March 10, 2026 3:05 a.m. 

With warmer weather and families beginning to spend more time at pools, rivers, and lakes, the YMCA of Douglas County is encouraging the community to prioritize water safety.

A YMCA release said teaching lifesaving swimming skills has long been a central part of the organization’s mission. In 2025, the YMCA of Douglas County provided swim lessons to over 1,900 individuals, ranging from six months to 80 years old. The organization also offered about 40 swim lesson classes and 80 water exercise classes each month, serving children, adults and seniors across the community.

YMCA Marketing & Development Director Brittany Arnold said the YMCA continues to expand drowning prevention efforts throughout Douglas County. Arnold said over the past year, the organization has distributed 500 free youth life jackets to families, and installed life jacket stations at Ben Irving and Cooper Creek reservoirs to help increase access to safety equipment.

The YMCA also trains aquatic professionals for local facilities. In 2025, it certified 30 new American Red Cross lifeguards, many of whom now work at YMCA pools and other aquatic locations throughout the region.

Arnold said community members can connect with the YMCA’s water safety programs during Healthy Kids Day on April 25th from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at the YMCA of Douglas County on Northwest Stewart Parkway in Roseburg. Free youth life jackets will be distributed. The YMCA will also host Safety Around Water week, offering free swim instructions for youth ages 6-16 during spring break.

For more information about YMCA aquatics programs and registrations is available at: www.ymcaofdouglascounty.org