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Lake Day! Water Safety Fair at Blue Lake Park signup sheet

Blue Lake Regional Park, 21224 NE Marine Dr. Fairview / Troutdale, Oregon
Swimming Area / Splash Pad
Saturday September 5, 2026
10a - 2p (8a station set-up, 9a volunteer meeting)

Free admission, ADA accessible, all ages welcome
Parking is $5, pets are not allowed

Media coverage: https://katu.com/amnw/am-northwest-lifestyle-health/water-strongs-water-safety-fair

On September 5th, WaterStrong will host Lake Day! Water Safety Fair at Blue Lake Regional Park. The event is free and open to everyone. This is our first year hosting this event, launched in partnership with AMR and a few other partners because water safety is a top priority for all of us. Unfortunately Oregon has had too many drowning incidents — more than we know, because only the fatal drownings are officially recorded. This event at Blue Lake Regional Park is important right now because of the recent drownings that occurred there and at nearby Chinook Landing on the Columbia. We have to be part of the solution — to connect people with water in empowering ways to build survival skills and situational awareness, and to provide the essential safety gear they need for the water - like lifejackets and safety whistles.

This event will have a big impact on water safety for families, even as they get ready for school.
* Families will receive free lifejackets and safety whistles they’ll use year-round
* Everyone who comes will learn how to wear a lifejacket properly and how to blow SOS the universal signal for “help”
* Families will learn the most important safety skills for swimming, boating, and fishing - and then they can get in the water to swim, boat and explore — all there
* Families will also get in touch with nature with a wildlife biologist — take nature walks around the lake and learn about the perfectly balanced ecosystems and native habitats of Blue Lake.

Admission is free and open to everyone. This is a fundraising event for WaterStrong, donations are heartily welcomed. Every dollar supports community programs in water safety and drowning prevention. Stations include water safety education, lifejacket fitting, boating safety, angler education and fishing safety, in-water survival swim skills, in-water boating, clay art, nature walk, ambulance tour and CPR practice, meet the first responders, and more.

Stations: (this is a work in progress):
1. WaterStrong Welcome / Registration — 3 volunteers needed
(Mandatory) Check-in, sign waivers, receive event wristbands and “scavenger hunt passport”

2. Ambulance outreach, First Aid CPR for aquatic emergencies (AMR)
Families tour the AMR ambulance, meet the rescue team and learn the basics of community CPR for aquatic emergencies using mannikins and training AEDs

3. Lifejacket fitting & safety whistles (Metro, OMSB) — 3 volunteers needed
Families are fitted with USCG certified lifejackets and safety whistles, learn to blow SOS the universal code for “help”

4. Water safety - first responders (AMR River Rescue)
Meet the AMR river rescue team, ask questions, learn about water safety on Oregon's rivers

5. Water & Boating safety - first responders (Multnomah County Sheriff & River Patrol)
Meet the Multnomah County Sheriff rescue team, learn about safety on the water

6. Drowning prevention outreach (Lily’s Light)

7. Swim school and water safety outreach (Emler swim school)

8. Swim school and water safety education (Goldfish swim school)

9. Swim skills and water safety in-water (WaterStrong) — 8 volunteers needed
Volunteers will work in small groups of early entry swimmers to practice basic survival swim skills and water safety techniques in a shallow water environment. For intermediate and advanced swimmers, find a buddy and borrow a swim buoy for a swim into deeper water.

10. Angler education / fishing safety land-based (ImHooked) — 4 volunteers needed
Volunteers will guide participants through the essentials of angler education, practicing situational awareness and casting with backyard bass activities

11. Boating safety land based and in-water (eNRG / Helensview) — 3 volunteers needed
Volunteers join participants to explore kayaks and canoes, practice safe entry and exits, and then explore the lake using your best boating safety skills.

12. What lives here wildlife biology & nature walks (ODFW) — 3 volunteers needed
Learn from a wildlife biologist about the plants and animals that make up Blue Lake’s balanced ecosystem. Explore the learning garden and walk the nature trails with new appreciation for all that lives there.

13. Clay art — 2 volunteers needed
Sit on the ground, listen to music and play with clay in a quiet space in the park

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