COUNCIL COMMUNICATION
TO: Honorable Mayor and Council
FROM: Gabby Vera, Parks and Recreation Director
SUBJECT:Title
Discussion and Action: Resolution No. 26-3891 Approving Services Agreement with Lake Havasu Unified School District No. 1 to Continue the Kinder Swim Program and Initiate the Mission 5: Ready to Rescue Program (Gabby Vera)
Body
FUNDING SOURCE:
London Bridge Rotary Club funds this program through a donation to the Parks and Recreation Program in the amount of $7,500.
PURPOSE:
To consider adopting a resolution approving the Services Agreement with Lake Havasu Unified School District No. 1 to continue the Kinder Swim Program and initiate the Mission 5: Ready to Rescue Program.
BACKGROUND:
Kinder Swim began in 1999 as a program designed to introduce kindergarten students to swim instruction and essential water safety practices. In 2000, the program was adopted into the curriculum of Lake Havasu Unified School District #1, ensuring that every kindergarten student receives this critical life-saving education. Since the program’s inception, the Rotary Club has generously provided annual donations to the City to support its continued success.
Kinder Swim has been recognized with multiple Awards of Excellence from the Arizona Parks and Recreation Association, the Association of Aquatic Professionals, and the National Recreation and Park Association, highlighting its lasting impact on youth safety and community wellness.
Building on the success of Kinder Swim, the department is proud to launch Mission 5: Ready to Rescue, a new initiative serving fifth-grade students in LHUSD. Through this program, students will complete a swim competency assessment, refresh water safety skills, and receive training in hands-only CPR and other essential life-saving techniques, equipping them with the confidence and skills to protect themselves and others.
COMMUNITY IMPACT:
Drowning is the second leading cause of accidental death among children ages 1-14, and in Arizona, the rate of child drownings is nearly double the national average. Lake Havasu City is uniquely vulnerable due to its proximity to one of the largest lakes in the state and the high number of residential swimming pools throughout the community-factors that significantly increase the risk of water-related incidents.
The Kinder Swim program addresses this risk by introducing kindergarten students to essential water safety skills and swim instruction at an early age. Building on that foundation, Mission 5: Ready to Rescue ensures those critical skills stay with students as they grow. The program not only reassesses swim competency among Lake Havasu Unified School District fifth-grade students but also provides hands-only CPR training and other vital lifesaving skills-empowering youth to be safer, more confident, and better prepared in and around the water.
FISCAL IMPACT:
A donation in the amount of $7,500 from the London Bridge Rotary Club.
ATTACHMENTS:
Resolution No. 26-3891
Kinder Swim IGA with LHUSD 2026-2031
SUGGESTED MOTION:Recommended Action
I move to adopt Resolution No. 26-3891 approving the Services Agreement with Lake Havasu Unified School District No. 1 to continue the Kinder Swim Program and initiate the Mission 5: Ready to Rescue Program.