Free water safety swim lessons offered for Miami-Dade County children

Years ago, my 3-year-old daughter fell in a pool after climbing over the security fence. It was a winter day and she was wearing a sweater, jeans, socks and shoes. I was turned around, a few steps away, and never heard a sound until her 4-year-old sister yelled.

Time stood still. But in the seconds it took me to get there, my little girl had already kicked over to the pool’s edge and was “choo-chooing” her hands along and around to the steps.

She had just learned to swim that summer.

When I told her instructors at the swim school they said, “It happens all the time in Miami’s winter.”

Swimming is not limited by temperature here, or anywhere. That is why the importance of water safety for children cannot be overstated.

Zero Drownings Miami-Dade is an initiative that selects children, ages 4 and 5, from Head Start programs, The Children’s Trust Thrive by 5 child care centers, and kindergartners in public schools to take part in a daily two-week swim safety course. Field trip transportation is provided to nearby pools.

The goal is to make water competency as fundamental as learning the ABCs for every Miami-Dade County child.

“Our mission is to end child drownings in Miami-Dade County. At The Children’s Trust, we believe lasting change happens through collaboration,” said James Haj, president & CEO. “That’s why we’re proud to help bring together the county, schools, funders, and other public and private partners in a seamless effort to build a sustainable and well-funded system that teaches essential swim skills and ensures children have access to this life-saving education.”

In its first year alone, organizers said the initiative has offered free swim lessons to more than 2,500 children from 66 elementary schools and preschool centers, with aspirations to reach 20,000 annually in 2026-2027.

“We live in a beautiful community surrounded by pools, lakes, and the ocean, and it is essential that children learn how to swim and that parents know how to prevent drowning. At its core, this program is about saving lives,” said Jose L. Dotres, superintendent of Miami-Dade County Public Schools. “By expanding access to structured water-safety instruction, we are giving families peace of mind and ensuring our youngest learners develop the confidence and skills to stay safe.”

Everyone is encouraged to get involved to make sure all children in Miami-Dade County are water ready for every season of the year. Learn more and join the Zero Challenge at https://www.zerodrowningsmiamidade.org/

Handmade cards sent to hospice patients

Small gestures can make all the difference. This past Valentine’s Day more than 9,000 cards were hand-delivered and mailed to hospice patients in their homes and senior living communities in a partnership between VITAS Healthcare and Valentines By Kids.

The goal was to ease social isolation and brighten the day for people receiving end-of-life care. VITAS also supported Florida residents coping with loss through its 12-hour Valentine’s Day Grief Helpline, which connected callers with trained bereavement specialists and local resources.

“The Valentine’s holiday can be especially difficult for those experiencing grief or serious illness,” said Jason Cooper, national spiritual lead at VITAS Healthcare. “Through initiatives like delivering handmade cards and offering a grief support helpline, our goal is to ensure patients and families feel supported and not alone during a time that can intensify feelings of loss.”

Valentines By Kids, a volunteer student-led group, can help any organization or individuals share emotional support. Learn more at https://valentinesbykids.org/ More about VITAS Healthcare is at https://www.vitas.com/

Tour historic house surrounded by nature

Next month Tropical Audubon Society will celebrate its 50 years of stewardship of the Doc Thomas House in South Miami.

In December 1974, Arden Hayes “Doc” Thomas bequeathed his house and 2.2 wooded acres to Tropical Audubon Society in a life estate that transacted upon his death one year later.

In April 1976, the society formally established its organization headquarters in the historic 1932 wood-frame vernacular cottage. What began as one man’s home has grown through the years into a gathering place for conservationists, historic preservationists and nature lovers.

The public is invited to step back in time to discover the fascinating story behind the man and his house.

History tours feature a guided look at the distinctive wood and limestone details of the quaint cottage — inside and out — as well as updates about recently completed and ongoing restoration projects.

Tours are about 75-90 minutes, and are facilitated by retired educator, TAS board member and resident historian Dan Jones, who is assisted by other volunteers.

The next tours are at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., April 4 and May 2, at 5530 Sunset Dr. There is limited onsite parking via the Southwest 55th Avenue auto gate.

There is no fee to attend, although donations are appreciated. Contributions support the ongoing preservation and stewardship of the Doc Thomas House and Steinberg Nature Center grounds.

And before or after each tour, visitors are encouraged to enjoy a self-guided stroll through the trails that thread the wooded property, a peaceful reminder of why this place, and its preservation, continue to matter.

To plan your visit, and learn more, go to https://tropicalaudubon.org/ Donations are welcome at https://support.tropicalaudubon.org/a/donate

Write to ChristinaMMayo@gmail.com with news for this column.

This story was originally published March 19, 2026 at 5:30 AM.