{"id":3326,"date":"2026-05-16T15:11:27","date_gmt":"2026-05-16T19:11:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.library.unt.edu\/sycamore-stacks\/?p=3326"},"modified":"2026-05-16T16:15:23","modified_gmt":"2026-05-16T20:15:23","slug":"aquatic-advice-from-the-u-s-army-corps-of-engineers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.library.unt.edu\/sycamore-stacks\/2026\/05\/16\/aquatic-advice-from-the-u-s-army-corps-of-engineers\/","title":{"rendered":"Aquatic Advice from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/corpslakes.erdc.dren.mil\/employees\/watersafety\/art\/posters\/swim-300.pdf\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"577\" height=\"755\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-3328 img-fluid img-thumbnail\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.library.unt.edu\/sycamore-stacks\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/24\/2026\/05\/learn-to-swim-while-you-still-have-a-chance.png\" alt=\"Cartoon of a fisherman in red plaid flannel shirt,and blue jeans is tangled in his fishing line and falling from a river bank into a churning river. His tackle box is on the bank, and a frog falls into the river with him.   The poster caption reads, &quot;Lean to swim\u2014while you still have a chance.&quot; Logo of US Army Corps of Engineers. \" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.library.unt.edu\/sycamore-stacks\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/24\/2026\/05\/learn-to-swim-while-you-still-have-a-chance.png 577w, https:\/\/blogs.library.unt.edu\/sycamore-stacks\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/24\/2026\/05\/learn-to-swim-while-you-still-have-a-chance-229x300.png 229w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 577px) 100vw, 577px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2>National Learn to Swim Day<\/h2>\n<p>The third Saturday in May has been observed as National Learn to Swim Day every year since its <a href=\"https:\/\/tsdr.uspto.gov\/documentviewer?caseId=sn86312014&amp;docId=APP20140620070805&amp;linkId=19#docIndex=18&amp;page=1\">founding in 2012<\/a> by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.swimways.com\/\">SwimWays Corp.<\/a>, a manufacturer of pool toys and other recreational water sports products. Learn to Swim Day provides an opportunity for everyone to learn this crucial skill before the summer swim season gets started on Memorial Day. There are several reasons to learn to swim:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Learning to swim saves lives<\/strong>. According to a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.prnewswire.com\/news-releases\/swimways-encourages-families-to-make-water-safety-a-priority-as-its-international-learn-to-swim-day-program-approaches-300848987.html\">2019 Swimways news release<\/a>, drowning is the leading cause of death for children ages 1 through 4, and the second leading cause of death for children under 14.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<li><strong>Learning to swim is fun<\/strong>. Water sports, as long as they are performed safely and responsibly, provide an opportunity for families and friends to connect, relax, and entertain themselves.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Learning to swim is good for your mind and body<\/strong>. It improves a child&#8217;s self-confidence and can even aid in the development of mathematical skills, help develop oral expression, and boost children&#8217;s social skills. Regular swimming is an excellent low-impact exercise for people of all ages. <a href=\"https:\/\/health.clevelandclinic.org\/swimming-joint-friendly-and-good-for-the-heart\">According to the Cleveland Clinic<\/a>, swimming strengthens the heart and lungs, aids in weight loss by burning calories, builds muscles faster than running or biking, keeps your mind sharp, reduces stress, and helps treat anxiety and depression. It also helps stave off the physical and mental declines brought on by aging.&nbsp; &nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>You can celebrate Learn to Swim Day by local events, teaching your children to swim at home or at a community pool, or enrolling them in swim lessons at a local facility. And don&#8217;t forget to enroll yourself in swimming lessons if you haven&#8217;t learned how to swim yet!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/digitalcommons.cwu.edu\/government_posters\/105\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"229\" height=\"300\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-3333 img-fluid img-thumbnail\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.library.unt.edu\/sycamore-stacks\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/24\/2026\/05\/learn-to-swim-before-you-wade-in-229x300.png\" alt=\"Flamingo standing on one leg with water rippling out from its leg. Flamingo is white with blue details and stands against a red background. Caption reads, &quot;Before You Wade In, Learn to Swim. Your Safety, Our Concern.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.library.unt.edu\/sycamore-stacks\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/24\/2026\/05\/learn-to-swim-before-you-wade-in-229x300.png 229w, https:\/\/blogs.library.unt.edu\/sycamore-stacks\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/24\/2026\/05\/learn-to-swim-before-you-wade-in.png 626w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 229px) 100vw, 229px\" \/><\/a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/digitalcommons.cwu.edu\/government_posters\/106\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"231\" height=\"300\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-3339 img-fluid img-thumbnail\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.library.unt.edu\/sycamore-stacks\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/24\/2026\/05\/dont-let-the-water-buffalo-you-231x300.png\" alt=\"A purple water buffalo wearing an orange life jacket against a blue background. Caption reads, &quot;Don't Let The Water Buffalo You. Learn To Swim. Your Safety, Our Concern. \" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.library.unt.edu\/sycamore-stacks\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/24\/2026\/05\/dont-let-the-water-buffalo-you-231x300.png 231w, https:\/\/blogs.library.unt.edu\/sycamore-stacks\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/24\/2026\/05\/dont-let-the-water-buffalo-you.png 648w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 231px) 100vw, 231px\" \/><\/a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/digitalcommons.cwu.edu\/government_posters\/103\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"236\" height=\"300\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-3337 img-fluid img-thumbnail\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.library.unt.edu\/sycamore-stacks\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/24\/2026\/05\/keep-your-head-above-water-236x300.png\" alt=\"A yellow giraffe sticks its head up out of a green body of water with a blue sky in the background. Caption reads, &quot;Keep Your Head Above Water. Learn to Swim. Your Safety, Our Concern.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.library.unt.edu\/sycamore-stacks\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/24\/2026\/05\/keep-your-head-above-water-236x300.png 236w, https:\/\/blogs.library.unt.edu\/sycamore-stacks\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/24\/2026\/05\/keep-your-head-above-water.png 661w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 236px) 100vw, 236px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">USACE Water Safety Campaigns<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Decades before National Learn to Swim Day was a thing, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) launched a series of water safety campaigns that continue to this day. Lakes and parks created by the USACE have been popular venues for water-skiing, boating, fishing, diving, and swimming since 1944.<\/p>\n<p>During the mid-1970&#8217;s, the Chief of Engineers noted that nearly 500 lives had been lost at Corps lakes and waterways in a single year. Recognizing the need to improve public safety in Corps recreation areas, he issued the first official directive for the Corps to amplify their water safety education efforts, and in 1986 the USACE&#8217;s National <a href=\"https:\/\/corpslakes.erdc.dren.mil\/employees\/watersafety\/water.cfm\">Water Safety Program<\/a> began.<\/p>\n<p>Starting in 1986, the USACE started promoting water safety through a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/mmwr\/preview\/mmwrhtml\/00016687.htm\">campaign using the slogan &#8220;Your Safety\u2014Our Concern.&#8221;<\/a> This campaign was the source of many of the colorful &#8220;Learn to Swim&#8221; posters seen on this page.<\/p>\n<p>More recent water safety campaigns include the <a href=\"https:\/\/corpslakes.erdc.dren.mil\/employees\/watersafety\/graphics.cfm?Option=Cartoons\">Bobber the Water Safety Dog<\/a> campaign, marketed toward children, and the &#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.usace.army.mil\/Missions\/Civil-Works\/Recreation\/Water-Safety\/National-Water-Safety-Program\/Campaign_Materials\/\">Life Jackets Worn . . . Nobody Mourns<\/a>&#8221; campaign encouraging the wearing of life jackets.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/corpslakes.erdc.dren.mil\/employees\/watersafety\/art\/Learn%20To%20Swim%202.JPG\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"634\" height=\"414\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-3353 img-fluid img-thumbnail\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.library.unt.edu\/sycamore-stacks\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/24\/2026\/05\/first-rule-of-water-safety-b-and-w.png\" alt=\"Black-and-white poster: Left panel reads &quot;The First Rule of Water Safety: Learn to Swim&quot; with US Army Corps of Engineers logo; right panel shows a woman teaching four children to swim in a pool while a duck floats by.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.library.unt.edu\/sycamore-stacks\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/24\/2026\/05\/first-rule-of-water-safety-b-and-w.png 634w, https:\/\/blogs.library.unt.edu\/sycamore-stacks\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/24\/2026\/05\/first-rule-of-water-safety-b-and-w-300x196.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 634px) 100vw, 634px\" \/><\/a>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Denton Opportunities to Learn to Swim<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The <strong>City of Denton<\/strong> provides several opportunities for swimming lessons. You can find many opportunities for swim classes as well as private swimming lessons in the Parks and Recreation Department&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/secure.rec1.com\/TX\/city-of-denton-tx\/catalog\/index?filter=c2VhcmNoPXN3aW0rbGVzc29ucw==\">Registration Catalog<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/digitalcommons.cwu.edu\/government_posters\/100\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"541\" height=\"707\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-3343 img-fluid img-thumbnail\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.library.unt.edu\/sycamore-stacks\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/24\/2026\/05\/beach-toys-wont-save-you.png\" alt=\"An illustration of a hand reaching desperately out of the water near an inflatable raft, with the text: &quot;Learn to Swim. Beach Toys Won't Save You! Your Safety Our Concern.&quot;\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.library.unt.edu\/sycamore-stacks\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/24\/2026\/05\/beach-toys-wont-save-you.png 541w, https:\/\/blogs.library.unt.edu\/sycamore-stacks\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/24\/2026\/05\/beach-toys-wont-save-you-230x300.png 230w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 541px) 100vw, 541px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">More Water Safety Posters<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Water safety includes far more than just learning to swim. You find a fuller list of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usace.army.mil\/Missions\/Civil-Works\/Recreation\/Water-Safety\/safety_tips\/\">water safety tips<\/a> at the USACE Headquarters website.<\/p>\n<p>Here are some more USACE posters promoting other principles of water safety (U.S. government poster images courtesy of <a href=\"https:\/\/digitalcommons.cwu.edu\/government_posters\/\">ScholarWorks @ CWU<\/a>, the institutional repository for Central Washington University):<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/digitalcommons.cwu.edu\/government_posters\/107\/\">Watch Children<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/digitalcommons.cwu.edu\/cgi\/viewcontent.cgi?article=1100&amp;context=government_posters\">Never Swim Alone<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/digitalcommons.cwu.edu\/government_posters\/95\/\">Look Before You Leap: Swim only in designated areas<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/digitalcommons.cwu.edu\/government_posters\/102\/\">Make a Big Splash: Swim Only in Designated Areas<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/digitalcommons.cwu.edu\/government_posters\/97\/\">Drink like a [Fish], Drunk as a [Skunk], Sink like a [Rock], Dead as a [Duck]: Safe [Boat]ing, No [Alcohol]<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/digitalcommons.cwu.edu\/government_posters\/98\/\">Water &amp; Alcohol Do Not Mix<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Life Jacket\/Personal Flotation Device (P.F.D.) Posters<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/digitalcommons.cwu.edu\/cgi\/viewcontent.cgi?article=1091&amp;context=government_posters\">Click!<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/digitalcommons.cwu.edu\/government_posters\/108\/\">If It Fits, Wear It! Think Water Safety and Live to Tell about It<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/digitalcommons.cwu.edu\/government_posters\/94\/\">P.F.D. Spoken Here: The Word is Out on Personal Flotation Devices<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/digitalcommons.cwu.edu\/government_posters\/96\/\">P.F.D. for Everybody<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/digitalcommons.cwu.edu\/government_posters\/91\/\">It&#8217;s a Classic: I WANT YOU TO Wear Your P.F.D.* (*Personal Flotation Device)<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/digitalcommons.cwu.edu\/government_posters\/92\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"545\" height=\"710\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-3371 img-fluid img-thumbnail\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.library.unt.edu\/sycamore-stacks\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/24\/2026\/05\/click.png\" alt=\"A person wearing an orange life jacket and standing in waist-deep water secures a buckle. The poster headline reads &quot;Click!&quot; with &quot;Your Safety, Our Concern&quot; below. Safety-focused tone.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.library.unt.edu\/sycamore-stacks\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/24\/2026\/05\/click.png 545w, https:\/\/blogs.library.unt.edu\/sycamore-stacks\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/24\/2026\/05\/click-230x300.png 230w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 545px) 100vw, 545px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2>Do You Want to Know More?<\/h2>\n<p>We have hard copies of many of these posters available at Sycamore Library. See our <a href=\"https:\/\/guides.library.unt.edu\/gic-posters\">Government Posters and Prints<\/a> subject guide for more government posters.<\/p>\n<p>We invite you to visit Sycamore Library at the UNT Denton campus. Here you can explore the Government Publications housed in Sycamore Library, as well as other collections such as the Juvenile Collection, the business, political science, and law collections, and our collection of historic maps and posters. After you leave, you can explore our <a href=\"https:\/\/guides.library.unt.edu\/gic\/digital-collections\">Digital Collections<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/guides.library.unt.edu\/gic#s-lg-box-26985068\">Subject Guides<\/a>\u00a0from the comfort of your home or dorm room.<\/p>\n<p>If you need assistance finding or using government information, please visit the Service Desk in the Sycamore Library during\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/library.unt.edu\/sycamore\/\">regular hours<\/a>, contact us by phone at (940) 565-2194, or send a request to\u00a0<a href=\"mailto:govinfo@unt.edu\">govinfo@unt.edu<\/a>. To request a research consultation or in-depth assistance, we recommend that you E-mail or call us to make an appointment with a member of our staff.<\/p>\n<p><em>Article by Bobby Griffith.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"National Learn to Swim Day The third Saturday in May has been observed as National Learn to Swim Day every year since its founding in 2012 by SwimWays Corp., a manufacturer of pool toys and other recreational water sports products. Learn to Swim Day provides an opportunity for everyone to learn this crucial skill before&#8230;  <a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.library.unt.edu\/sycamore-stacks\/2026\/05\/16\/aquatic-advice-from-the-u-s-army-corps-of-engineers\/\" class=\"more-link\" title=\"Read Aquatic Advice from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers\">Read more &raquo;<\/a>","protected":false},"author":20,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4,8,10,11,12],"tags":[353,301,354,327],"class_list":["post-3326","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-get-help","category-is-that-a-document","category-local-doings","category-make-a-difference","category-special-days","tag-learn-to-swim","tag-posters","tag-usace","tag-water-safety"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.library.unt.edu\/sycamore-stacks\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3326","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.library.unt.edu\/sycamore-stacks\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.library.unt.edu\/sycamore-stacks\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.library.unt.edu\/sycamore-stacks\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/20"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.library.unt.edu\/sycamore-stacks\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3326"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.library.unt.edu\/sycamore-stacks\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3326\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3381,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.library.unt.edu\/sycamore-stacks\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3326\/revisions\/3381"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.library.unt.edu\/sycamore-stacks\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3326"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.library.unt.edu\/sycamore-stacks\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3326"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.library.unt.edu\/sycamore-stacks\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3326"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}