Q&A
Clarification on Learn to Swim and Swim for Life programs
1:11:17
·
120 sec
Council Member Krishnan seeks clarification on the differences between the Learn to Swim and Swim for Life programs. Commissioner Donoghue explains the distinctions and discusses program capacity.
- Swim for Life focuses on 2nd grade students, providing certified swim instruction at indoor pools during school hours
- Learn to Swim is a general swim instruction program for the broader population
- Both programs are free and very popular, often oversubscribed
Shekar Krishnan
1:11:17
And my last question from my end is you mentioned before the learn to swim program and swim for life.
1:11:27
And I know I've asked this before commission, I only have a bit confused to, but it will be helpful to distinguish learned to swim from swim for life.
1:11:36
And, specifically, there was also funding that in 2 budgets ago, Mayor Adams had put in to expand one of those programs that was then cut.
1:11:45
Which program was it that was cut?
Sue Donoghue
1:11:49
Okay.
1:11:50
Thank you.
1:11:53
So the swim for life program focuses on 2nd grade students and provides them with certified certified swim instruction at our indoor pools during the school day as a regular part of their weekly class schedule.
1:12:07
The learn to swim program is a targeted initiative conducted in partnership with the Department of Education.
1:12:18
And so what we're doing with each of those is swim lessons to provide lifesaving, water safety skills, introduce kids to the sport.
1:12:28
So learn learn so swim for life is essentially 2nd graders, and then learn to swim is general swim instruction for the general Mhmm.
1:12:39
General population.
Shekar Krishnan
1:12:39
And is it to say that those programs being very popular are often oversubscribed that there's a waitlist to to join them.
Sue Donoghue
1:12:46
Yeah.
1:12:47
Very popular programs.
1:12:48
They're free and available to everyone, so they're very popular.
Shekar Krishnan
1:12:51
And so how many slots do you have for each program compared to what the demand typically is?
Sue Donoghue
1:12:57
Yeah.
1:12:58
We'd have to circle back to that.
Shekar Krishnan
1:12:59
Okay.
1:12:59
But you'd agree.
1:13:00
I think that having more swim programs accessible and available with nonprofit organizations, given the high demand for the parks programs that oversubscribed, would help to address that need.
1:13:11
Correct?
Sue Donoghue
1:13:12
Absolutely.
1:13:13
If there's more free swim programming available to the benefit of everyone.
1:13:17
Absolutely.
