Bluefish Swim Program

Summer Bluefish is a program that offers free swim lessons to youth ages 5-13 who would otherwise not have the opportunity to learn to swim.  The program works to get kids excited about swimming in the river as + POOL works to provide clean and safe access to it.   

Friends of + POOL provides each student with everything they need to be successful in the swim program. This includes swim gear consisting of a swimsuit, swim cap, goggles, and towel; as well as a t-shirt, bag, and booklet that outlines the lessons learned each day of class.

We commission an artist each year to design a unique pattern for the swim gear to celebrate the new class of students, then work with a clothing label to produce each item and distribute to students free of charge. At the end of the program, each student receives a medal to commemorate their completion of the program and a mock-up of a + POOL tile, engraved with their name, that will be installed in + POOL once built.

Sponsor a child for this year’s swim camp! *For every donation of $333, one child learns to swim!

See the 2016 Bluefish Team in action here.

See the 2017 Bluefish Team in action here.

See the 2018 Bluefish Team in action here.

See the 2019 Bluefish Team in action here.

See the 2021 Bluefish Team in action here

See the 2022 Bluefish Team in action here

Our Partners

Make a Splash

The USA Swimming Foundation’s Make a Splash initiative is a national child-focused water safety campaign, which aims to provide the opportunity for every child in America to learn to swim. Through Make a Splash, the USA Swimming Foundation partners with learn-to-swim providers and water safety advocates across the country to provide swimming lessons and educate children and their families on the importance of learning how to swim. The USA Swimming Foundation has invested millions of dollars to provide grants to qualified Local Partner learn-to-swim programs, to spread national awareness, and to bring together strategic partners to end drowning. To date, more than 4 million children have received the lifesaving gift of swim lessons through the USA Swimming Foundation Make a Splash Local Partner network, comprised of more than 750 qualified lesson providers across the nation. To learn more, visit here.

New York City Housing Authority

The New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) is home to 1 in 17 New Yorkers, providing affordable housing to nearly 600,000 authorized residents through public housing and Permanent Affordability Commitment Together (PACT) programs as well as Section 8 housing.  Since the launch of Bluefish in 2016, NYCHA has helped promote opportunities to learn to swim with + POOL to its public housing residents.

Summer Bluefish is funded each year by a generous group of individuals who believe in free swim lessons for all. Additional support has been provided by the USA Swimming Foundation, New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, New York City Council Member Christopher Marte, J. Luke, Jeffrey Barany, Greenpoint Landing Developers, Sharon Davis, Linda & Bob Meyer and Ginger Groeber.