2^nd Annual
Make a Splash!

Make a Splash is the YMCA of Southern Interior BC's annual community fundraising event supporting the YMCA Okanagan Swims Program. The event brings families, supporters, businesses, and community members together to help ensure local children have access to swimming lessons and water safety education. Every $25 duck adoption helps provide a local child with life-saving swimming and water safety lessons through the YMCA Okanagan Swims Program.

The 2^nd Annual Make a Splash event takes place on Saturday, October 3, 2026, at the H₂O Adventure + Fitness Centre in Kelowna, beginning at 11 a.m.

Get directions ›

The day features several family-friendly activities including:

• Quack & Splash Team Challenge
  Sign up or support a team ›
• The Lazy River Duck Race
  Adopt a Duck ›
• Mega Duck Race
  Adopt a Mega Duck ›
• Family-Friendly Aqua Class
• Hungry Duck Café (BBQ Lunch)
• Opportunities to donate and support the cause

Yes, families can absolutely attend. Make a Splash is a fun, family-friendly community event. In addition to cheering on the ducks and the relay racers, there is also a family BBQ and all-ages Aqua class.

Yes! This is a community event, and the YMCA is all about removing barriers to access.

Stay updated by following YMCA of Southern Interior BC on social media or checking this webpage.

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Funds raised support the YMCA Okanagan Swims Program, helping children access swim lessons and water safety training regardless of their family's financial circumstances.

Living in the Okanagan means children grow up surrounded by lakes, pools, beaches, and waterways. Learning how to swim and stay safe around water is an essential life skill that can help prevent drowning and build confidence for life.

The YMCA partners with School District #23 to provide swimming and water safety lessons to approximately 1,900 Grade 3 students annually.

Our vision is to "Drown-Proof the Okanagan" by helping ensure every child has the opportunity to learn basic swimming and water safety skills.

Make a Splash offers many opportunities to get involved and support your community!

• Adopt a duck in the Lazy River Duck Race
• Sign up for the Quack & Splash Team Challenge or donate to a participating team
• Adopt a Mega Duck
• Donate online
• Volunteer at the event (see volunteer section of this FAQ for details)
• Become a sponsor (see sponsorship section of this FAQ for details)
• Attend the event and cheer on participants

Absolutely. Donations of any size help provide swim lessons and water safety education to local children.

Donate Now 

Tax receipt eligibility depends on the fundraising activity. Charitable donations (including supporting your friends in the Quack & Splash Team Challenge) qualify, while Duck Adoptions do not, as they are ticketed entries connected to prizes. Please check the specific fundraising activity for details.

When you adopt a duck, you are assigned a race entry in the Lazy River Duck Race while supporting local children's access to swimming lessons and water safety education.

Duck adoptions are $25 each. This is the equivalent cost of putting a child through the Okanagan Swims Program.

Yes. Supporters are welcome to adopt as many ducks as they would like.

Simply follow the prompts on our duck adoption fundraising page.

Each adopted duck is randomly assigned a heat and a number. All eligible entries have an equal chance to compete for the titles of "Champion Duck" and "Most Chill Duck".

We expect to have multiple ‘heats’ of 100-150 ducks per heat. The first three ducks from each heat to cross the finish line advance to the “Champion Duck” finals, and the last three ducks from each heat advance to the “Most Chill Duck” Finals. Each final race will produce its ultimate winner: the Champion Duck and the Most Chill Duck.

No. The Champion Duck and the Most Chill Duck will each receive a trophy, but there is no additional prizing.

No. Winners will be contacted if they are unable to attend the event.

The Mega Duck Race is a new special feature activity that offers premium prize opportunities while raising additional funds for Okanagan Swims.

The Lazy River Duck Race features “standard” size rubber ducks. The Mega Ducks are 7” rubber ducks competing in a single race, with prizing available.

Mega Duck Adoptions are $100 each. Only 50 Mega Ducks are available to adopt, so your chances of winning a prize are 3 in 50 (if all 50 ducks are adopted).

Yes, we have three fantastic prizes secured:

• 1^st Place—9' Aztron NEO NOVA compact All Round Stand Up Paddleboard and 4-Pack Multi-Pass to the Kelowna Paddle Centre
• 2^nd Place—Four (4) BC Lions sideline tickets to the October 9 (Ottawa Redblacks) OR October 23 (Winnipeg Blue Bombers) regular season home game
• 3^rd Place—$300 Gift Card to Flaman Fitness

Yes. The Mega Duck Race is a BC Gaming Licensed event. Must be 19+ and residing in BC to purchase tickets. Gaming Licence #176063

Quack & Splash is a fun, team-based relay where participants work together to move their team’s giant inflatable duck across the pool in a spirited but friendly competition.

Registration for a team of four is $100. Each member can donate $25 to their individual fundraising page to kick-start their efforts.

Community members, friends, families, workplace teams, and supporters are encouraged to participate and fundraise $250 per individual / $1,000 per team.

Participants should be comfortable in the water—remember, our theme is water safety—and confident they can swim/float for at least 25m.

Yes, we will have prizing for the winning team as well as the Top Individual and Top Team Fundraisers, as well as prize packs.

Aqua classes are fun fitness classes performed in the water. Aqua improves circulation, strength, balance, core stability and range of motion in an impact-free environment that protects your joints. Persons of all ages and abilities are welcome to join certified YMCA instructors in a 45 min class.

No, this fun, family-friendly aqua class is completely free for anyone to try.

No, there is no need to register. This class is open for anyone to drop in on the day of the event.

Yes. Sponsorship opportunities are available for businesses and organizations looking to make a community impact while gaining visibility at the event.

Depending on sponsorship level, benefits may include:

• Logo recognition
• Event signage
• Social media recognition
• On-site visibility
• Media and promotional mentions
• Post-event impact reporting

Please contact Berani Fielding (berani.fielding@ymcasibc.ca) for available sponsorship packages and opportunities.

Yes! Volunteers are essential to the success of Make a Splash. Opportunities may include event setup, registration, activity support, fundraising activations, and event-day logistics.

Please contact Berani Fielding (berani.fielding@ymcasibc.ca) to inquire about volunteering.

Most volunteer positions require enthusiasm and a willingness to help. Training and instructions will be provided.

Please contact Berani Fielding (berani.fielding@ymcasibc.ca) to inquire about volunteering.