AquaMissions Announces School-based Learn-to-Swim Pilot
in Partnership with Cleveland Schools & Greater Cleveland YMCA
April 5, 2024 - AquaMissions is partnering with Cleveland Metropolitan Schools and Greater Cleveland YMCA to conduct a Learn-to-Swim Pilot program with CMSD students in April and May. Nearly 230 4th graders across nine classes and five schools will participate in the Pilot, emphasizing water safety education and basic swimming skills. This Pilot is part of a broader effort to bring life-saving swim instruction to all 2,500 CMSD 4th graders in the 2024-2025 school year.
“In Northeast Ohio, water is all around us. But due to generations of fears and stereotypes, combined with economic limitations, many underserved youths lack this basic and essential life skill,” says Dr. Lynne Nagy, founder of AquaMissions.
Drowning poses a significant risk for youth, especially where access to swim instruction is limited. The sad reality is, 57.5% of Black youth and 56.2% of LatinX youth are unable to swim or are uncomfortable in the deep end of the pool. Black and Brown kids aged 10-14 are more likely to drown 8x more than White kids. “Our school-based Learn-to-Swim program aims to significantly reduce this risk through equitable access to life-saving water safety education and swimming skills training,” says Nagy.
The program is a multifaceted approach to student personal safety and well-being, and is just as important as emergency drills, reading and math, and healthy living habits. “Students will learn safety skills such as asking permission to enter the water, swim-float-swim, and jump-push-turn-grab,” says Nagy. In additional to learning an essential life skill, students will also practice 21st Century problem-solving and thinking skills to enhance teamwork.
Greater Cleveland YMCA is providing swimsuits and caps to all students, and Geiger’s is providing rash-guard swim shirts. Funding for busing, program facilitation, and post-assessment efforts is made possible through donations from private donors and grants from foundations across Northeast Ohio.