Approximately 160 area children, teens and adults participated in The Community YMCA’s Learn to Swim Week program, June 23-29 at the Y’s Family Health & Wellness Center in Red Bank. The weeklong program included a series of water safety lessons taught by certified YMCA swim instructors at greatly reduced fees for the community - just $15 for the entire week.
The annual community outreach program is part of The Community YMCA’s commitment to making the summer safe for all children, and targets youth with little to no swimming experience. Small group lessons focused on safety in and around the water and helped children learn and develop basic swimming skills, making a big difference in the lives of many local families.
Hazlet resident Maureen Lynch said the program helped her three and four-year-old daughters feel more safe and comfortable in the water. “They both did very well. I have the confidence that if they fall in the pool, they’ll be able to get to the side,” she said.
Find out what's happening in Red Bank-Shrewsburyfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Since 2008, Learn to Swim Week has helped nearly 1,000 participants develop basic water safety skills. In addition, the Y provides a series of free swim lessons and water safety seminars annually to all third graders at Red Bank Primary and Red Bank Charter schools. Water safety seminars were also presented to 75 children at Monmouth Day Care Center in June. This summer, 50 at-risk youth from the Red Bank and Asbury Park areas will receive free swim lessons as part of a national YMCA water safety initiative.
The Y offers the following tips to help keep children and families safe in and around the water this summer:
- Only swim when and where there is a lifeguard on duty; never swim alone.
- Adults should constantly and actively watch their children.
- Inexperienced or non-swimmers should wear a Coast Guard-approved life jacket.
- Parents or guardians of young children should be within an arm’s reach.
- Children and adults should not engage in breath holding activities.
For more information about the Y’s community outreach swim programs, contact Rivera at 732.741.2504, ext. 11 or rrivera@cymca.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 $660,000 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.
