Making an Impact

In January 2007, the Sioux City Community School District and Siouxland Aquatics received a grant from the Kind World Foundation of the Siouxland Community Foundation to pilot Big Splash, a program that enhanced the quality of the special need students’ physical education experience by providing instructional swimming and aquatic therapy two days per week during the school year. Big Splash was facilitated by the staff of Siouxland Aquatics. Big Splash, Inc a 501 (c)(3) not-for-profit corporation was formed in February 2010.

Big Splash Programming Statistics:

Population Served: Preschool – Year 13
Average Monthly Enrollment: 85 to 145 students
During School Year Served: 295 to 305 per year.
Participating school districts: Sioux City Community Schools: Preschool – Year 13, Dakota Valley Community Schools – high school level, South Sioux City Community Schools- Elementary level, Hinton Community Schools – high school level, and Sergeant Bluff-Luton Community School: elementary and middle school level.
Special Olympics – May 2008-2014 – 71 students had participated winning 153 medals and 18 ribbons.
January 2007 – November 2015, Big Splash instructed 1,591 students through this unique program

Big Splash Media Coverage: Since January 2007 to November 2015

Local Newspaper – 9 feature articles
Local Television – 7 features
National Publications – 1 feature article

Big Splash Funding:

Local Grants – 14 Totaling: $92,800
National Grants – 2 Totaling: $7,200

Karen Taylor Burton has set a benchmark with this unique programming. Karen has created an opportunity through her consulting for other school districts to make Big Splashes and to continue the wave with this outstanding educational approach for their students with disabilities!

Aquatic Therapy