The Hudson Youth Department provides safe space, recreation, and wonderful opportunities for young people to learn and grow. The plunge specifically supports their Waterfront Program, providing free lifeguard training to local youth who wouldn’t otherwise have access to this certification and employment opportunity. High school students don't just learn CPR, first aid and lifesaving skills, but they acquire valuable workforce skills such as leadership, collaborative teamwork, and effective communication. Over the three years the Plunge has supported this training, the crew has become both more diverse and more highly trained. This benefits the entire community, since it allows expanded hours of swimming at the beach and free swim lessons for local kids.