Outdoor Swimming Society Explained

The Outdoor Swimming Society (OSS) is a UK-based non-profit founded in 2006 to promote outdoor and wild swimming.[1] [2] It claims to have over 200,000 members in 66 countries.[3]

The Outdoor Swimming Society was founded by Kate Rew, whose book Wild Swim (2008) contributed to the resurgence of interest in wild swimming in the UK.[4] [5]

Activities

In 2006, OSS launched a website mapping outdoor swimming spots in the UK. The website was taken down during the COVID-19 pandemic.[6] The organization campaigns for what it describes "right to swim" for swimming access to public waters including by organizing direct actions including trespassing.[7] [8] [9] [10] The OSS organizes outdoor swims as fundraising activities.[11] [12]

Notes and References

  1. News: Coldwell . Will . 2021-09-19 . In at the deep end: the activists plunging into the wild swimming campaign . 2024-11-11 . The Observer . en-GB . 0029-7712.
  2. News: Ruck . Joanna . Rose . Katherine . Olmos . Antonio . Thomond . Christopher . Levene . David . 2021-06-22 . The longest swim: solstice wild swimmers around the UK – photo essay . 2024-11-11 . The Guardian . en-GB . 0261-3077.
  3. Web site: Society . Outdoor Swimming . Pearson . Beth . 2023-12-01 . The OSS Year . 2024-11-11 . Outdoor Swimming Society . en-GB.
  4. Web site: Society . Outdoor Swimming . The OSS Manifesto . 2024-11-11 . Outdoor Swimming Society . en-GB.
  5. Web site: Rosee Woodland . 2024-04-22 . "The right to swim is not just legal permission" – the wild swimmers planning their own Kinder trespass . 2024-11-11 . advnture.com . en.
  6. News: Wilson . Antonia . Wilson . Antonia . 2020-06-02 . Wild swimming site removes online map to ease overcrowding . 2024-11-11 . The Guardian . en-GB . 0261-3077.
  7. Web site: Is it safe to swim in reservoirs? . 2024-11-11 . www.countryfile.com . en.
  8. Web site: Rosee Woodland . 2024-04-30 . "The argument we're all going to drown the minute we get in is ridiculous"- swimmers take to the water to fight reservoir ban . 2024-11-11 . advnture.com . en.
  9. Web site: 2022-04-30 . Why did hundreds of swimmers dip in this historic reservoir? . 2024-11-11 . euronews . en.
  10. News: Pidd . Helen . editor . Helen Pidd North of England . 2022-04-23 . The right to swim: mass trespass of Kinder reservoir planned . 2024-11-11 . The Guardian . en-GB . 0261-3077.
  11. News: 2015-09-05 . Hundreds join endurance Dart river swims . 2024-11-11 . BBC News . en-GB.
  12. News: 2007-12-31 . Swimmers take a festive dip . 2024-11-11 . en-GB.

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