The Josh Project

Maritime Academy Summer Program Takes Water Safety to the Next Level 🚣‍♀️⚓

Today, our students traded swim lanes for kayaks as they participated in a hands-on water safety and kayaking experience led by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR).

Before anyone entered a kayak, students learned the fundamentals:

🛟 Why life jackets save lives

🚣 Maintaining three points of contact when entering and exiting a kayak

🚣 Proper paddle positioning and technique

🚣 The importance of keeping your shoulders centered in the kayak

🚣 How to safely turn and maneuver a kayak

🚣 How the entire body works together when paddling

🚣 What to do if a kayak capsizes

Students practiced safe entry and exit procedures, learned how to properly hold and use a paddle, and experienced firsthand how teamwork, balance, and technique all play a role in safely operating a kayak.

One of the most impactful moments came during a capsize and rescue demonstration. Students witnessed how quickly a situation can change on the water and why knowing how to swim, wearing a life jacket, and remaining calm are critical safety skills.

Special thanks to Sgt. Hartmann and 1LT Sarah Genzman of ODNR for investing in our students and sharing their expertise. Experiences like these help young people develop confidence around water while reinforcing life-saving safety practices.

This partnership is another example of what makes the Maritime Academy Summer Program unique. Students are not only learning to swim through The Josh Project and GTAC, they are also being introduced to maritime experiences, water safety careers, and skills that can serve them for a lifetime.

Together, The Maritime Academy of Toledo, The Josh Project, GTAC, Coaches Ollie & Ella, and our community partners are helping students become safer, more confident, and more knowledgeable around water.

🍔🍕 WE ARE JUST ONE DAY AWAY! 💙

Tomorrow is our Dine to Donate Fundraiser at Bubba’s 33, and we would love your support!

By simply enjoying a meal at Bubba’s 33 and mentioning The Josh Project fundraiser or showing the flyer, you will help support our mission of providing swim lessons, water safety education, and drowning prevention programming for youth throughout our community.

📅 Wednesday, June 24, 2026
🕚 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM
📍 Bubba’s 33
3534 Secor Road, Toledo, OH

Every meal makes a difference.

If you’re unable to support financially, sharing this post with your family, friends, coworkers, and networks is also a tremendous way to support our mission. Every share helps us reach someone who may be looking for an opportunity to give back and support local youth.

Thank you for believing in The Josh Project and helping us continue our work of saving lives, one swimmer at a time. 💙

🚨💦 TOLEDO, LET’S TALK WATER SAFETY THIS SATURDAY! 💦🚨

The Josh Project is proud to be part of the Toledo Safety Summer Send-Off at Smith Park!

While you’re enjoying the food, activities, giveaways, and community resources, be sure to stop by The Josh Project’s table and learn how we can work together to prevent drowning and keep our children safe around water this summer.

Why is this so important?

📊 Black children ages 10–14 drown at rates several times higher than their white peers, making them one of the highest-risk groups in the country.

📊 Research has consistently shown that Black children are significantly less likely to have access to formal swim lessons, a disparity that contributes to increased drowning risk.

📊 Drowning remains one of the leading causes of death for children, yet it is often preventable through swim lessons, water safety education, active supervision, and life jacket use.

At The Josh Project, we’re working every day to change those statistics right here in our community.

Stop by and learn about:
🏊 Swim lessons and scholarship opportunities
🛟 Life jacket safety
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Drowning prevention strategies for families
💧 The importance of learning to swim
📚 Water safety education resources

📅 Saturday, June 27, 2026
⏰ 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
📍 Smith Park, Toledo, Ohio

Together, we can make sure every child has the opportunity to learn a life-saving skill.

💙 Learn It. Live It. Share It.



P.S. Bring a friend, bring the kids, and come say hello. We’d love to meet you! 👋💙

It happens quickly. It’s silent. And most importantly, it’s preventable.

✅Learn the facts
✅Start the conversation
✅Take action

Let’s change the story and create more swimmers together. 🛟
Visit www.stepintoswim.org or the link in our bio to get involved today! 🔗

Summer safety goes beyond the water.

As temperatures rise, it’s important to remember that heatstroke can happen quickly and can be deadly. Never leave a child alone in a vehicle, even for a minute.

Thank you to our partners at Safe Kids Greater Toledo for continuing to educate families on ways to keep children safe this summer.

Together, we can prevent tragedies before they happen.

🔥 Heatstroke can happen anywhere, to anyone. Let’s work together to keep every child safe from this preventable tragedy.

Learn what you can do to make a difference in your community today🌎: https://www.safekids.org/take-action-prevent-heatstroke.

Today, The Josh Project was represented at the Nationwide Children's Hospital - Toledo Community Resource Fair by Board Member Trina Myers and Executive Director Larry Jr Butts.

Throughout the event, we had the opportunity to speak with dozens of children and families about water safety and drowning prevention. We shared information about The Josh Project’s swim lesson and water safety programs, while reinforcing the importance of the Five Layers of Protection:

• Barriers and Alarms
• Active Supervision
• Water Competency
• Life Jackets
• Emergency Preparedness

One of the highlights of the day was engaging directly with children and asking them about important water safety rules. It was encouraging to see so many young people already understanding key safety concepts, while also giving us the opportunity to educate others.

We also spoke with parents about the critical role they play in preventing drowning and distributed Water Watcher tags provided by our partners at Safe Kids Greater Toledo. These simple tools help remind adults to designate a responsible watcher whenever children are in or around water.

Drowning is preventable, and every conversation matters.

Thank you to Nationwide Children’s Hospital Toledo for hosting this wonderful event and bringing together organizations committed to improving the health, safety, and well-being of children and families throughout our community.

Saving lives, one swimmer at a time. 💙🧡