2nd Grade Learn to Swim Initiative
Saving lives through education and community partnership. Every winter, the Foundation YMCA partners with Wilson County Public Schools to bring every 2nd-grade class to our pools for essential, hands-on water safety and drowning prevention instruction.
Empowering Our Youth with Lifesaving Skills
Water safety is a critical life skill. Through a strong community partnership with Wilson County Schools, our winter Learn to Swim Initiative ensures that every 2nd-grade student in the public school system receives formal aquatic safety instruction at no cost to their families.
- District-Wide Access: Every public 2nd-grade elementary class in Wilson County visits the YMCA during the winter months.
- Certified Instruction: Classes are led by certified YMCA aquatics instructors focused on water comfort and emergency readiness.
- Barrier-Free Learning: Designed to provide equal access to water safety education for all children in our community regardless of background.
What Students Learn
Basic Water Survival
Students learn essential skills designed to prevent panic and assist themselves in an unexpected water emergency.
- "Swim-Float-Swim" sequence for energy conservation.
- Treading water and floating to keep the head above water.
- Safely pushing off the bottom and exiting the pool edge independently.
Safety Habits & Rules
Education extends beyond mechanics to teach children how to make safe choices around pools, lakes, and rivers.
- Recognizing water hazards and obeying pool rules.
- Understanding life jackets and when to wear them.
- "Reach or Throw, Don't Go" rescue techniques for helping others safely.
Help Us Make This Program Possible
To ensure that every child can participate fully—regardless of financial situation—we rely on generous contributions from our community. We are always accepting financial donations as well as essential supplies so no student is left sitting on the sidelines.
Requested Donation Items & Funds:
Volunteer for a Great Cause
Making this program a success takes a team! If you are passionate about water safety and want to make a direct impact in the lives of local 2nd graders, we would love to have you volunteer with us during our winter sessions.
Get Involved as a Volunteer
To learn more about volunteer roles or how to get involved, please reach out directly to our Aquatics Director:
