The Interact Club of The Fort Myers Rotary Club, a community club for youth ages 12-18, recently taught water safety to 80 preschool and elementary students at the Immokalee Community School. According to the Florida Department of Health, drowning is the leading cause of injury death among children ages 1–4, and Florida’s drowning rate among that age range is the highest in the nation.
In response to these statistics, the Interact students read “Josh the Baby Otter,” a book written by Blake Collingsworth and illustrated by Ashley Spitsnogle. The story teaches three main points of water safety: Never go near the water without an adult, learn to float or swim first before going in the water and always swim with a buddy. Afterward, each student received a Spanish-language copy of “Josh the Otter.” The Interact youth also surprised the school with a beautiful new book display case to promote literacy.
Dedicated to service, Interact benefits from sponsorship by The Rotary Club of Fort Myers, which provides support and guidance. With clubs in more than 120 countries, Interact’s global youth network is dedicated to community and international service. Its name is a combination of the words international and action, and every club project, great or small, has a lasting impact on society worldwide.
For more information on The Rotary Club of Fort Myers or how you can support service projects in the local community, go to www.rotaryfortmyers.org, call (239) 332-8158, or visit the club on Facebook.
About The Rotary Club of Fort Myers
The Rotary Club of Fort Myers, Inc. is the first, oldest and largest of the 54 clubs in Southwest Florida. Chartered in 1922, it is a leadership organization composed of local business, professional and civic leaders who are united in providing humanitarian service locally and throughout the world, embracing the highest ethical standards to build goodwill and peace.
For more information, contact (239) 332-8158 or visit RotaryFortMyers.org.
