Coachella Valley Community Offers Swim Lessons

From Palm Desert YMCA: With summer in full swing, and temperatures soaring, all parents are reminded to make sure their children, and all family members, are water-safe around pools, lakes, the beach, or any body of water. Drowning is a preventable tragedy. Learning to swim, and understanding water safety, is something every person should know and be proficient in. And participating in a Swim Lesson program is the most effective way to prevent water accidents and drowning.

There are a variety of options and programs here in the Coachella Valley. Desert Recreation District, Family YMCA of the Desert and Desert Aquatics in Desert Hot Springs all offer programs that teach children and adults how to swim and be water-safe. And there are funds available for low income kids and families, allowing all kids the opportunity to learn to swim at little or no cost. It is recommended to take 8-10 lessons (based on the age), so that the student has the ability to be safe in or around water. There is no reason why any child by age 9 should not know how to swim, and these agencies are dedicated to making every child in the Coachella Valley water-safe to prevent drowning.

Desert Recreation District:

• Scholarships for free swim lessons are offered for children as young as 18 months old, and swim lessons are held at all three of the pools managed by DRD; Pawley Pool Family Aquatic Center in Indio, Bagdouma Pool in Coachella, and Mecca Pool in Mecca.
• Scholarships are still available for this swim season.
• In addition to swim lessons, DRD also offers a fun, interactive introduction to water safety for children with “Lenny the Landshark”, covering basic water safety, sun and canal safety, how to call for help and more. This presentation can be made to youth groups, organizations, schools, or at events where kids gather; contact DRD at 760-347-3484 for swim lesson or water safety presentation information.

Family YMCA of the Desert:

• Palm Desert Aquatic Center and Fritz Burn Pool in La Quinta.
• Both locations offer scholarships for free or reduced swim lessons.
• Palm Desert Aquatic Center; 760-565-7467, or online at www.pdpool.com
• La Quinta Fritz Burns pool; 760-771-7347

There are also private swimming instructors throughout the Coachella Valley, as well as swimming education opportunities for children through their schools or after school activities. With the goal of making sure that all children and adults in the Valley are water-safe, it is most important to visit one of the pools listed above, or within any of the communities, to find instruction and learn to swim today.

Patch file photo by Renee Schiavone