GRAND TRAVERSE COUNTY — Registration is now open for the 2025 Swim for Grand Traverse Bay, hosted by The Watershed Center Grand Traverse Bay.
According to a May 13 news release, the Swim for Grand Traverse Bay is a two-mile open water swim event to benefit The Watershed Center that will take place on Saturday, Aug. 9 in Suttons Bay. The registration fee is $45 per swimmer.
“We can’t wait to get back into the water with our community of passionate swimmers,” The Watershed Center’s Executive Director Christine Crissman said. “For five years, we’ve had the privilege of witnessing the incredible achievements and shared moments of triumph with our swimmers. We’re looking forward to welcoming new and familiar faces and making more memories together this year.”
The Swim for Grand Traverse Bay is open to swimmers of all levels who are 18 or older. In addition to taking on the challenge of an open water swim, swimmers fundraise to support The Watershed Center’s efforts to protect rivers, lakes, wetlands and beaches throughout the Grand Traverse Bay watershed.
Swimmers will gather for a pancake breakfast after the race to celebrate their accomplishments in the water, as well as their positive impact on protecting healthy water.
The Watershed Center is hosting a Swim for Grand Traverse Bay Open House on Tuesday, from 4-6 p.m. on May 20 at MAWBY.
This casual gathering will provide the perfect opportunity to connect with event organizers to learn more about the event, chat with veteran swimmers about their experiences preparing for and participating in the event, connect with experienced fundraisers to get the tips and resources needed to reach and exceed individual fundraising goals, and learn about ways you can volunteer at the event on shore or in the water.
All Open House attendees will be eligible for a raffle to have their Swim for Grand Traverse Bay registration fee waived.
The Swim for Grand Traverse Bay is The Watershed Center’s biggest fundraising event.
“The money raised through business sponsorships and individual swimmer fundraising for this event is critical to sustaining aspects of our work that aren’t supported by other funding sources,” The Watershed Center’s Director of Philanthropy Michelle Handke said.
Swimmers are only required to fundraise a minimum of $150 to be eligible to participate and swimmers can cover their own fundraising minimum if they want to participate but have limited capacity to fundraise across its network.
To date, the Swim for Grand Traverse Bay has raised almost $178,000 to protect Grand Traverse Bay and its surrounding waterways.
The Watershed Center would like to recognize the Swim for Grand Traverse Bay’s $5,000 Tidal Sponsor, Traverse Tall Ship Company and $2,500 Breaker Sponsor MAWBY for helping make the Swim for Grand Traverse Bay possible.
Visit swimforgtbay.org to learn more about the 2025 Swim for Grand Traverse Bay.