ADDRESSING ALARMING GLOBAL DROWNING STATISTICS, GOLDFISH SWIM SCHOOL LAUNCHES 5th ANNUAL SAFER SWIMMER PLEDGE AND FURTHERS MISSION TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO WATER SAFETY EDUCATION WITH DONATIONS TO EVERY CHILD A SWIMMER

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May 01, 2025, 09:00 ET

Annual Campaign Set to Make a Splash Around North America, Beginning May 1 in Honor of National Water Safety Month

Goldfish Swim School, North America's premier swim school, announces the 5^th year of their annual Safer Swimmer Pledge, celebrating nearly 60,000 pledges to date with a goal to double for 2025
The annual program will launch May 1, in honor of National Water Safety Month, bringing on family-focused water safety partner Great Wolf Lodge and child development partner Big Life Journal
Drowning remains the leading cause of unintentional injury death for children ages 1-4 and second leading cause of injury death for children ages 5-14, making the Safer Swimmer Pledge a critical tool in promoting water safety

TROY, Mich., May 1, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Goldfish Swim School, the premier swim school franchise in North America, is thrilled to announce its 5^th Annual Safer Swimmer Pledge, in honor of National Water Safety Month this May. A commitment to observing five essential rules of water safety, the Safer Swimmer Pledge has garnered nearly 60,000 pledges since its inception in 2021. With drowning remaining the leading cause of unintentional injury death for children ages 1-4 and second leading cause of injury death for children ages 5-14, this pledge becomes a critical tool in promoting water safety.

"Recent data shows drowning rates are at their highest since 2017," said Dr. Molly O'Shea, official pediatrician for Goldfish Swim School Franchising. "Swimming and water play offer remarkable benefits for children of all ages, but water safety education is critical. Studies show formal swim lessons reduce the risk of drowning by up to 88%. I urge all families to take the Safer Swimmer Pledge as an important tool to learn and recall water safety reminders that are so critical all year long, and especially as we head into the warmer summer months when drowning deaths rise."

Making the 5th anniversary of the Safer Swimmer Pledge even more swimsational, Goldfish Swim School is thrilled to partner with Great Wolf Lodge. As leaders in the water safety space, both Goldfish Swim School and Great Wolf Lodge share a commitment to elevating aquatic safety by leveraging innovation and the latest training and development practices throughout their facilities. Both brands partner with Ellis & Associates, the industry-leading aquatic risk management company focused solely on water safety, prioritizing top-tier lifeguard standards, ongoing training, and innovative water policies to protect every guest in and around their facilities. A premiere family destination, like Goldfish Swim School, Great Wolf Lodge is a golden partner for the Safer Swimmer Pledge, joining forces to raise awareness, encourage families to commit to water safety, give back, and for the chance to win finomenal prizes!

The exciting prize packages include swim lessons, special Safer Swimmer swag bags, the opportunity to be a Goldfish Golden Ambassador featured in future Safer Swimmer Pledge materials, and subscriptions to GrowthMinded parenting platform from Big Life Journal. With a focus on holistic approaches to child development, the GrowthMinded subscription provides parents and caregivers with the tools to help accentuate the benefits swim lessons can have both in and out of the pool including goal setting, socialization, emotion cognizance and more.

Families taking the pledge will also be entered to win the GRAND PRIZE of a two nights stay in a Family Suite (for up to 4) at any of the 22 Great Wolf Lodge resorts in the U.S., one year of complimentary swim lessons, and additional swag and prizes.

Additionally, the Goldfish Swim School locations with the most pledges have the chance to win custom merchandise, donations to charity on their behalf, cash prizes for team building events, and more.

Continuing its commitment to extend the reach of swimming lessons to underserved children across North America, for every virtual pledge, Goldfish Swim School Franchising will donate $1 to Every Child a Swimmer. Every dollar donated will go back to the pledge-referring school as swim scholarship funding to help bring additional resources directly to local communities. Joining in this important mission, Great Wolf Lodge will also provide a special promo code, giving Safer Swimmer Pledge families special discounts, with room rates including a donation to Every Child A Swimmer.

"We are ecstatic to celebrate our 5^th anniversary of the Safer Swimmer Pledge and so proud to partner with Great Wolf Lodge to honor National Water Safety Month," said Jenny McCuiston, Co-Founder of Goldfish Swim School. "Water safety education is crucial, and this campaign is an exciting way to get families engaged while offering some amazing prizes, all in support of our ongoing mission to provide parents, caregivers, and children with the knowledge and skills they need."

"Water safety is our top priority at Great Wolf Lodge, and we're thrilled to join forces with Goldfish Swim School for the Safer Swimmer Pledge," said Catie Christner, Vice President of Water Parks for Great Wolf Resorts. "Our indoor water park resorts bring joy to hundreds of thousands of families annually, and providing tools, education and awareness so families can enjoy our water slides and pools safely is extremely important, so to highlight our commitment to water safety, we are encouraging members of the Great Wolf pack to take the pledge this May."

The Safer Swimmer Pledge comprises a set of commitments designed to instill smart water practices in children and adults alike:

"Whether I'm at home, the beach or pool, I will play it cool and follow the rules."
"When it comes to swimming, water safety is key, that's why I will always have an adult with me!"
"When I'm around water or on a boat, I can wear a life jacket to help me float."
"No matter how deep the water may be, I'll always jump in with my feet."
"If I see a swimmer in need, I know how to help them indeed! First, I'll throw them something to float, and then I'll go and get an adult."

"We are incredibly grateful for our partnership with Goldfish Swim School," said Casey McGovern, Executive Director of Every Child a Swimmer. "Their commitment to water safety and drowning prevention aligns perfectly with Every Child a Swimmer's mission. Together, we are making a lasting impact by providing children with the life-saving skill of swimming."

More information on water safety is available on the Goldfish Swim School website at https://www.goldfishswimschool.com/.

*See contest landing page for official rules and restrictions.

Press Assets

About Goldfish Swim School
Founded in 2006 by husband-and-wife team Chris and Jenny McCuiston, Troy, Michigan-based Goldfish Swim School provides swim lessons and water safety instruction to infants and children aged 4 months to 12 years. Classes are led by specially trained instructors in a safe, child-friendly environment using a research-based philosophy called The Science of SwimPlay®. Since opening its first franchised location in 2009, the brand has grown to more than 188 schools in over 35 states and Canada, with an additional 160+ in development. Goldfish is ranked No. 74 overall in Entrepreneur's 2024 Franchise 500^® and has been recognized as the No. 1 swimming lessons franchise for eight consecutive years, was named to Franchise Times' Top Brand to Buy in 2024 and is rated as a Top Franchise by Franchise Business Review for 2024.

About Every Child a Swimmer
Every Child A Swimmer is the philanthropic arm of the International Swimming Hall of Fame, dedicated to ensuring that all children have access to life-saving swim lessons, regardless of financial barriers. Led by Executive Director Casey McGovern - a mom on a mission after tragically losing her own daughter to drowning - the initiative is driven by a deep passion for water safety education. Through advocacy, scholarships, and partnerships with swim schools and community organizations, Every Child A Swimmer strives to break down barriers to swim instruction, reduce childhood drownings, and create a future where every child has the skills and confidence to be safer in and around water.

About Great Wolf Lodge
Great Wolf Resorts, Inc. owns and operates North America's largest family of indoor water park resorts. Great Wolf Lodge offers a fully integrated resort experience designed specifically for families, with an expansive indoor water park, family-friendly attractions, fun-filled entertainment, delectable eateries and more, all under one roof. The company has locations in: Wisconsin Dells, Wis.; Sandusky, Ohio; Traverse City, Mich.; Kansas City, Kan.; Williamsburg, Va.; Pocono Mountains, Pa.; Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada; Mason, Ohio; Grapevine, Texas; Grand Mound, Wash., Fitchburg, Mass., Charlotte, N.C.; Garden Grove, Calif., Colorado Springs, Colo., Bloomington, Minn., LaGrange, Ga., Gurnee, Ill.; Scottsdale, Ariz.; Manteca, Calif. and Perryville, Md. The company celebrated the grand opening of new resorts in Webster, Texas in August 2024 and Naples, Fla. in Sept, 2024, and Mashantucket, Conn. in May 2025.