Thursday, August 06, 2026

Fwd: 60 days. 150 seats. Come find your people in South Haven.

Vibrant AI image of the Great Lakes region, in oranges and blues, promoting conference

60 days. 150 seats. Come find your people in South Haven.

 

Hi Mark, 

 

Dear water safety colleague,

 

In just two months, we open the doors on the 2026 Great Lakes Water Safety Conference in South Haven, Michigan. We want you in the room.

 

I know this is your busy season. You're heads-down on your beach, in your boat, or at your unit – doing the work of keeping people safe. That's exactly the point of October. Come reflect on what worked this summer, what didn't, and what your community will do differently in 2027.

 

Here's some of what's confirmed:

 

Day 1 keynote: South Haven Police Chief Adam DeBoer and Lifeguard Program Manager David Figueredo, opening with the story of how their community rebuilt water safety from the shoreline up.

Day 2 keynote: Children's book author Tim Wheeler, closing Day 1 at dinner and returning Day 2 morning – on why the stories we tell shape the safety behaviors that stick.

Optional Demo Day, September 30: live on South Haven's South Beach – lifeguards, drone rescue, dive team, EMILY. Included with your registration. Harbor Social that evening at Fire Water Bar & Grill.

Three concurrent breakout tracks, our signature reverse panels, and 20+ confirmed speakers you won't want to miss.

 

The space only holds 150 seats total. Once the season winds down and everyone else starts planning fall, they'll move fast.

 

Learn More & Register: https://www.greatlakeswatersafety.org/conference

 

Sponsor: If your organization would like to be seen as a champion of Great Lakes water safety, our packages are still open – with real visibility across our event, materials, digital, and media. Reply directly and I'll set up a conversation.

 

You'll be hearing from us more regularly between now and October 1 – from Jamie, from our Planning Co-Leads, from our South Haven host Pam Ford, and from me. This is the room where plans become practice. Come find your people.

 

Capt. Drew Ferguson, MPH
Executive Director, Great Lakes Water Safety Consortium

Blue and orange logo with lifering
 
   

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