Josh the Otter

06/03/2026

Float 4 Life teaches children as young as 6 months old a skill that could save their life: learning to roll onto their back and float. In a drowning emergency, a child who can recover to a back float has a fighting chance.

Float 4 Life’s one-on-one lessons are tailored to a child’s individual abilities and developmental stage. Each session builds water competency step by step, with the ultimate goal of ensuring a child can fall into the water fully clothed and float independently.

When a child learns to float, they gain confidence in the water—and parents gain peace of mind. Visit float4life.org to find a program near you.

06/01/2026

🦦 Splash into summer safely, friends! ☀️🌊

With McCook’s shiny new Aquatic Park open for the season, it’s the perfect time to talk about staying safe around the water. Drowning remains the leading cause of death for children ages 1–4, and roughly 70% of drowning victims never received formal swimming instruction. But together, we can change those statistics!

My mission started right here in Nebraska after a tragic loss, and today, we're dedicated to making sure every child learns the golden rule of water safety: "Float, Float, Float!" If a child unexpectedly enters the water, rolling onto their back to float, rest, breathe, and call for help buys precious seconds and saves lives.

Here are my top reminders for a fun, safe summer:

Learn to Swim: The McCook YMCA offers fantastic swim lessons, including private instruction for toddlers! Giving the gift of swim lessons is one of the most valuable things a parent or grandparent can do.

Constant Supervision: No swim lesson or life jacket replaces active adult supervision. Keep your eyes on the water!

Wear Life Jackets: Gear up with a properly fitted life jacket whenever you're around pools, lakes, or open water.

Let's do the quiet, vital work of prevention. Together, we can make sure every pool day is a happy one! 💙

Park

05/29/2026

Open Water Safety – Lakes, Rivers, and Oceans

Natural water settings present unique dangers: cold water shock, hidden currents, sudden drop-offs, and limited visibility. Always check weather and water conditions before heading out. Wear a life jacket, never swim alone, and keep young children within arm's reach. Respect the power of open water.

If you're planning on boating at the Lincoln area lakes, check out our Life Jacket Stations, filled with jackets for your safety!

05/27/2026

🦦 GIVE TO LINCOLN ENDS TOMORROW AND WE NEED YOUR HELP!

Give to Lincoln Day is a giving day event that encourages you to contribute to Lincoln and Lancaster County nonprofit organizations between May 1 and May 28. Give to Lincoln Day is coordinated by Lincoln Community Foundation (LCF), in partnership with local nonprofit organizations.

Every donation makes a bigger impact on Give to Lincoln Day because nonprofits also get a proportional share of a $650,000 challenge match fund made possible by LCF and generous sponsors.

At the Joshua Collingsworth Memorial Foundation, JCMF, our mission is to prevent drowning through water safety education at our Float 4 Life facility, the Josh the Otter children’s book, educational materials, and our life jacket loaner stations.
As you visit Joshua’s site, you will find lots of information about water safety and drowning prevention. Please take the time to learn this important information so that you can protect your children and pass this on to others. These programs were created to benefit children and parents. Our main objective is to prevent future drowning tragedies through early childhood education and the promotion of infant & toddler water safety training courses. Together we can all make a difference.

https://givetolincoln.com/nonprofits/joshua-collingsworth-memorial-foundation

05/25/2026

This Memorial Day, as we gather with family and friends to enjoy lakes, pools, and beaches, we pause to remember the true meaning of this day: honoring the brave men and women who gave their lives for our freedom. Their sacrifice allows us to live in safety. The greatest tribute we can offer is to protect the lives we've been given—by watching over our children, learning to swim, and preventing drowning tragedies. This holiday weekend, let's keep each other safe. 🇺🇸

05/22/2026

Wear a Life Jacket – On Boats and Beyond

Life jackets reduce the risk of drowning while boating for people of all ages and swimming abilities. They should also be used by weaker swimmers around natural water and swimming pools. Make sure the life jacket is U.S. Coast Guard-approved and fits properly. And remember: arm floats or pool noodles are NOT a substitute for a life jacket.

05/20/2026

Removing Temptation – Empty Pools and Buckets

Small children can drown in just a few inches of water. Empty kiddie pools, buckets, bathtubs, and coolers immediately after use. Always keep bathroom doors closed and toilet lids down. These small actions remove the temptation and eliminate hidden dangers around your home.

05/18/2026

The Role of Rotary Clubs in Water Safety

Rotary clubs worldwide have a storied history of support for the Josh the Otter water safety mission to end accidental drownings. Nearly every US state and four countries are involved. If you're part of a Rotary club—or any community organization—consider starting a Josh the Otter Water Safety and Literacy Project in your area. Together, we can reach more children and families.

05/17/2026

And the message continues to travel. Thank you!.

The ‘Josh the Otter’ water safety program is coming to select Cocoa area schools in the next few weeks.

05/15/2026

Float 4 Life – Teaching Survival Skills

Caption: Did you know that children as young as 6 months old can learn to recover to a back float in a water emergency? Float 4 Life offers 1-on-1 float lessons customized to each child's ability and readiness. Learning to float could be the skill that saves a life. Find a program near you and give your child the gift of water competency.