News
Over 200 kids learn to swim safely at the Y
Red Bank - More than 200 area children from 3 to 10 years old participated in The Community YMCA's Learn to Swim Week program, June 22-26 at the Y's Family Health & Fitness Center in Red Bank. The week-long program included a series of water safety lessons taught by certified YMCA instructors at greatly reduced fees, just $10 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 children 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.
One of the children benefiting from the program was 7-year-old Kerron Holley of Tinton Falls. Within a week, he went from a child afraid of the water to one that was eager to swim safely.
His grandmother Karen Hunter notes, "Kerron's first swimming experience began with the Learn to Swim Program at the YMCA. Within the first few days he learned safety rules for around and in a swimming pool. Through this he has gained the confidence to want to learn how to swim. He went from a child afraid of the water to dunking his head, breathing in and out of the water, and jumping in the pool with no hands."
Sally Trezza's 3-and-one-and-a-half-year--old daughter, Bella, of Red Bank, also participated in this year's Learn to Swim program, and she loved the approach the YMCA used to teach the children.
"After a few bad swimming lesson experiences, Bella was still a little scared of being around the water. But when we walked into the Y she had a smile, and she never stopped smiling.
Even though it was just a week, that was the best swimming program we encountered. Bella really took to her instructor. Everyone was so warm and welcoming, and at the Y, the kids were learning in a fun way. They didn't realize they were becoming more comfortable swimming and being around the water. They were just having fun."
