Kids love the beach, making it the perfect place to learn. OCEAN RESCUE CAMP is a “school by the sea” where children and teenagers learn the basics of lifesaving, first aid, and safety through safety-oriented games and exercises. Since the project’s inauguration in 2015, these annual summer camps have provided more than 9,000 young people aged 8-17 with essential skills in water safety awareness. Furthermore, OCEAN RESCUE CAMPS also serve to attract new members to local swimming and aquatic clubs.
OCEAN RESCUE CAMPS typically take place on the beach during school holidays or weekends during the summer. Although many exciting activities take place, the main focus is always on lifesaving and safety. As a general rule, all participants must already be able to swim.
The camps are organised in partnership with DGI and run in collaboration with local swimming clubs. This means the location of the camps varies every year. Three different types of camps are held:
OCEAN RESCUE CAMPS teach participants about:
Safety is always given top priority. The camps only use trained instructors and collaborate with the Children’s Accident Fund and the Copenhagen Risk & Safety Group, who carry out ongoing risk analyses of the camps.
Prices vary depending on the local costs and subsidies of the partnering organisations, which including remuneration for trained instructors. Financially disadvantaged families can apply for a limited number of free places. Contacts at the individual camps are on hand to provide more information.
Knowledge of basic water safety is a valuable skill for any child. Unfortunately, not all children are taught these skills in school, and when they are, lessons often occur in a swimming pool, not in open water.
We recognise that many locations do not have easy access to a beach. However, the concept of OCEAN RESCUE CAMPS can potentially be adapted to lakes or other outdoor bodies of water. While qualified volunteers are always welcome, the program requires funding due to safety considerations. In Denmark, most parents or guardians pay a fee for their children to participate. However, one of the main goals is to keep the program affordable for all.
The participation of local swimming clubs and national aquatic bodies is an integral part of this initiative. The Danish Swimming Association and camp leaders are ready to share best practices from their experiences in both organisation and choice of activities. Further information on the OCEAN RESCUE CAMP concept (currently only in Danish) is available here
