Neighbor News
The Community YMCA Offers Community Swim Program to Help Prevent Drowning
Registration is Open for Learn to Swim Week, May 23-27
The Community YMCA is committed to providing more Monmouth County youth and adults access to water safety lessons through the Learn to Swim Week program, part of a national YMCA effort to increase water safety awareness and prevent drowning.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drowning is the second leading cause of death among children ages 5-14, and the rates are even higher for Latino and African American children.
“Learn to Swim Week gives everyone in our community the opportunity to learn fundamental water safety and swimming skills that can help save lives,” said The Community YMCA President and CEO Rhonda Anderson.
The Community YMCA invites Monmouth County residents to participate in Learn to Swim Week, Tuesday, June 23 – Saturday, June 27. Offered to first-time participants who have little or no swimming ability, the program includes five lessons for a fee of $15.
The program includes lessons for ages 6 months (with parent/caregiver) to adults. Participants do not need to be Y members, but must register in advance for the community outreach program at the Family Health & Wellness Center, located at 166 Maple Avenue in Red Bank. Space is limited and registrations are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.
Rebecca Rivera, Aquatics Director at the Y’s Red Bank facility said, the Learn to Swim Week program introduces beginners to the aquatic environment, teaches basic learn-to-swim skills and increases water safety awareness for families. “Our goal is to make everyone feel safe and comfortable in and around the water,” Rivera said.
Since 2008, Learn to Swim Week has helped over 1,000 Monmouth County residents develop basic water safety skills.
Anderson said the Learn to Swim program will be expanded this summer to 3 and 4 year olds from Asbury Park through a partnership with the Asbury Park School District. The Y’s water safety initiative also includes a week of free water safety and swim lessons for all third grade students in Red Bank this week to help prepare them for a safe summer around water.
“Through Learn to Swim, the Y hopes to bridge gaps that can prevent some children from learning important water safety skills. All children deserve access to water safety resources that not only could save their lives, but enrich them with a lifelong enjoyment of swimming,” Anderson said.
Additionally, The Community YMCA offers a variety of aquatics programs throughout the year, including swim lessons for all ages, family swim time and competitive swimming at two locations – the Family Health & Wellness Center in Red Bank and the Lass Aquatics Center at Camp Zehnder in Wall.
Families interested in learning more about Learn to Swim Week and how to enroll their children in Y swimming and water safety classes should visit TheCommunityYMCA.org.
About The Community YMCA
The Y is a leading nonprofit charity that strengthens communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. The Community YMCA serves more than 20,000 residents in greater Monmouth County through programs such as: preschool, before and after school care, health and wellness, leadership, arts enrichment, personal and family counseling and summer day camp. With a mission to serve all, more than $550,000 in reduced and free membership fees and programs is provided by the YCares financial assistance program to individuals and families in need. For more information, visit TheCommunityYMCA.org.
