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.
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Preschool Visits
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Original Books
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Pediatrician Offices
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City Ambassadors
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Houses of Worship
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Always Free
WHAT WE DO
We go where children already are.
Own Your Float doesn't wait for families to come to us. We show up in preschool and Kindergarten classrooms, Boys and Girls Clubs, pediatrician offices, and houses of worship — places families already trust — and bring water safety education directly to children at an early age.
We meet children where they are, at the age when it matters most, through the communities that know them best.
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 something real.
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 didThe Crisis We’re Addressing
Meeting 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.
Pediatrician Offices
Free bilingual handouts in waiting rooms connect parents to water safety information and free swim resources while they're already in a health mindset.
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.
Coming in late April
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.
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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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Imara and Grandma Learn to Swim
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.
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.