Great Lakes Water Safety

From Plans to Practice: What happened in South Haven

From	Drew Ferguson
To	mark@rauterkus.com
Reply-To	Drew@glwsc.org
Date	Sat 14:22

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Two weeks ago, 90 drowning prevention professionals and advocates gathered in South Haven, Michigan, for the 2026 Great Lakes Water Safety Conference. Beach managers, lifeguards, first responders, researchers, legislators and advocates joined us from across the Great Lakes states and Ontario, and we got to work turning plans into practice.   To everyone who attended: thank you. You made it what it was. Of the 95 people who registered, all but five showed up, which almost never happens. Attendees rated the conference 9.2 out of 10, and half gave it a perfect 10.   For those who couldn't make it, here's some of what you missed: Rescue demonstrations on Demo Day, most moved indoors when the weather turned and better for it.  Jet Ski and Rescue Board Demos adjusted and delivered  Keynotes and research that set the tone for both days, plus spotlights on beach safety in South Haven and Wisconsin A conversation with state legislators about the policy side of drowning prevention Our Community Challenge Clinic, where attendees brought real problems from their beaches and the room helped solve them 90-day action plans that attendees took home to make their beaches/parks safer in 2027 and beyond, with follow-up support built in The comment we heard most wasn't about any one session. It was about the people. One first-time attendee, a lifeguard program manager, told us: "After the past few days at the Water Safety Conference, I feel much less alone and have a new drive and purpose." That's what this community is for. Attendees will receive session summaries, presenter slides and three follow-up webinars this winter.   Want to bring the conference to your hometown? We're already planning the next one, and we're looking for members who would like to help host it. South Haven worked because local partners opened doors – to the venue, the beaches and a community that showed up for us. If your town has a water safety story worth telling and you'd like to help us tell it, reply to this email with your town and a short paragraph on why it should be next. Whatever we decide, you'll hear it here first. And we'll make it another event you won't want to miss.      Thank you for everything you do to help people safely enjoy the Great Lakes area.   Capt. Drew Ferguson, MPH Executive Director, Great Lakes Water Safety Consortium Great Lakes Water Safety Consoritum P.O. Box 130861, Ann Arbor, MI 48113   Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser