The Swim Up Hill method, across the world. From LA pools to swim schools in Africa, the Bowl-Bench-Bucket method travels anywhere there's a bowl of water. Every pin on the globe is a program, a partner, and a promise kept.
Swim Up Hill builds the aquatic workforce communities need to keep people safe. We partner with schools and municipalities to identify and prepare the next generation of swimmers, instructors, and lifeguardsโsupporting them through certification and connecting them to meaningful employment.
Our goal is to teach 1,000,000 people every year how to swim. We get there by creating more than swimmers. We create the instructors who teach them, the lifeguards who protect them, and the community infrastructure that allows safe swimming to scale.
We create the people who create swimmers.
Learn more about our mission โGrab a bowl of water and learn it today, at home, free: in through your mouth, out through your nose. Your very first lesson starts right now.
Register once, then unlock the 4-part Bowl Methodโข video course free, then join the next session:
Swim Up Hill Foundation, founded by Paralympic swimmer Jamal Hill, teaches life-saving swim skills to the communities most at risk of drowning, starting on dry land, in homes across the country.
Discover a program built on trust, not fear. Swim Up Hill students gain water confidence, real survival skills, and the courage to jump inโฆ ready for anything.
Each path unlocks the tools made for you. Same mission, your way in.
Program updates, success stories, and events every two months, tailored to you.
IN THEIR OWN WORDS
Spring 2026 program with the National City School District and the City of San Diego ยท Source: USA Para Swimming, July 21, 2026
FOUNDER JAMAL HILL HAS COMPETED WITH, PARTNERED WITH, OR BEEN RECOGNIZED BY
Three programs, one method: from a first breath at home to citywide change.
Our at-home method, online and on your schedule. The same Bowl, Bench, Bucket system, built for families anywhere.
We start lessons on land to maximize comfort. Every lesson is built to lower fear before it teaches a single stroke.
Free water safety education for 100 elementary schools across Southern California. One presentation, one classroom at a time.
One swimmer's comeback became a method for millions. The mission is bigger than any one person.
Reaching a million swimmers a year takes more than school visits. Here's how we get there.
In-person lessons and school visits, building trust community by community.
SwimSuiteโข carries the volume โ low-cost, high-reach, available anywhere.
YMCA, school districts, and municipal pools carry the program further than we can alone.
Every donation brings life-saving swim education to a child who needs it most.
Together, we can teach 1 million children how to survive.
One lesson. One life. One ripple. Water changes everything.
Swim Up Hill Foundation ยท 501(c)(3) nonprofit ยท Los Angeles, CA ยท hello@swimuphill.org
Swim Up Hill builds the aquatic workforce communities need to keep people safe. We partner with schools and municipalities to identify and prepare the next generation of swimmers, instructors, and lifeguardsโsupporting them through certification and connecting them to meaningful employment.
Our goal is to teach 1,000,000 people every year how to swim.
We get there by creating more than swimmers. We create the instructors who teach them, the lifeguards who protect them, and the community infrastructure that allows safe swimming to scale.
We create the people who create swimmers.
Drowning risk is not shared equally: CDC data shows Black and American Indian/Alaska Native youth drown at higher rates than white youth. Generations of exclusion from pools created widespread aquaphobia โ a cycle of fear passed from parent to child.
Swim Up Hill exists to end that cycle, with an accessible, culturally relevant method that removes cost, access, and fear from the equation.
Why land first? Starting at home removes the three biggest barriers between a child and their first stroke: cost, access, and fear. By the time our students touch water, the water feels like a victory lap.
Master rhythmic underwater breathing with a bowl of water at home โ the single skill that separates swimmers from non-swimmers.
Build full-body stroke mechanics on a bench, rehearsing movements until they're muscle memory.
Combine breath and stroke with water resistance โ then step into the pool already knowing how to swim.
Diagnosed at age 10 with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, Jamal was told his days in the water were over. Instead, he became a Paralympic bronze medalist for Team USA, and turned his comeback into a method that teaches anyone to swim, starting on dry land.
"People donate to people before organizations. Help me teach a million people a year to swim."
One method, four ways to learn. Pick your path and we'll take it from there.
Families and individual swimmers โ learn online with SwimSuiteโข or in person at an LA-area pool.
Principals and educators โ bring a founder-led water-safety assembly to your campus, free for Title I schools.
Want to teach instead? Become a certified instructor โ
Our flagship online program brings the full Bowl-Bench-Bucket method into your living room. Works with zero pool access.
Every student moves through the same proven arc:
No โ the entire 8-week method runs on a bowl, a bench, and a bucket. Pool day comes at the end, at a supervised session.
Ages 5+ โ and adults! Nearly a third of SwimSuiteโข students are grown-ups learning for the first time.
Scholarships are available โ no one is turned away. Apply during enrollment.
No. SwimSuite is built entirely for dry-land practice using a bowl, a bench, and a bucket โ items most families already have. It's the step before the pool, not a replacement for in-water lessons.
That's exactly who this method was built for. Every stage is designed to lower fear before it introduces a single new skill.
SwimSuite teaches the same trust-building foundation our in-person instructors use, just without needing pool access first. Many families use it to prepare a child before their first in-water lesson.
Yes โ Swim Up Hill Foundation subsidizes access for families who qualify. No one is turned away.
Small-group and private lessons at community pools across Los Angeles, taught by instructors trained in the Swim Up Hill method.
We're confirming pool locations and class times for the next season. Request a spot and tell us your city, and our team will email you the options closest to you.
A 45-minute all-school water-safety assembly led by Jamal himself, with a take-home practice kit for every student. Free for Title I schools.
Bring the method to your own community โ and build a paid teaching career while you're at it.
Example candidate progress โ your portal tracks each stage, with checklists and mentor feedback at every step.
We build the aquatic workforce communities need to keep people safe: swimmers, instructors, and lifeguards.
Our goal is to teach 1,000,000 people every year how to swim.
programs delivered
schools on the SoCal roadmap
people we serve worldwide
students
elementary schools
reached independent swimming
An 11-week program with the National City School District and the City of San Diego, including students with severe disabilities. Source: USA Para Swimming, July 21, 2026
Our team is checking this yearโs program records now. We publish impact numbers only after theyโre verified.
We publish numbers only after Swim Up Hill verifies them, and every lesson moves us toward our mission of teaching 1 million people a year.
The four things we report on, every issue of The Ripple Effect:
In spring 2026, 475 students across 10 National City elementary schools finished our 11-week program, and 90% reached independent swimming competency.
This fall we're back with the National City School District: 528 students in lessons, each in their own Swim Up Hill goggles, with SwimSuiteโข tracking every swimmer's progress.
We feature real swimmers, always with their permission. Share yours โ
Bringing the method to townships across Johannesburg. Our shared goal: 10,000 new swimmers by 2027 and two new swim facilities.
The 10 rules every family should know before summer, plus the bowl exercise to start tonight.
Classroom-ready lessons, assembly checklist, and family take-home sheets.
Tier details, audience data, and impact projections โ everything your CSR team needs.
One night, one goal: fund the next 10,000 swimmers. Join the invite list to hear first when tickets and tables open.
We bring the bowls, the coaches, and the fun โ you bring the community. The easiest way to start 50 swim journeys at once.
Free swim lessons, water-safety demos, food, and giveaways as we brought the method to the Central Valley.
Free lessons, community partners, and the launch of our newest swim-school collaboration.
Most roles need zero swim experience. Pick your lane:
We identify and prepare the next generation of swimmers, instructors, and lifeguards, support them through certification, and connect them to meaningful employment.
Learn the Bowl-Bench-Bucket method and bring it to your own community.
Lifeguards keep pools open and swimmers safe. Our lifeguard pathway helps people train, get certified, and connect to work. Details are coming soon. Join the interest list and we'll email you when it opens.
Recent wins, what's happening now, a success spotlight, and upcoming events.
Partnership tiers come with real, reportable impact โ not just a logo placement.
Aquatics strategy for cities, districts, and brands: program design, facility activation, and water-equity roadmaps, advised by Jamal directly. Scope by inquiry
Coaches, creators, and community orgs โ earn while sending families to SwimSuiteโข. Launching Month 10
Paralympic medalist, author, and founder, Jamal speaks on resilience, water equity, and building movements that outlast you.
Every gift is tied to a real outcome โ you'll always know exactly what your generosity taught someone to do.
๐ Donations processed securely by Donorbox ยท 501(c)(3) โ gifts are tax-deductible.
Our biggest match day of the year. Get a reminder when doors open.
We publish stories from real swimmers, families, and teachers, only with their written permission. Has Swim Up Hill made a difference for you?
The land-first sequence every parent can start tonight.
Publishing Month 2
The history behind the statistic โ and how the cycle ends.
Publishing Month 2
What families actually do in the first seven days.
Publishing Month 2
4 new posts every month from Month 2 ยท subscribe via The Ripple Effect ๐
| While Jamal Hill continues to help kids learn to swim, heโs determined to be the best swimmer in the world by LA28 | USA Para Swimming ยท Jul 2026 |
| US Paralympian brings swim safety mission to SA townships | Sunday World ยท May 2026 |
| Paralympian Jamal Hillโs mission: more medals and one million swimmers | Spectrum News 1 ยท Jul 2025 |
| Paralympic medalist Jamal Hill has a mission to teach millions of children to swim | Andscape ยท Jul 2023 |
| Jamal Hill talks swimming education for youth at United Nations Headquarters | USA Para Swimming ยท May 2023 |
| Meet the 2022 class of Young Leaders for the SDGs | United Nations ยท 2022 |
| Soweto Swim School partners with Paralympian Jamal Hill to scale swim access across South African townships | Partnership |
| Swim Up Hill & National City launch SDG-aligned learn-to-swim program with UN leaders and local schools | Program |
| Historic swim-access initiative launches in Stockton with Health Plan of San Joaquin | Program |
| Jamal Hill launches official Road to LA28 campaign and corporate fundraising initiative | Campaign |
| New Board of Directors appointments: Amb. Michael Lawson, Rep. Joseph Towns, Ralph Henderson Jr. | Org news |
100% of proceeds fund free lessons โ every order teaches someone to swim. Our kids' goggles are the same ones 528 National City students wear in our lessons.
Demo store โ secure checkout launches with the full build.
Lessons, progress, giving, and programs โ all in one place. Free for every Swim Up Hill family.
Takes 30 seconds ยท no credit card ยท works for parents, students, schools, donors & partners
๐ Staff & coaches: to open the Admin Console.
DEMO PREVIEW โ click any role to explore a sample dashboard
| Date | Swimmer | Class | Location | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wed Jul 15 ยท 4:30p | Diego | Level 2 group | Inglewood Pool | Confirmed |
| Sat Jul 18 ยท 10:00a | Sofia | SwimSuiteโข check-in | Online | Confirmed |
| Wed Jul 22 ยท 4:30p | Diego | Level 2 group | Inglewood Pool | Scheduled |
| Sun Jul 26 ยท 11:00a | Family | WDPD Pool Day ๐ | San Dimas | RSVP'd |
Diego nailed his flutter kick today โ bumping bench strokes to 65%! ๐
Pool day July 26 in San Dimas โ your family RSVP is confirmed.
Sofia's bowl homework this week: 3ร "hum-blow" sets before bed.
| Jul 2026 ยท SwimSuiteโข | $49 | Paid |
| Jul 2026 ยท Group lessons ร4 | $100 | Paid |
| Jun 2026 ยท Group lessons ร4 | $100 | Paid |
| Date | Swimmer | Class | Location | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wed Jul 15 ยท 4:30p | Diego | Level 2 group | Inglewood Pool | Confirmed | |
| Sat Jul 18 ยท 10:00a | Sofia | SwimSuiteโข check-in | Online | Confirmed | |
| Wed Jul 22 ยท 4:30p | Diego | Level 2 group | Inglewood Pool | Scheduled | |
| Sun Jul 26 ยท 11:00a | Family | WDPD Pool Day ๐ | San Dimas | RSVP'd | |
| Wed Jul 29 ยท 4:30p | Diego | Level 2 group | Inglewood Pool | Scheduled | |
| Sat Aug 1 ยท 10:00a | Sofia | SwimSuiteโข check-in | Online | Scheduled |
Weekday 4โ6 PM and Saturday-morning slots are open at Inglewood and Exposition Park pools.
Coach note: flutter kick clicked this week โ bench strokes jumped 10 points. Next focus: bucket resistance sets.
Coach note: Sofia's "hum-blow" sets before bed are paying off โ face-in comfort is ahead of schedule.
On pace to be pool-ready by September โ right on schedule for Level 3.
Diego nailed his flutter kick today โ bumping bench strokes to 65%! ๐
Pool day July 26 in San Dimas โ your family RSVP is confirmed.
Sofia's bowl homework this week: 3ร "hum-blow" sets before bed.
Your July autopay receipt is ready in Billing. Thanks, Maria!
Diego moved up to Level 2 โ bench work starts this Wednesday. ๐
| Item | Amount | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 2026 ยท SwimSuiteโข | $49 | Paid | |
| Jul 2026 ยท Group lessons ร4 | $100 | Paid | |
| Jun 2026 ยท SwimSuiteโข | $49 | Paid | |
| Jun 2026 ยท Group lessons ร4 | $100 | Paid | |
| May 2026 ยท Scholarship fund gift ๐ | $25 | Paid |
Visa ending 4242 is charged on the 1st of each month.
No family is ever turned away. Scholarships cover up to 100% of lesson fees.
Next from you: return the signed facility form by Aug 15. We handle everything else โ AV, kits, and Jamal's schedule.
| ๐ Pre-assembly classroom guide (PDF) | |
| ๐ฌ โMeet Jamalโ intro video (3 min) | |
| ๐ Bowl-Bench-Bucket take-home kit sheet | |
| ๐ Family enrollment flyer (EN / ES / KO) |
Families get a simple enrollment path โ you get the impact report:
Back from Georgia Thu โ huddle moves to 6:15 this week only.
Oakdale recap: 100+ families! Photos in the shared drive. ๐ธ
Ripple Effect vol. 2 draft ready โ send me success-story nominations by Fri.
Your $500 funded the full water-safety assembly at Vista Elementary on June 3 โ 340 students, 74 families now enrolling.
| Date | Event | Your presence | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 26 | World Drowning Prevention Day | Booth + banner | Confirmed |
| Sep 18 | Hillcrest Elementary assembly | Named sponsor | Confirmed |
| Oct 17 | Fall Gala | Table of 10 + stage mention | Reserve seats |
Students taught, media reach, and employee engagement โ packaged for your CSR reporting.
๐ Scholarships available at checkout โ no one is turned away.
Enrolling more than one swimmer? You can add siblings from your portal after checkout.
Submit your enrollment and our team will confirm your slot, then email you a secure payment link (processed by our PCI-compliant payment partner). Nothing is due until your slot is confirmed.
Reference SUH-0000 ยท our team will email you to confirm the slot and send a secure payment link. Nothing has been charged.
Keep your reference number in case you need to contact us about this request.
Every gift is tied to a real outcome.
๐ Donations processed securely by Donorbox ยท 501(c)(3) โ gifts are tax-deductible.
30 minutes, no pool required. A new session starts every 3 hours, so you can jump in whenever works for you.
Can't make it? Also: โฆ
A new session starts every 3 hours ยท free, no card needed
Already registered? Watch the course โFill a bowl with water. When you're ready, we'll do 3 rounds of breathing: inhale through your mouth only, then exhale and blow through your nose only. The exact skill every swimmer masters first.
๐ No card details are collected on this site โ secure payment links by email ยท 100% of proceeds fund free lessons
New here? โ takes 30 seconds.
Free forever ยท we never sell your data ยท demo build โ details stay in this browser only
Enter your account email and we'll send a reset link.
Demo build โ in production this opens Google's real sign-in window. Enter the account you'd use:
ยท No password needed โ your Google account keeps you signed in.
We sent a 6-digit code to you@example.com. Enter it below to activate your account.
Didn't get it? ยท
Your portal is ready. Two quick things to make it yours:
You can add more swimmers and change anything later in your portal.
