Dear Penguins,

As soon as you know that your swimmer will miss all or part of time trials or a meet please email our coaches at coaches@swimlpac.org and also our volunteer coordinators at volunteers@swimlpac.org. We need to know in advance which swimmers will not be in attendance. Coaches make meet schedules the week prior to meets and it is helpful to know, as soon as possible, if a swimmer can’t make it. Volunteer coordinators need to know if they need to find a replacement for your position during the meet.

ARE YOU READY FOR PENGUIN MADNESS!!!

This year for the first time ever LPAC will be raffling off not one but two up front parking spots for home meets. No more worrying about parking way down the street if you are on time for the meet. You will be able to leave real quick and pick something up that you forgot, because who hasn’t done that? You’re parking spot will still be there. How much would you pay for this peace of mind? The cost per raffle ticket is only $20. Raffle tickets will be sold near the pizza table at Penguin Madness or keep your eyes out for Nashely or Heather, you’ll be able to buy raffle tickets from them.

The madness begins at 6:00pm and continues till 8:00p this evening, May the 22nd. There is no regular practice today! Families are invited to come watch the fun. Bring your folding chairs and blankets. Some nights have been chilly, others have been hot. Come early to set up and so your Penguin is ready to start the fun at 6pm. The Penguins should be plenty warm as they will be doing all kinds of fun dryland activities. 

All Penguins are encouraged (but not required) to dress in their team colors. But don’t worry if you don’t have anything in that color; we’ll provide bandanas for everyone on the team. Please wear closed toed shoes, something that will stay on their feet. Penguin Madness 2026 teams have been posted.

Penguin Madness is your last chance to participate in Penny Wars this season. Bring your change. Directions are on the Fundraiser page of the LPAC website. Last year the 11-14 practice group won Penny Wars. Who will win this season???

If you have new penguins or just young penguins, Penguin Madness is usually where you will meet your Big Buddies for the season. So be aware that your little Penguins will get put into a Buddy family with teenagers on the team. These teenagers will be helping your Penguin out this season. Buddy families are posted on the Buddy Families page of our website.

Pizza will be available this evening from 5:15-6pm, right before Penguin Madness. Just $7 for a BIG COSTCO SLICE of pizza and a soda. This year we will also have big Costco cookies 2 for $3. Please bring cash (small bills) if possible.

 GAME ON FOR A CAUSE: Family Game Night & Casino Night! 

Join your fellow Penguins on Saturday, May 23, for an evening of fun, strategy, and community—all in support of ALS research!

 Doors open at 6:00 PM for an all-ages Family Game Night. Feel free to bring your favorite board or card game to share!

 From 8:00–9:00 PM, high school students are invited to stay for a special Casino Night experience.

Donations are encouraged but not required. Come for the games, stay for the friendships, and help support an important cause. All proceeds will be donated directly to the ALS Therapy Development Institute.

MEMORIAL DAY CLINIC

There are no regular team practices on Memorial Day, May 26, but swimmers are invited to attend an optional Swim Clinic that morning. The coaches will be working with small groups of kids on diving from the blocks, backstroke starts, pulldowns, and all types of turns. Swimmers who want to work on any of these skills are welcome.

• Date: Monday, May 25, 2026
• Clinics: 9:00am- 9:45am ages 10&Under and  9:45am- 10:30am ages 11&up                                                                                              

TIME TRIALS:

Time Trials will be on Saturday, May 30, 2026  Time Trials usually runs from 7 am until 1 pm. Check in between 7-7:15 am. If your child will have to miss all or part of the meet, please send email to coaches@swimlpac.org and also to volunteers@swimlpac.org.

Be aware. if you do miss Time Trials, you must attend make-ups on Monday, June 2, check in between 5- 5:15pm, warmups 5:30, time trial makeups start 5:45pm . We will need parents to stay during makeup time trials to help with timing and recording.

LPAC Sweatshirt Raffle (made by Coach Julia) at Time Trials on May 30th more info to come… Raffle proceeds will be donated to ALS research.

RAFT TRIP: JULY 5, 2025

Raft Trip registration will is available now! Start planning for a fun Penguin family tradition. Registration deadline is June 20, 2026.  

This is a wet and wild LPAC family event that takes place every year on the Saturday of the Fourth of July holiday “bye” weekend. We reserve rafts for what is usually a slow, gentle ride down the scenic Stanislaus River. Small rapids add to the excitement, but are tame enough for first-time rafters. Penguins and parents are welcome to join in the fun!

Part of the LPAC tradition includes attacking other boats with water guns and buckets to see who is truly “King of the River.” If you prefer a less intense experience, you can designate your raft as a “dry boat.”

Many families choose to spend the night in Oakdale either Friday or Saturday night (or both) and make it a fun family weekend.

**Note: Absolutely NO ALCOHOL is permitted on the rafts on holiday weekends, including the day of our trip.**

Details

• Date: Saturday, July 4, 2026
• All participants must be 5 or older
• Time: 9:00 am until around 3:00 pm
• Cost: $50 per person (plus $5 for parking at Knights Ferry)
• The Online Link is available and info on how to reserve your spot is on the Raft Trip page of our website.
• REGISTRATION DEADLINE: June 20, 2026
• Print and sign separate waiver forms for each person who will be rafting and turn in forms to the “RAFT TRIP” folder by June 20th.
• Contact: George Nijmeh 
• For more information: Sunshine Rafting

LODGING FOR RAFT TRIP JULY 4

If you’d like to stay over either Friday or Saturday night (or both), the team has traditionally stayed at the Motel 6 in Oakdale (825 East F Street). Members of our team will receive a discount when they mention LPAC or Los Paseos Aquatic Club. The discounted price is $277.66 for both nights discount of 10%. (depending on how many adults will be staying in the room) + tax per night for a room with two queen beds. These rooms go quickly, so call 209-847-8181 and mention LPAC manager’s special to make your reservations ASAP.  We have reserved a block of 8 rooms for LPAC, you may want to call now and make your reservation. They may add on more depending on how many families call before June 27.

There are also other lodging options available. Directly across the street is the Holiday Inn Express (209-847-8181), and there is also a Best Western in town (209-845-2500). Each family is responsible for making their own hotel reservations and payments.

Add these LPAC Special Event dates straight to your LPAC Google Calendar here

Dear Penguins,

There is only one more week for our ALS fundraiser, Penny Wars. Last year, our 11-14 practice group won by a landslide. Come on swimmers! Bring in your change. The very last day to put change in your practice jug is at Penguin Madness.

Today is the last day to RSVP for Penguin Madness. It is much easier to put your swimmer on a Penguin Madness team if we know ahead of time who is coming to Penguin Madness. So if you haven’t RSVPed yet please do so today. 

MAY = ALS AWARENESS MONTHLPAC will be hosting three fun fundraisers for an ALS Research charity this month! Check out more in depth details on our LPAC Fundraising page.

GAME ON! PENNY WARS

Penny Wars is the ultimate test of swim team strategy and friendly sabotage. If you want to help your swimmer’s practice time take home the crown, you’ve got to play your cards (and cash) right.

Here is a quick strategic breakdown to help you dominate the jugs before May 22nd:

 Defend Your Jug (Positive Points)

To boost your own practice’s score, feed your jug silver, pennies, and singles.

• The Dollar Strategy: Dropping a $1 bill is the fastest way to get a clean +100 points without making the jug too heavy with change.

Attack the Competition (Negative Points)

• Spotting a rival practice time that’s getting a little too ahead? Time for some sabotage.
• The “And So On” Threat: While dropping a $5 bill (-500 points) or a $10 bill (-1000 points) hurts, if you really want to sink a rival’s ship, a $20 bill delivers a massive -2000 point blow.
  
   Pro-Tip: Keep an eye on the jugs during the week. The best time to drop those big negative bills into rival jugs is right toward the end of the week—or directly at Penguin Madness on 5/22—so they don’t have time to recover

May the best practice time win! Which jug are you pulling for?

 Game On for a Cause: Family Game Night & Casino Night!

•  Join your fellow Penguins on Saturday, May 23, for a night of fun, strategy, and community—all in support of ALS research!
• Doors open at 6:00 PM for an all-ages Family Game Night (feel free to bring your favorite board or card game to share!).
• Then, from 8:00–9:00 PM, high schoolers can stick around for a dedicated Casino Night.

Donations are encouraged but not required. Come for the games, stay for the friendships, and let’s raise funds for an important cause! All donations will be sent directly to ALS Therapy Development Institute.
LPAC Sweatshirt Raffle (made by Coach Julia) at Time Trials on May 30th more info to come…

PENGUIN MADNESS IS HAPPENING THIS FRIDAY!

Pizza, team spirit, and a shot at the holy grail of swim meets—a reserved parking spot?! Penguin Madness is shaping up to be the funnest on land event for our penguins.

Here is your quick-reference checklist for the upcoming week to make sure you and your swimmer don’t miss a beat:

 Important Deadlines & Times

• Today Monday, May 18th (RSVP Deadline): Last day to use the 2026 Penguin Madness RSVP link. Make sure to sign up by today so your swimmer gets placed on a team!
• Thursday, May 21st: Teams will be officially posted at the pool and on the website.
• Friday, May 22nd (The Big Day – No Regular Practice!):
  • 5:15 PM – 6:00 PM: Pizza time! $7 gets you a massive Costco slice and a soda.
  • 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM: Penguin Madness begins!
  • Friday Morning: Teams will also be blasted out in the morning email newsletter.

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 Team Colors & Gear

Check the pool or website on Thursday to find out your team color.

• Swimmers are encouraged to dress up in their team color.
• Don’t sweat it if you don’t have the right color in the closet—free team bandanas will be provided for everyone!

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 The Golden Ticket: The LPAC Parking Raffle

If you’ve ever dealt with swim meet morning parking, you know this is a game-changer. LPAC is raffling off a premium, reserved upfront parking space valid for all four home meets (including Time Trials). You can leave and come back, and your spot will still be waiting for you.

• Cost: $20 per ticket.
• Where to buy: Look for the ticket sales near the pizza tables at Penguin Madness, or track down Heather Castro during the event.

Don’t forget to grab your raffle cash, wear your team colors, and get ready for a great Friday night at the pool!

Special Notes about Penguin Madness

• This is a family event. Parents and siblings are invited to come and cheer on their favorite penguins.
• Bring your own folding chairs or blankets to sit on.
• The coaches will referee the event.

RAFT TRIP: JULY 5, 2025

Raft Trip registration will is available now! Start planning for a fun Penguin family tradition. Registration deadline is June 20, 2026.  

This is a wet and wild LPAC family event that takes place every year on the Saturday of the Fourth of July holiday “bye” weekend. We reserve rafts for what is usually a slow, gentle ride down the scenic Stanislaus River. Small rapids add to the excitement, but are tame enough for first-time rafters. Penguins and parents are welcome to join in the fun!

Part of the LPAC tradition includes attacking other boats with water guns and buckets to see who is truly “King of the River.” If you prefer a less intense experience, you can designate your raft as a “dry boat.”

Many families choose to spend the night in Oakdale either Friday or Saturday night (or both) and make it a fun family weekend.

**Note: Absolutely NO ALCOHOL is permitted on the rafts on holiday weekends, including the day of our trip.**

Details

• Date: Saturday, July 4, 2026
• All participants must be 5 or older
• Time: 9:00 am until around 3:00 pm
• Cost: $50 per person (plus $5 for parking at Knights Ferry)
• The Online Link is available and info on how to reserve your spot is on the Raft Trip page of our website.
• REGISTRATION DEADLINE: June 20, 2026
• Print and sign separate waiver forms for each person who will be rafting and turn in forms to the “RAFT TRIP” folder by June 20th.
• Contact: George Nijmeh 
• For more information: Sunshine Rafting

LODGING FOR RAFT TRIP JULY 4

If you’d like to stay over either Friday or Saturday night (or both), the team has traditionally stayed at the Motel 6 in Oakdale (825 East F Street). Members of our team will receive a discount when they mention LPAC or Los Paseos Aquatic Club. The discounted price is $277.66 for both nights discount of 10%. (depending on how many adults will be staying in the room) + tax per night for a room with two queen beds. These rooms go quickly, so call 209-847-8181 and mention LPAC manager’s special to make your reservations ASAP.  We have reserved a block of 8 rooms for LPAC, you may want to call now and make your reservation. They may add on more depending on how many families call before June 27.

There are also other lodging options available. Directly across the street is the Holiday Inn Express (209-847-8181), and there is also a Best Western in town (209-845-2500). Each family is responsible for making their own hotel reservations and payments.

Add these LPAC Special Event dates straight to your LPAC Google Calendar here

Dear Penguins,

Lots of information in this newsletter please read thoroughly. Info about Penny Wars, Family Game Night, Casino Night and Penguin Madness. RSVP for Penguin Madness by Monday the 18th in order to get your swimmer on a team. RSVP below… And start thinking about lodging for the raft trip on July 4th… Reserved rooms go quick!

MAY = ALS AWARENESS MONTH

LPAC will be hosting three fun fundraisers for an ALS Research charity this month! Check out more in depth details on our LPAC Fundraising page.

 Penny Wars is ON through Penguin Madness — now until 5/22!

Have you seen the 5-gallon jugs at your swim practice? Each jug is labeled with a practice time. Help your swimmer’s practice win by adding **coins and $1 bills** to *their* jug — and if you’re feeling competitive, put **higher bills** into *other* practice jugs to lower their score!

 How Scoring Works

 Positive Points
* Penny = 1 point
* Nickel = 5 points
* Dime = 10 points
* Quarter = 25 points
* $1 bill = 100 points

Negative Points
* $5 bill = -500 points
* $10 bill = -1000 points
* $20 bill = -2000 points
* And so on!

Bring in your spare change and help your practice come out on top last chance is at Penguin Madness on 5/22!

 Join your fellow Penguins for a family fun-filled night of table, board, and card games as we raise funds for ALS research!

Family Game Night
Doors open at 6:00 PM on May 23
Open to all ages

Following Game Night on May 23:
Casino Night from 8:00–9:00 PM
High School Penguins only

Donations for both events are encouraged, but not required. Come enjoy a great night of games, friends, and fun while supporting an important cause!

LPAC Sweatshirt Raffle (made by Coach Julia) at Time Trials on May 30th more info to come…

PENGUIN MADNESS IS ONE WEEK AWAY!

Pizza will be available on Friday, May 22nd from 5:15-6pm, right before Penguin Madness. Just $7 for a BIG COSTCO SLICE of pizza and a soda. 

The madness begins at 6:00pm and continues till 8:00p on May 22nd, no regular practice! Use the following link to sign up for your team: 2026 Penguin Madness RSVP. RSVP by Monday the 18th to make sure your swimmer is added to a team. All participants are encouraged (but not required) to dress in their team colors. But don’t worry if you don’t have anything in that color; we’ll provide bandanas for everyone on the team. Teams will be posted at the pool, on the website by Thursday and in next Friday morning’s email newsletter.

This year, for the first time ever, LPAC will be raffling off a premium upfront parking space for all of our home meets!

We have four home meets this season (including Time Trials), and the winner will enjoy a reserved parking spot at every one. That means no rushing out the door in the morning or stressing about where to park. Plus, if you need to leave during the meet for any reason, you’ll be able to come back and park in the same reserved spot.

Raffle tickets are only $20 each for a chance to win this convenient upfront parking spot for the entire home meet season.

Be sure to stop by near where we will be selling pizza at Penguin Madness or find Heather Castro during the event to purchase your raffle tickets!

Special Notes about Penguin Madness

• This is a family event. Parents and siblings are invited to come and cheer on their favorite penguins.
• Bring your own folding chairs or blankets to sit on.
• The coaches will referee the event.

LODGING FOR RAFT TRIP JULY 4

If you’d like to stay over either Friday or Saturday night (or both), the team has traditionally stayed at the Motel 6 in Oakdale (825 East F Street). Members of our team will receive a discount when they mention LPAC or Los Paseos Aquatic Club. The discounted price is $277.66 for both nights discount of 10%. (depending on how many adults will be staying in the room) + tax per night for a room with two queen beds. These rooms go quickly, so call 209-847-8181 and mention LPAC manager’s special to make your reservations ASAP.  We have reserved a block of 8 rooms for LPAC, you may want to call now and make your reservation. They may add on more depending on how many families call before June 27.

There are also other lodging options available. Directly across the street is the Holiday Inn Express (209-847-8181), and there is also a Best Western in town (209-845-2500). Each family is responsible for making their own hotel reservations and payments.

Add these LPAC Special Event dates straight to your LPAC Google Calendar here