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.
Drowning is a leading cause of death for children ages 1โ14. We change that with practical swim education and water safety, starting on dry land, in the communities where it's needed most.
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 live 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.
EXAMPLE STORIES โ ILLUSTRATIVE, NOT VERBATIM QUOTES ยท REAL FAMILY STORIES COMING SOON
"I was terrified of the water my whole life. Watching my daughter swim without fear โ that's not something I thought I'd get to see."
"The single most engaging assembly our students have ever had. Months later, kids still practice their breathing at lunch."
"I'm 43 and I never learned to swim โ neither did my mother. Last month I swam my first full lap."
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
Youth of color drown at a rate 5ร higher than the overall population. 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. Our accessible, culturally relevant method teaches 1 million people a year how to swim โ removing cost, access, and fear from the equation.
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.
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.
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.
| Day | Time | Location | Level | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mon | 4:00 PM | Exposition Park Pool | Beginner | 3 spots |
| Tue | 5:00 PM | Central LA Aquatics | Beginner | 1 spot |
| Wed | 4:30 PM | Inglewood Community Pool | Intermediate | 4 spots |
| Thu | 6:00 PM | Exposition Park Pool | Adult beginner | 5 spots |
| Sat | 10:00 AM | National City Swim Ctr | Family | Waitlist |
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.
| County | Schools | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | 42 of 55 | Active |
| Orange | 8 of 15 | Active |
| San Bernardino | 6 of 12 | Booking |
| Riverside | 4 of 10 | Booking |
| San Diego | 2 of 8 | Fall '26 |
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.
programs delivered
schools on the SoCal roadmap
people we serve worldwide
Every number is reported live from our programs โ 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:
Our first Central Valley community pool day โ free lessons for 100+ families, with a new city partnership for next summer.
Weekly lessons running at 5 LA pools, with Swim Bowl Days and camps instrumented so every swimmer counts toward the million.
"I'm 43 and I never learned to swim โ neither did my mother. Last month I swam my first full lap. That cycle ends with me."
July 26 in San Dimas โ free lessons with our newest swim-school partner, founded by a former Swim Up Hill volunteer.
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 in EN/ES/KO.
Tier details, audience data, and impact projections โ everything your CSR team needs.
| File | Type | Languages | Size | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water Safety Guide โ 10 Family Rules | EN ยท ES ยท KO | 2.1 MB | ||
| Bowl Methodโข Practice Cards (printable) | EN ยท ES | 1.4 MB | ||
| School Assembly Checklist | EN | 0.8 MB | ||
| Teacher Toolkit โ Lesson Plans K-5 | ZIP | EN ยท ES ยท KO | 12 MB | |
| Family Take-Home Sheets | EN ยท ES ยท KO | 3.2 MB | ||
| Brand & Media Kit (logos, photos) | ZIP | โ | 48 MB | |
| Annual Impact Report 2025 | EN | 6.5 MB |
Free swim lessons, water-safety demos, food, and giveaways as we bring the method to the Central Valley.
Free lessons, community partners, and the launch of our newest swim-school collaboration.
One night, one goal: fund the next 10,000 swimmers. Dinner, stories from the water, and our year-in-impact report.
We bring the bowls, the coaches, and the fun โ you bring the community. The easiest way to start 50 swim journeys at once.
Most roles need zero swim experience. Pick your lane:
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.
Maria G. ยท Parent, Inglewood
Principal D. Washington ยท South LA
Tanya B. ยท SwimSuiteโข Graduate
Video testimonials coming in Month 3 ๐น
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
| 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.
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.
Request SUH-2026-0000 received โ weโll email your secure payment link within 1 business day
Next step: your welcome kit + first bowl exercise video are waiting in the portal.
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, live coach, no pool required. Runs every 12 hours so every timezone can jump in.
Can't make it? Also: โฆ
You'll get the link by email ยท reminders 24h & 1h before
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.
