Walnut Creek Arts+Rec Celebrates National Water Safety Month

WALNUT CREEK, CA — Walnut Creek Arts + Rec is highlighting aquatic programs such as lifeguard training and child swim lessons during May for National Water Safety Month.

Also this month, the community will welcome the U.S. Olympic Artistic Swim Team for a special event Saturday, May 11 hosted by the Walnut Creek Aquanuts called the Celebration of Champions at the Clarke Memorial Swim Center.

The fundraising event includes a dinner, silent auction and performance by the Olympic team before its trip to Paris for the Summer Games 2024.

"We have a great tradition of aquatics in Walnut Creek, and we want to take this opportunity to promote water safety and get the word out about our community programming," said Steven Thomas, Arts + Rec Aquatics Coordinator.

Walnut Creek Aquatics, a division of the city’s Arts + Rec department, has certified more than 50 lifeguards for the community since summer 2023. The Junior Lifeguards practice skills side by side with the city of Walnut Creek lifeguards. Another crew of 16 Junior Lifeguards will join them for staff training soon, which covers water safety, basic rescue skills, teamwork, leadership skills, personal responsibility and an introduction to first aid and CPR.

Meanwhile, the aquatics division has multiple swim lessons with certified instructors available for kids, from toddler "guppies" to more advanced "dolphins" who want to learn different swimming strokes. A few springtime lesson slots are still available, and registration for summer lessons opens May 22.

"Swim safety skills and proper supervision are so important for young children, and our classes and wonderful instructors go the extra mile to help families learn these essential skills so they can have fun in the water safely," Thomas said. "The lessons are great for socialization as well, and the kids learn skills that will last them a lifetime."

In recent years, Walnut Creek Aquatics has offered water safety talks to the Contra Costa County Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, a nonprofit group of mothers of African-American children. The national organization has a program emphasizing water safety for black children. Organizers have been pleased with past year's events for fourth- and fifth-graders and middle schoolers and are considering holding another event this May.

"With the weather starting to warm up and May being Water Safety Month, we’re hoping to get the word out about all the programs and activities available to make this a safe and fun summer ahead," Thomas said.

To explore different swim lessons and aquatic activities available from Walnut Creek Arts + Rec, check out Walnutcreekartsrec.org/aquatics.

To learn more about the Aquanuts and get tickets to their Celebration of Champions event, go to Aquanuts.org.