YMCA offers free swim lessons to children, adults

NORTHERN COLORADO — The YMCA of Northern Colorado will provide more than 250 children and adults with free swim lessons through its Safety Around Water program May 31-June 3 at YMCA pools in Johnstown, Longmont, Boulder, Lafayette and Cheyenne. 

“Everyone should have the opportunity to safely enjoy water,” Amy Whitsell, YMCA aquatics director, said in a press statement. “This is a chance for us to open our pools to hundreds of people who  have not had the opportunity to learn to swim. Formal swim lessons can reduce the risk of drowning by 88%, so this is about empowering participants to develop skills that can save their lives or the lives of others.” 

The YMCA said that the program is designed for children ages 3 to 12 and adults 18 and older who have not participated in swim lessons before. During four 30-minute sessions, participants will learn about:

• Basic swim skills such as floating, blowing bubbles and making forward progress. 

• Safety skills such as CPR, identifying safe swimming areas and water rescue techniques. 

• Survival skills such as pushing off the bottom and resurfacing and rolling between the front and back. Potential participants can register here.

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