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Programs
All our programs are provided free of charge, courtesy of the generosity of our partners, which includes the provision of any necessary swimwear for a proper swimming experience. Our locations are selected in collaboration with community partners and are presently accessible in New York City.
The Rockaway Hotel
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The Rockaway peninsula in Queens, New York, experiences surprisingly strong currents, including a high frequency of rip currents, despite the appearance of relatively calm waters.
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Dozens of individuals drown annually at Rockaway Beach, often while swimming alone when lifeguards are not on duty.
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The average age of drowning victims at Rockaway is 16 years old.
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TRH and RTE initiated a swimming program to provide water safety training to the Rockaway Beach community, aligning with the shared goals of uplifting and empowering individuals in need.
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To date, over 430 youth have received swimming lessons in the hotel pool.
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The pilot was completed in August 2021, and summer 2026 will mark the sixth year of established programming.
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NOTE: Eligibility criteria is listed on the "Expression of Interest Form".
Ocean Park
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Ocean Park Apartments in Far Rockaway, Queens, owned by Tredway Property Management and is home to 2,772 residents, all of whom qualify for affordable housing.
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The pool had been empty and out of commission since Hurricane Sandy, during which it sustained damage in the storm, and its changing areas were destroyed.
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In an effort to enhance resident services, Related has partnered with Rising Tide Effect to provide free swimming lessons, complimentary water safety education, and other aquatic-related services.
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The pilot was completed from August to September 2022.
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Summer 2025 was the third year of a full programming season and hosted more than 180 individual swim lessons!
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Read more or register on our Program Details page!
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NYCHA Swim Corps
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In a groundbreaking initiative, the NYCHA Swim Safety Corps introduced a pioneering approach to water safety, swimming proficiency, and career exploration through an earn-while-you-learn project-based experience. This initiative offers paid employment, swimming lessons, life-safety training, and professional skills development to NYCHA youth. In collaboration with the Public Housing Community Fund and the NYC Department of Youth and Community Development, Rising Tide Effect launched a six-week Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) pilot in the summer of 2023.
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Summer 2025 saw the most graduates we have ever seen from the program with a total of 97 participants.
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Read more or register as a participant or instructor on our Program Details page!
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Follow Swim Corps on Instagram for the latest info about the program:
PS9 The Sarah Smith Garnet School
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Beginning in 2023, our pilot program with PS9 The Sarah Smith Garnet School in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn, and the Chelsea Piers Foundation has seamlessly integrated water safety education and swimming lessons into the entire third grade’s school day.
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This collaboration addresses a void where physical education classes are not conducted throughout the year. It demonstrates the program's potential for broader impact, offering the opportunity to expand to more Title I schools, thereby significantly increasing our reach and positively impacting more young lives.
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Read more or register on our Program Details page!
