National Water Safety Advocates Partner with Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade to Host ZAC Camp for Parents and Kids

The ZAC Foundation will join with Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade and area first responders to host a four-day water safety camp July 10-13 for Miami area children and families.

Founded in 2008 by Karen and Brian Cohn, the ZAC Foundation joins with local organizations in cities all across the nation each year to sponsor ZAC Camps such as this one.

The award-winning ZAC Camp brings life-saving water safety skills to local five to nine-year-olds. Nearly 15,000 kids across the country have participated in the camps in recent years. Combining ‘classroom’ instruction with swimming lessons and opportunities to learn important skills from first responders, the camp provides children and parents with tools to enjoy the water safely while understanding avoidable risks.

Sponsored in partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade for the second year, the ZAC Camp will be held July 10-13 at Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade's South Beach Club, 1200 Michigan Avenue, Miami Beach.

Community leaders, along with representatives from local police and fire departments, will participate alongside professional water safety instructors.

The ZAC Camp will kick off at 9 a.m., July 10, with an opening ceremony featuring local leaders and representatives of Boys & Girls Club and will continue each afternoon from 1 to 4 p.m. through Friday, with a closing ceremony at noon.

“We are grateful to The ZAC Foundation for continuing their partnership to bring ZAC Camp to our community,” said Alex Rodriguez-Roig, president of Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade. “ZAC Camp gives our campers vital safety information to keep them safe in and around any body of water, which goes hand-in-hand with Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade’s mission to provide our members with important skills to help with their growth and development.”

The ZAC Foundation was established by Karen and Brian Cohn after the loss of their six-year-old son, Zachary Archer Cohn, who became trapped in a drain in their backyard swimming pool. The Foundation’s advocacy and education efforts have reached thousands of children and their families directly, with millions more reached through social media and news outlets.

In addition to in-pool lessons and safety classes with First Responders, campers will learn the fundamental tenets of water safety from a classroom curriculum based on The Polar Bear Who Couldn’t, Wouldn’t Swim, a children’s book co-authored by Zachary’s parents.

Announcing the Miami-Dade camp, ZAC Foundation co-founder Karen Cohn said, “Each year, it is tremendously gratifying to see our son Zachary’s legacy live on in the faces and laughter of kids across the country who participate in ZAC Camps. We couldn’t offer this life-saving opportunity without our amazing partners, Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade, and we’re excited for what I am confident will be an amazing camp. Nothing is more important than the safety of our kids, and it brings us all great joy to provide kids and their parents with the tools to enjoy the water more safely.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control, drowning is the leading cause of accidental death among children aged 1-4, and the second leading cause among those aged 5-14. Drowning risk is highest in minority populations, with drowning rates nearly three times that of Caucasian children. Many of these tragic deaths are preventable through proper water safety skills and measures.

About The ZAC FoundationThe ZAC Foundation was established in 2008 by Karen and Brian Cohn after the loss of their 6-year-old son Zachary Archer Cohn in a pool drain entrapment in their backyard swimming pool. Through education and advocacy, the Foundation has educated more than 10,000 children and their families on the importance of water safety and is dedicated to continue preparing more for a lifetime of water safety. To learn more about The ZAC Foundation, connect with us on Facebook, Twitter and TheZACFoundation.com.

About Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade has been serving youth in the community since 1940. What once was a single building and site for boys has grown to five Clubs serving thousands of boys and girls year-round, providing programs in the areas of character and leadership development, educational enhancement, career preparation, health and life skills, cultural arts and sports, fitness and recreation. Club staffing, initiatives, and programs are designed to inspire and enable young people and provide them with the resources to succeed and share in the American Dream. For more information, please visitwww.bgcmia.org.