The Josh Project

06/23/2026

🚣‍♀️ Learning. Laughing. Kayaking. Making Memories. ⚓

What an incredible day at the Maritime Academy Summer Program!

Our students spent the day learning kayaking skills, water safety, rescue techniques, and the importance of always wearing a life jacket through a hands-on experience with ODNR.

From paddling and maneuvering kayaks to watching rescue and capsize demonstrations, students gained valuable knowledge while building confidence on the water.

A special thank you to Sgt. Hartmann, 1LT Sarah Genzman, Coach Ollie, and Coach Ella for helping create an unforgettable experience for our students.

These are the moments that turn lessons into lifelong memories.

06/23/2026

🚣‍♀️ What Happens If Your Kayak Flips Over?

One of the most valuable lessons from today’s kayaking experience wasn’t paddling across the pool, it was learning what to do when things don’t go as planned.

ODNR’s 1LT Sarah Genzman and our own Coach Ollie demonstrated a real-life kayak rescue and several techniques for safely re-entering a kayak after a capsize.

Students learned:

🛟 Why wearing a life jacket is non-negotiable

🚣 How to stay calm if a kayak overturns

🚣 Different methods for getting back into a kayak

🚣 The importance of proper training and preparation before heading out on the water

Seeing these techniques demonstrated in real time helped students understand that water safety isn’t just about preventing emergencies, it’s also about knowing how to respond when they happen.

A huge thank you to 1LT Sarah Genzman and Coach Ollie for providing a hands-on lesson our students won’t soon forget.

Because water safety is more than a skill, it’s a lifesaving responsibility.

🚣‍♀️🛟⚓💙

06/23/2026

Maritime Academy Summer Program Takes Water Safety to the Next Level 🚣‍♀️⚓

Today, our students traded swim lanes for kayaks as they participated in a hands-on water safety and kayaking experience led by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR).

Before anyone entered a kayak, students learned the fundamentals:

🛟 Why life jackets save lives

🚣 Maintaining three points of contact when entering and exiting a kayak

🚣 Proper paddle positioning and technique

🚣 The importance of keeping your shoulders centered in the kayak

🚣 How to safely turn and maneuver a kayak

🚣 How the entire body works together when paddling

🚣 What to do if a kayak capsizes

Students practiced safe entry and exit procedures, learned how to properly hold and use a paddle, and experienced firsthand how teamwork, balance, and technique all play a role in safely operating a kayak.

One of the most impactful moments came during a capsize and rescue demonstration. Students witnessed how quickly a situation can change on the water and why knowing how to swim, wearing a life jacket, and remaining calm are critical safety skills.

Special thanks to Sgt. Hartmann and 1LT Sarah Genzman of ODNR for investing in our students and sharing their expertise. Experiences like these help young people develop confidence around water while reinforcing life-saving safety practices.

This partnership is another example of what makes the Maritime Academy Summer Program unique. Students are not only learning to swim through The Josh Project and GTAC, they are also being introduced to maritime experiences, water safety careers, and skills that can serve them for a lifetime.

Together, The Maritime Academy of Toledo, The Josh Project, GTAC, Coaches Ollie & Ella, and our community partners are helping students become safer, more confident, and more knowledgeable around water.

06/23/2026

🍔🍕 WE ARE JUST ONE DAY AWAY! 💙

Tomorrow is our Dine to Donate Fundraiser at Bubba’s 33, and we would love your support!

By simply enjoying a meal at Bubba’s 33 and mentioning The Josh Project fundraiser or showing the flyer, you will help support our mission of providing swim lessons, water safety education, and drowning prevention programming for youth throughout our community.

📅 Wednesday, June 24, 2026
🕚 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM
📍 Bubba’s 33
3534 Secor Road, Toledo, OH

Every meal makes a difference.

If you’re unable to support financially, sharing this post with your family, friends, coworkers, and networks is also a tremendous way to support our mission. Every share helps us reach someone who may be looking for an opportunity to give back and support local youth.

Thank you for believing in The Josh Project and helping us continue our work of saving lives, one swimmer at a time. 💙

06/22/2026

🚨💦 TOLEDO, LET’S TALK WATER SAFETY THIS SATURDAY! 💦🚨

The Josh Project is proud to be part of the Toledo Safety Summer Send-Off at Smith Park!

While you’re enjoying the food, activities, giveaways, and community resources, be sure to stop by The Josh Project’s table and learn how we can work together to prevent drowning and keep our children safe around water this summer.

Why is this so important?

📊 Black children ages 10–14 drown at rates several times higher than their white peers, making them one of the highest-risk groups in the country.

📊 Research has consistently shown that Black children are significantly less likely to have access to formal swim lessons, a disparity that contributes to increased drowning risk.

📊 Drowning remains one of the leading causes of death for children, yet it is often preventable through swim lessons, water safety education, active supervision, and life jacket use.

At The Josh Project, we’re working every day to change those statistics right here in our community.

Stop by and learn about:
🏊 Swim lessons and scholarship opportunities
🛟 Life jacket safety
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Drowning prevention strategies for families
💧 The importance of learning to swim
📚 Water safety education resources

📅 Saturday, June 27, 2026
⏰ 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
📍 Smith Park, Toledo, Ohio

Together, we can make sure every child has the opportunity to learn a life-saving skill.

💙 Learn It. Live It. Share It.



P.S. Bring a friend, bring the kids, and come say hello. We’d love to meet you! 👋💙

06/22/2026

The Power of the Pathway

At The Josh Project, we often talk about creating pathways for our swimmers. But why are those pathways so important?

The answer is simple: because opportunities change lives.

At just 7 years old, Donnell Wynn Jr. first entered the pool through The Josh Project after his parents signed him up for swim lessons.

Like many children, he was introduced to the water through a program designed to teach swimming skills, water safety, and confidence. What no one knew at the time was just how far that opportunity would take him.

Today, at 14 years old, Donnell is a Junior Olympian and one of the top young swimmers in our region. He has spent more than six years competing with Greater Toledo Aquatic Club (GTAC), has trained with USA Swimming in Colorado, continues to train with GTAC and SafeSplash Swim School - Holland - Swim Labs, and is preparing for upcoming competitions, including his next meet in Irvine, California.

But Donnell’s story is about much more than swimming.

It is about what can happen when a young person is given an opportunity and chooses to keep going.

Years ago, there was no formal pathway beyond The Josh Project’s swim lessons and water safety program. Families who wanted to continue often had to find those opportunities on their own.

Donnell’s journey showed us what was possible when a young person continued swimming beyond those first lessons. Through the commitment of his family, the support of his coaches, and his own dedication, he continued to grow both in and out of the pool.

His success helped reinforce something we already believed: learning to swim should not be the end of the journey.

Today, The Josh Project works to create scholarship-supported opportunities through partnerships with GTAC and SafeSplash Swim School, helping remove financial barriers and ensuring more families have access to continued aquatic opportunities that might otherwise be out of reach.

And now, Donnell’s story has come full circle.

Many of our families know him as a volunteer during The Josh Project swim lessons. This summer, he is serving as an assistant instructor for Water Safety Wednesday and our Maritime Academy summer program, helping younger swimmers build confidence and develop lifesaving skills in and around the water.

During a 2024 interview with WTOL, Donnell reflected on his journey and shared that he didn’t think he would have been able to accomplish all he has achieved without The Josh Project.

Following the interview, his mother, Asja Key-Wynn, who now serves on The Josh Project Board of Directors, sent a message that captured just how much the experience meant to him:

“Once we left, Donnell said, ‘Mom, if it wasn’t for Josh, I wouldn’t be where I’m at. I wish I would have told his mom that and I’m sorry for her loss.’ Please let her know ❤️”

Those words mean more than we can express.

Today, Donnell’s story has come full circle.

Reflecting on his growth from student to teacher, his mother recently shared:

“I always get emotional at these full circle moments with TJP!! Student to teacher! Way to go TJP!!”

We couldn’t agree more.

Donnell entered the pool as a student.

Today, he returns as a mentor, assistant instructor, competitive swimmer, future lifeguard, and role model.

His journey is a reminder that when opportunity meets commitment, amazing things can happen.

And it is a reminder that Josh’s legacy continues to live on through every life impacted by The Josh Project.

🏊🏾‍♂️❤️🛟

The Josh Project
Saving lives, one swimmer at a time.

06/21/2026

06/21/2026

It happens quickly. It’s silent. And most importantly, it’s preventable.

✅Learn the facts
✅Start the conversation
✅Take action

Let’s change the story and create more swimmers together. 🛟
Visit www.stepintoswim.org or the link in our bio to get involved today! 🔗

06/20/2026

Summer safety goes beyond the water.

As temperatures rise, it’s important to remember that heatstroke can happen quickly and can be deadly. Never leave a child alone in a vehicle, even for a minute.

Thank you to our partners at Safe Kids Greater Toledo for continuing to educate families on ways to keep children safe this summer.

Together, we can prevent tragedies before they happen.

🔥 Heatstroke can happen anywhere, to anyone. Let’s work together to keep every child safe from this preventable tragedy.

Learn what you can do to make a difference in your community today🌎: https://www.safekids.org/take-action-prevent-heatstroke.

06/20/2026

Today, The Josh Project was represented at the Nationwide Children's Hospital - Toledo Community Resource Fair by Board Member Trina Myers and Executive Director Larry Jr Butts.

Throughout the event, we had the opportunity to speak with dozens of children and families about water safety and drowning prevention. We shared information about The Josh Project’s swim lesson and water safety programs, while reinforcing the importance of the Five Layers of Protection:

• Barriers and Alarms
• Active Supervision
• Water Competency
• Life Jackets
• Emergency Preparedness

One of the highlights of the day was engaging directly with children and asking them about important water safety rules. It was encouraging to see so many young people already understanding key safety concepts, while also giving us the opportunity to educate others.

We also spoke with parents about the critical role they play in preventing drowning and distributed Water Watcher tags provided by our partners at Safe Kids Greater Toledo. These simple tools help remind adults to designate a responsible watcher whenever children are in or around water.

Drowning is preventable, and every conversation matters.

Thank you to Nationwide Children’s Hospital Toledo for hosting this wonderful event and bringing together organizations committed to improving the health, safety, and well-being of children and families throughout our community.

Saving lives, one swimmer at a time. 💙🧡