1,000 American Canyon Students Get Swim Lessons

From American Canyon and American Canyon Middle Schools: Everyone, regardless of age, should have the opportunity to learn to swim and become water safe. People, especially children, should have access to safe and quality swim lessons that encourage self-confidence, safety, and enjoyment of the water.

This past April, the City of American Canyon and American Canyon Middle School (ACMS) continued their valuable partnership to provide swim lessons to approximately 1,000 sixth, seventh, and eighth graders. These lessons are a part of the American Canyon Student Swim Program. Students who participate in this program are given swim lessons free of charge during their Physical Education (PE) class time.

“The American Canyon Parks and Recreation Department has had a long-standing commitment to the students at American Canyon Middle School to offer them the opportunity to learn water safety skills and give them opportunities to improve their swimming skills,” shares Dan Scudero, Principal of American Canyon Middle School.

Each child is provided with six to eight lessons, all of which are taught by certified swim instructors. Children are grouped by their swim ability and given individualized attention based on their skill level. In working with these children, instructors are able to identify those children who are at high risk around the water. Children at high risk are provided with additional opportunities for continued swim and water safety development in after school programs at low or no cost to their families.

“The community of ACMS is very grateful for the opportunities that the Aquatics Program has offered our students over the last 10 years,” stated Debbie Brace, the Physical Education Department Chair. “If not for this wonderful program, many of our students would not receive the opportunity to learn to swim and be water safe.”

The success of this program is shown through its rippling effect in our community. Oftentimes, children who become water safe share their newfound love and passion for swimming with their families. It is now common to see parents and siblings sign up for swimming lessons at the encouragement of their middle school student. Hearing these stories and seeing the positive impact this program has on the community is what has driven its continuation over the last decade.

“In my 15 years of working in and around the aquatics industry, I have not seen a program of this scale or impact as the one offered to the students at ACMS. It’s truly an amazing partnership,” shared Joedy Michael, Aquatics Supervisor with the City of American Canyon. “I feel very fortunate to be in a position where I get to organize and advocate for something as important as water safety.”

The American Canyon Student Swim Program will run through the end of May 2018. The program coincides with National Water Safety Month (www.nationalwatersafetymonth.org). National Water Safety Month is celebrated throughout the United States with an emphasis on educational programs aimed primarily at the public.

The City of American Canyon’s aquatic programs run year-round. Program highlights include:

- Swim lessons, water aerobics, and lap swimming

- Special events, swim clinics, and specialty programming

- Community safety trainings, including lifeguarding and training for swim instructors

- Special partnerships (such as with ACMS and the Boys and Girls Club) for lessons and recreational swim

For more information on the Aquatics Programs offered through the City of American Canyon, visit www.CityOfAmericanCanyon.org. For more information on American Canyon Middle School, visit www.acms-nvusd-ca.schoolloop.com.

Image Via ACMS