places. We partner with churches, synagogues, mosques, and community organizations to reach families where they feel safe.
Out Now
Captain Goggles
Saves the Day!
A new Own Your Float storybook for young readers!
In this colorful adventure book, Captain Goggles realizes he can't save everyone from the water — so he sets out to teach children to save themselves through swim lessons and water safety rules.
It's part of how we start with a story—then build habits kids can remember long after we leave the room.
All profits go to Own Your Float.
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Take the pledge
Something kids bring home from a visit—a simple promise to learn to swim and stay safe in the water, with Captain Goggles cheering them on.
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Continue the lesson at home
A free Captain Goggles coloring page that kids can take home — same water-safety messages in a fun, hands-on activity (print-friendly).
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Grandma, We're Swimming!
By Kate Casciato · Illustrated by Daeja Sutherland
Generational fear meets generational courage — Imara and her grandmother decide to face the water together, because it's never too early, or too late, to learn to swim.
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Bring Water Safety Education to Your Students
Partner with us to deliver meaningful, age-appropriate safety education in your classroom or community.
What People Are Saying
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“This program made water safety approachable and engaging for our students.”
— Michael R.
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“A valuable addition to our child safety curriculum.”
— Sarah L.
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“This program made water safety approachable and engaging for our students.”
— David K.