As part of its commitment to strengthening the community through youth development and healthy living, the New Canaan YMCA once again welcomed the Horizons Summer Camp for swim lessons this year. This partnership expands access to the life-saving skill of swimming, provides water safety training, and gives children the chance to explore the many health benefits of swimming.
“We would not be able to achieve our mission without partners like the New Canaan YMCA. Together we help our students learn the lifesaving skill of swimming and build confidence in and out of the pool. It is amazing to see the growth in our students every summer and we are truly grateful to the YMCA donors for supporting opportunities for our Norwalk youth,” shared Renee Rosenbluh, Executive Director of Horizons at CT State Norwalk.
In this sixth year of partnership between the organizations, 72 Horizons campers in third through eighth grade attended daily lessons over five weeks, which were offered at no cost to campers thanks to a generous grant to the New Canaan YMCA by the John and Ethel Kashulon Foundation.
Chris Le Bris, President of the John and Ethel Kashulon Foundation shared, “The Y’s work teaching kids how to swim is so important in reducing the risk of accidental drowning for this population, not to mention allowing a lot of kids have a more enriching summer this year. We greatly value our association with the New Canaan YMCA, and its smart and dedicated staff and management.”
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, it is vital to teach all children the importance of water safety in and out of the pool. Drowning is the leading cause of injury-related death in the U.S. in children ages one to four, and the third-leading cause of unintentional injury-related death in kids ages five to 19. The goal of this program is to provide each Horizons’ camper with skills to achieve strength, safety, and confidence in the water.
“We are extremely pleased and proud to offer this important program to the Horizons campers. They are not only eager learners, but they also have a ton of fun while learning! We are grateful for the support of our donors that allowed us to offer this program free of charge and hope to continue it for many years to come,” shared Margaret Riley, Executive Director at the New Canaan YMCA.
Donations fund the New Canaan YMCA’s financial assistance program, allowing the Y to provide over $200,000 in membership and program fee assistance each year, ensuring no one is ever turned away for an inability to pay.
The National Y swim lesson program is designed for ages six months and older. Swim lesson participants learn personal water safety and achieve basic swimming competency by mastering the six stages of the program, from water acclimation to stroke mechanics. For additional information about the swim lesson program at the New Canaan YMCA, contact Kristin White, Senior Director of Aquatics, at 203-920-1643 or [email protected].
Horizons at CT State Norwalk is an award-winning, tuition-free academic and enrichment program serving under-resourced students from the Norwalk community. Through the program, each child thrives through Horizons’ learn-by-doing approach, inspiring students to explore reading, math, science, music, theater, art, swimming, and more. For additional information about Horizons at CT State Norwalk, visit www.horizonsctsn.org.