TEAM WLSL Beats their Record for the Seventh Straight Year with More than 40,000 Participants in 24 Countries around the Globe. 

Event Spreads vital learn to swim message to more than 100 million.  - #WLSL

[Overland Park, Kan.] – For the seventh year in a row, an unlikely global team of kids, parents, aquatic enthusiasts and professionals came together to help spread the word Swimming Lessons Save Lives™. World’s Largest Swimming Lesson™ (WLSL) submissions came in from 641 locations in 24 countries around the globe representing 40,298 participants, a six percent increase from 2015. 

The number of host locations for 2016 was up 33 percent. Event organizers at the World Waterpark Association (WWA) attribute the growth to their refocus on the powerful messaging of the event and the fun that can be created when people come together for a shared cause, rather than size of event or simultaneous start times. For the 2016 event, aquatic facilities could be a part of the lesson with as few as 5 participants and choose their own start time on the 24th.

“The purpose of the program is to reach as many people as possible with our key message about the vital importance of teaching children to swim,” said Aleatha Ezra, Director of Park Member Development at the WWA. “Being more accessible to a greater number of host locations, each of whom have unique operational needs, helped us extend that message even more.” 

This year’s WLSL event generated more than 100 million media impressions, valued at more than a million dollars. Since its inception, more than 195,000 children and adults have participated in WLSL lessons generating more than half a billion media impressions about the vital importance of learning to swim. 

The event on June 24th was conducted in 24 countries – up two from 2015, including: Australia, Bahrain, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Cyprus, Falkland Islands, Ghana, India, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Lebanon, Mexico, Panama, Portugal, Puerto Rico, South Africa, South Korea, Ukraine, UAE, UK, Uruguay, USA.

Tragically, drowning remains the leading cause of unintended, injury-related death for U.S. children ages 1-4, and the second leading cause for children under 14. Not surprisingly, the number of drowning and near-drowning incidents increases during the summer months and is highest during the month of June. 

Next year’s event, WLSL 2017, will take place, Thursday, June 22nd.


About The World’s Largest Swimming Lesson™
The World’s Largest Swimming Lesson
was created by the World Waterpark Association as a platform to help communicate the fundamental importance of teaching children to swim. Visit www.wlsl.org to learn more.

For Immediate Release
Media Contact: Aleatha Ezra
Email: AEzra@waterparks.org
Phone: 913-599-0300