On June 21, tens of thousands of people turned out to participate in the World’s Largest Swimming Lesson (WLSL) at an estimated 500 locations around the world. Two of those were Splashplex waterparks operated by Funplex in New Jersey, USA.

Now in its in ninth year, the event was conducted over 24 hours at aquatic facilities in 26 countries. For a third year, Splashplex waterparks at Funplex Centers in Mount Laurel and East Hanover were proud to be two of the host locations. The swimming lesson was free and participants were given a certificate of completion together with a gift.

“We were very pleased with the turnout,” says Funplex marketing director Amanda Lahn. “Every year we look forward to this day to encourage children not only to become comfortable in the water but to start to learn how to swim in an environment that is unique and, most importantly, fun.”

Tragically, although easily preventable, drowning remains the leading cause of unintended, injury-related death for children aged 1 to 4, and the second leading cause of accidental death for children under 14. Research shows participation in formal swimming lessons can reduce the risk of drowning by 88% among children aged 1 to 4, yet many kids do not receive formal swimming or water safety training.

Since its inception, more than 195,000 children and adults have participated in the World’s Largest Swimming Lesson. The initiative, which is supported by the World Waterpark Association, has generated more than half a billion media impressions about the vital importance of learning to swim. The 2017 WLSL event included a total of 41,068 participants.