Kids take a dip into swimming lessons

By Venice Buhain | The Olympian • Published August 25, 2008

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LACEY – Swimming instructor Marysa Gunning, 19, turned the water at River Ridge High School into a little game for her group of a half-dozen "Sea Puffers," or 4- to 6-year-olds.

"Simon says, 'Put your forehead in the water!' " she said, with all the girls following suit. "Put your head in the water! Oh, I didn't say, 'Simon says!' "

The Sea Puffer class is one of many going on in the past few weeks of the Lacey Parks and Recreation summer swimming classes at River Ridge High. The classes, which are aimed at getting children familiar with the water, will continue into the fall in the evenings or on Sundays.

Water safety

There are some competitive swim teams for young children, but the Parks and Recreation program focuses on basic water-safety skills.

"Some are afraid of the water, but some are fearless and they'll just jump right in," said Gunning, a 2007 Olympia High School graduate and Central Washington University student. "The main goal is to kind of get them comfortable in the water."

She said she also will teach basic strokes in a way that very young children can understand.

Jenny Wilson, a recreation supervisor who oversees the city's aquatics program, said the recent focus on swimming during the Summer Olympics did not seem to cause a spike in interest in the water, because the classes usually are popular regardless. The classes focus on getting children comfortable with the water, rather than concentrating on competitive skills, and have one day of water safety, she added.

Children are put into classes by their skill level, and families who don't know their child's skill level can come on recreation swimming days to get assessed.

Assurances

Parent Sherri Russell of Olympia said she has brought her children to the Lacey swimming program for 10 years.

Her son, Brian, 12, said that although he is not a serious swimmer, the ability to swim makes him feel safer on camping trips with the Boy Scouts.

"I can actually go out and swim with others, and I can go canoeing and boating and if I tip over we can actually swim to safety," he said.

Venice Buhain covers education for The Olympian. She can be reached at 360-754-5445 or vbuhain@theolympian.com.