Partnerships
Cedar Rapids Parks & Recreation
Cedar Rapids Parks and Recreation launched this initiative through the Free Swim Lesson Program (FSLP), a dedicated partnership with the Cedar Rapids Community School District and the Cedar Rapids Parks Foundation.
To make it happen, they actively remove common barriers for local families by funding and providing everything needed for the multi-week program, including:
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Free transportation to Bender Pool during the school day.
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Properly fitting swimsuits that the students get to keep.
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Certified instruction that breaks students into small groups by skill level to build water confidence and life-saving safety skills alongside their classmates.
Tanager
Our ongoing partnership with Tanager brings a dedicated mental health therapist directly into our school building, completely removing the logistical barriers of traditional counseling. By integrating therapy right into the school day, students can easily access professional, compassionate support in a familiar and safe environment. This collaboration ensures our families receive seamless mental health care without having to worry about scheduling or transportation outside of school hours.
Eastern Iowa Arts Academy
Through a dynamic seasonal partnership, the Eastern Iowa Arts Academy brought hands-on, after-school art classes directly to our students. These multi-week sessions provided creative enrichment right at the end of the school day, allowing students to explore new mediums and express themselves without families needing to coordinate extra transportation. While not a year-round program, these targeted workshops gave our students high-quality artistic outlets and a fantastic way to discover new passions alongside their peers.