Women Swimmin' is a non-competitive, community swim that depends on the cooperation and good will of all involved for its success. The impact of your swim will be felt by our patients and their families throughout the year. The funds you raise directly support our ability to provide expert, compassionate, and excellent care that our patients and families need. These donations also underwrite the Nina K. Miller Hospice Residence, bereavement services, and community education.
As a Lake Swimmer for Women Swimmin' for Hospicare, you agree to:
Join us for packet pick up! Stop by and be greeted by Hospicare staff and volunteers and receive your T-shirt and goodies, as well as incentive gifts for those raising over $600 or $1,200.
All donations made before Friday, August, August 11 at 5pm will be counted towards leaderboard prizes and incentive prizes.
All pick-ups are at the Hospicare residence at 172 E King Road, Ithaca. Participant packets are for swimmers, folks who are Going the Distance, and our fundraisers. Volunteers can also pick up their T-shirt and nametag at the packet pick-ups.
Hours for packet pick ups: Wednesday 8/9- 8:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m. &
Thursday 8/10- 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
PARTICIPANT PACKETS WILL INCLUDE....
As a Lake Swimmer for Women Swimmin’ for Hospicare, you agree to:
CANCELLATIONS DUE TO WEATHER OR ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS - There will be no “rain date”. If there is uncertainty about lake conditions due to weather (a threat of a storm, rough water, etc.) or environmental concerns (the presence of harmful algae blooms (HABs), air quality, etc.) the Safety Team will assess the situation the morning of the swim and post updates on womenswimmin.org or facebook.com/WomenSwimmin.
CHECK IN & POD LINE UP - Upon arriving at the Cass Park, you must check in with your Pod Manager. Please look for the sign with your pod number and a pod manager with a bandana of the same color as your pod and gather there. The Pod Manager will check you in and walk you to the bus when it’s your turn to get on the shuttle.
GEAR & EQUIPMENT – At packet pick up you will be given a Women Swimmin’ latex swim cap, in a color designating the group you will swim with (your pod). Goggles, wetsuits, lava pants, and fins/flippers are all acceptable equipment to use during Women Swimmin’, but only if you’ve been swimming with them regularly prior to the swim. Swim buoys are highly encouraged! The day of Women Swimmin’ is not the time to try out new equipment. Kickboards are not allowed.
WHAT TO DO WITH YOUR STUFF BEFORE YOU GET IN THE WATER- You should plan to have towels and clothes for after the swim in a small plastic bag (like a grocery bag) clearly marked with your name and pod number. Each pod will have a large laundry bag clearly identified with the pod number. All swimmers in the pod will put their bag of belongings in the “pod bag.” Your pod’s bag will be collected and available for you to pick up after the swim on tables near the playground at IYC. (There will be a changing room space.) Your bags will be organized by pod number. A volunteer will remain with the belongings.
If you wear glasses, please bring a case with your name on it to make it easier to collect them when you exit the water. There will be a special place to leave eyeglasses at the swim entry point. Glasses will be placed in a special bin on the South Dock near where you’ll come out of the water.
WHAT TO DO IF YOU GET TIRED DURING THE SWIM- Any time you need assistance, wave one arm overhead and a paddler will come to you. If you need to stop for a moment, hold onto the bow (never the side or stern) of a support boat: hold the front of the boat with fingers overlapping, as if eating a large sandwich—thumbs on the bottom and fingers on top. This technique distributes your weight evenly on the front of the boat and keeps the boat upright.
If you feel you can’t continue the swim, let a boater know. A jet ski will be called in to take you to shore. Emergency medical staff and the ambulance will be present there to assess the need for any care or to provide transportation. A Check-Out Volunteer will note your name and relay it to other volunteers and staff who need to know.
FINISHING THE SWIM & CHECKING OUT - Upon completing the swim course, you should exit the water only by way of the IYC’s South Dock. Look for the ladders to climb onto the dock. If needed, towels will be available when you climb onto the dock.
Check-out volunteers holding green notebooks will be waiting to greet you and check your name off their list. It is very important that each swimmer who enters the water gets her name checked off the list when she exits the water.
You can read about our safety protocols in the Participant Safety Manual.
Come to Women Swimmin' and cheer the swimmers on! Spectators are welcome to take a shuttle between 6:30 a.m. and 11:45 a.m. from Cass Park to the Ithaca Yacht Club (IYC) on Saturday, August 12th for a delicious breakfast from Luna, live music, and closing ceremony, all to celebrate our community’s efforts!