Celebrating 92 years, Noon Kiwanis and the Fond du Lac Family YMCA have been offering free swimming lessons and water safety for children in the Fond du Lac area. The longevity of this program, and the number of participants served, are testament to its value and need in the Fond du Lac community.
Drowning can happen nearly anywhere with standing water. But, as a parent or caregiver, you can’t keep your kids sidelined. You need to equip your children with the tools they need to be confident in and around water so they don’t lose out on the health benefits of exercise, the opportunities to bond with family and friends and the sense of accomplishment when they learn new skills. Teaching children how to be safe around water is not a luxury; it is a necessity. The Kiwanis Learn-To-Swim, Safety Around Water Program can help you make sure they learn essential water safety skills, which can open up a world of possibilities for them. This 4-day water safety program offers basic swimming skills that help reduce the risk of drowning and builds confidence in and around water. A typical session includes exercises to help kids adjust to being in water, instruction in “Jump, Push, Turn, Grab” and “Swim, Float, Swim,” two skill sets kids can use if they unexpectedly find themselves in the water, specific safety topics like “what to do if you see someone in the water who needs help,” and fun activities that reinforce skills.
The event will be held June 10-13, 2019, with classes running throughout the day from 8am to 8pm. Registration opens April 30, 2019 and is free for children ages 4-12 in the Fond du Lac area. Registration is on a first come first serve basis. Registration can be completed in person at the Y or online at www.fdlymca.org. Deadline for registration is Friday, June 8th.
“The goal of the safety around water program is to give kids the chance to learn the basics, to feel confident and be safe around water” said Jennie Mildebrandt, Senior Program Director at the Fond du Lac Family YMCA. Swim levels available for registration include beginner, intermediate and advanced.
Fond du Lac Noon Kiwanis has been a supporter of the Learn-to-Swim program since its inception in 1927. The service organization’s motto is “Serving the Children of the World,” so supporting a program that provides the valued life skill of swimming and water safety fits its mission perfectly.
Because the Y has the trained personnel and facilities, the Learn-to-Swim, Safety Around Water program has been a great match for the two organizations. “It’s the longest-running program that the YMCA has and we can’t thank Kiwanis enough for believing that these lessons are critical to the community. We truly appreciate their support,” said J.J. Raflik, CEO/Executive Diretor of the Fond du Lac Family YMCA.