Lowcountry Aquatic Project Swimming (LAPS) provides water safety and swimming instruction to kindergarteners and first graders in Charleston County Title 1 schools. 

LAPS currently serves 14 schools and 1,400 children and has up to 20 CPR, First Aid, and Swim Lessons University certified instructors. Following the Charleston County School District (CCSD) academic calendar, lessons are taught in eight (8) thirty-minute sessions with the children participating in two sets of lessons; one in the fall and one in the spring. Through a 4:1 child: teacher ratio, a proven curriculum, and data collection based on each student's skill achievement; LAPS is able to show the tremendous progress our children make towards becoming safe, happy swimmers!

Transportation, swim aids, caps, bags, and extra towels and swimsuits are provided to our swimmers. We have partnered with CCSD, the City of Charleston and City of North Charleston Recreation Departments to teach our students.

Our Story

Mark Rutledge, Executive Director of Logan Rutledge Children's Foundation (LRCF) and Shannon Walsh O’Brien, Founder/Program Director of LAPS realized the critical need for all children in the lowcounty to learn how to swim. In partnership with the city of Charleston (LINK?), the city of North Charleston, (LINK?), Charleston County School District(LINK?), and Boeing(LINK?),, LAPS began in 2012 as an outreach program and funded project of LRCF. In 2017, LAPS became its own 501(c)3 organization and continues in partnership with LRCF to provide vital swimming and safety programs to many Lowcountry children. The Lowcountry Splash, put on by LRCF, is a major fund raiser for LAPS. Please consider donating to LAPS with your Splash registration.

The Lowcountry Splash is a major fundraiser for LAPS. You have many opportunities to participate in The Splash:

This year’s Splash will feature a competition for the largest amount of donations collected for LAPS and the winner will receive a lifetime registration to The Splash.

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Why Learn-To-Swim Programs are Vital:

  • Drowning is the top cause of injury death among children ages 1 to 4, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the third leading cause of unintentional injury death among 5- to 19-year-olds.

  • About 10 people die from drowning each day in the US; almost 1,000 children drown each year.

  • Formal lessons can reduce the risk of drowning by 88 percent .

  • In 2014, there were 6 drowning deaths of children younger than 15 years old in South Carolina.

  • African-American children drown at a rate nearly 3 times their Caucasian peers.

  • 70% of African American children, 60% of Latino children, and 40% of Caucasian children have low or no swimming ability.

  • If a parent does not know how to swim, there is only a 13 percent chance that a child in the household will learn to swim.

*Statistics courtesy of USA Swimming and Pool Safely.

LAPS is a member of Swim Safe Lowcountry, an alliance of water safety organizations within the Lowcountry.