The Salvation Army Salute
®
Volume 22, No. 1
In a pilot program, the Joshua Collingsworth Memorial Foundation is partnering with the Omaha Salvation Army to promote water safety. This year the foundation sponsored two Omaha Kroc Center swimming instructors to attend an early childhood swimming class and to become certified in a course that teaches young children, ages 1-3, how to roll on their backs (like an otter!) so they can breathe, float and reach the side of the pool until help arrives. Those precious seconds can save a life! This early childhood training is called “Float4Life”. As stated by Candace Kellogg, Kroc Center Aquatics Coordinator and certified Float4Life instructor, “At the end of the Float4Life training, it was incredible to see toddlers, who didn’t know how to swim, jump into the deep end of the pool, throw their heads back, their tummies up and twist into the life-saving position of being on their back . . . and not be afraid.”
Realtor® Ring Day Disaster Preparedness Kroc Center Healthy Home Project
Additionally, volunteers from the foundation have started a reading program about water safety that they have presented to Salvation Army area Corps. In February 2012, “Josh the Otter” and the volunteers visited the Omaha Kroc Center, North Corps, and the Citadel Corps. “Josh the Otter” and the book, Josh The Baby Otter, were well received by the children and parents in the after-school programs at each corps. During 2012-2013, we will implement the “Float4Life” swimming classes at the Kroc Center. Each session includes 8 lessons, each 15 minutes long. These "mini" lessons maximize the short attention span of toddlers while gradually increasing the child's comfort level in the water. Cost is $35 for Kroc Center members and $45 for non-members.
www. G ive SalvationAr my .org
JOSHUA COLLINGSWORTH MEMORIAL FOUNDATION
Spring 2012
If you have questions about these classes, please contact Linda Behounek, Aquatics Director at 402-905-3590 or linda_behounek@usc.salvationarmy.org. The following is the “Float4Life” class schedule:
Monday/Wednesday 6/4 6/4 7/9 7/9
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6/27/2012 6/27/2012 8/1/2012 8/1/2012
5:30 5:45 5:30 5:45
-
5:45 6:00 5:45 6:00
pm pm pm pm
Saturday 6/2 - 7/28/2012 6/2 - 7/28/2012 6/2 - 7/28/2012
10:30 - 10:45 am 10:45 - 11:00 am 11:45 - 12:00 am
Tuesday/Thursday 5/22 5/22 6/19 6/19
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6/14/2012 6/14/2012 7/19/2012 7/19/2012
5:30 5:45 5:30 5:45
-
5:45 6:00 5:45 6:00
pm pm pm pm
Kroc Center after-school children with “Josh the Otter”.
Save The Date: D.J.’s Hero Awards Luncheon/CenturyLink Center Omaha May 14, 2012 at 11:45 am
Back-To-School Drive July 3 – August 10
Salvation Army Week May 14 – 20
Back-To-School Distribution August 11, 17 and 18
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