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.
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!
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