I Can Swim!

A Swimming and Safety Education Program for Garrett County Children

• · "I Can Swim!" Course Curriculum
• · "Sponsor a Swimmer" form

Beginning in September 2011, in its new Aquatic and Fitness Complex that includes the first publicly accessible swimming pools in Garrett County, MD, Garrett College will provide basic swimming and water safety instruction for all kindergarten children attending the County’s eleven elementary schools. School buses will bring the children to the College campus as part of their daily schedule for a four-day active learning program during the regular school week. This program will also be offered for kindergartners who are being home-schooled. Swimming proficiency and water safety goals appropriate for this age group will be established and every child participating in the program will receive an “I Can Swim!” certificate and a one-year discount on a family membership to the Aquatic and Fitness Complex.    

One desired outcome of the “I Can Swim!” program is that its graduates and their families will continue to pursue fitness-related education, including individual and group swimming lessons and lifeguard training that will be offered at the Complex; this data will be tracked over time. Long-term goals for the program include a decrease in childhood obesity and higher levels of academic achievement; baseline measures for these elements will be established prior to the launch of the program and followed over time.

A second and related outcome is to ensure that “I Can Swim!” program serves families that do not have the means to provide this level of fitness and water safety education for their children. Consider the following:

* 53.5% (1,037/1,939) of elementary school students in Garrett County received free/reduced lunch

* 18.5% of children under age 18 live in poverty (statewide the percentage is 11.8)

Transportation costs and the County’s relatively high poverty level will make full community participation in the Community Aquatic and Recreation Complex’s educational programs and activities difficult. By partnering with Garrett County Schools and incorporating the “I Can Swim!” program into the school day, all kindergarteners will have access to this learning.

Garrett County is small enough to make the “I Can Swim” program feasible and manageable, and if successful, it can serve as a model for other school districts. Some of the program costs can be provided by in-kind contributions (e.g., school buses, the College pool facility itself) but others will require direct funding (e.g., gasoline and bus drivers, instructors and lifeguards, and instructional materials). To support these costs and to ensure the program’s continuation over time, independent financial contributions will be necessary. This will take two forms: 1) an endowment resource to provide resources for the program in perpetuity; and 2) an annual “Sponsor a Swimmer” opportunity for individuals, businesses and other community organizations. The Garrett College Foundation will solicit, hold and manage the funds raised.