How Marcus Improved in Swimming through Swim Lessons
Program: Enrichment Camps
The first week of summer enrichment, Marcus took swim lessons. He was attending the Unleashing Potential summer enrichment program at Delmar DivINe, and they had taken a field trip to the O’Fallon Park Recreation Complex pool.
Marcus was familiar with swimming pools. He enjoyed competitions with his friends to see who could hold their breath the longest. And his favorite thing about the pool was being surrounded by water, feeling weightless and relaxed.
But he wasn’t allowed in the deep end. He would have to pass his swim test first.
This time, with the swim instructor, he was a little nervous, though. He barely knew anybody in his program. It was only his first week. What if the other kids judged him?
But Marcus wasn’t alone. He had support from camp leaders. One of the leaders shared with Marcus that he’d learned how to swim through a summer enrichment program way back in the day, and that he was sending his own kids to summer enrichment because of his positive experience. In fact, he still keeps in touch with some of the friends he made through summer enrichment!
This gave Marcus the confidence he needed. When it came his turn, he ended up swimming almost half the length of the pool! And, as the weeks progressed, he learned the mechanics of backstroke. He hadn’t known of that stroke before summer.
All of the children 8 years or older in our summer enrichment program take swimming lessons.
Swimming is important, especially for many of the young ones we serve. Swim lessons can help reduce the risk of drowning by 88%, according to the USA Swimming Foundation, per an opinion piece from former Olympic swimmer Cullen Jones, which ran in USA Today. This is especially important in our population, as many of the children we serve don’t know how to swim. The same USA Today article alluded to reports that more than 60% of African American children cannot swim.
By the end of summer, the children take a test to earn a water safety certificate through the YMCA. Generally, 80% of the children pass the test.
*Actual student/name has been changed to protect child’s identity
