The Watershed Center in Elmwood Township will host the fifth annual Swim for Grand Traverse Bay, a 2-mile open water swim event on Saturday, August 10. Registration is open for swimmers ($45/swimmer), support paddlers ($20/paddler), and volunteers, all of whom are essential for ensuring a fun and safe event.
“The Swim for Grand Traverse Bay is unique because it gets our community of passionate swimmers into the water we collectively work to protect,” said The Watershed Center’s Executive Director Christine Crissman. “This event wouldn’t be possible without the work of dedicated volunteers, so we’re asking community members who take pride in our water and want to help us put on an exceptional event to consider donating their time.”
The fifth annual 2-mile bay swim will begin and end at Greilickville Harbor Park. The event is open to serious swimmers looking for a timed event, triathletes wanting open water practice, recreational swimmers setting personal goals, and anyone passionate about water quality and making a local impact.
The Swim for Grand Traverse Bay is a fundraiser for The Watershed Center, a nonprofit that advocates for clean water in Grand Traverse Bay and works to protect and preserve the bay’s watershed. Each swimmer is responsible for raising at least $150, with fundraising support provided through tools, templates, and tips.
Participants and spectators are asked to park in the Brewery Creek parking lot (behind Subway) on the west side of M-22 across from the park. Support paddlers can drop their kayaks at the park before parking their vehicles across the street. A shuttle will be provided between the parking lot and the park throughout the event.
Interested individuals can sign up online. Volunteers will receive a t-shirt and be treated to a pancake breakfast immediately following the event. Volunteer opportunities include: Safety Squad: Experienced open water paddlers (kayak, SUP) are needed to monitor swimmers and support paddlers, assist with swimmer counts, and enhance course visibility. A mandatory safety briefing will be held at 7:15 a.m.
General Volunteers: Needed for pre-event setup, packet pickup, event clean-up, and other tasks.
Buoy Set Up & Retrieval: Volunteers with boating expertise are needed to set and retrieve course buoys on the day of the event.
Additionally, certified lifeguards are needed to ensure the safety of swimmers and support paddlers. Certified lifeguards will receive $50 per event and a free ticket to the pancake breakfast. For more information and to
register, visit The Watershed Center’s website.
