Will you be participating in the World's Largest Swimming Lesson?
Tomorrow, June 14, is when The World’s Largest Swimming Lesson (WLSL) occurs. It is an event that the nation’s top water safety and training organizations created to build awareness about the vital importance of teaching children to swim to help prevent drowning.
On June 14th, waterparks, pools and other aquatic facilities around the globe will host local free WLSL lessons simultaneously at 11am Eastern.
In the Philadelphia area, there are a number of participating pools where you can go for free to be a part of this event with your child. Some of those participating locations include:
NEW JERSEY
- Bridgewater Family YMCA
- Brigantine Aquatic Center
- Burlington County College
- Coco Key Water Resort (Mt. Laurel)
- Hamilton Area YMCA
- Sahara Sam’s Oasis Indoor Water Park (West Berlin)
PENNSYLVANIA
- Hanover Township Pool (Bethlehem)
- Hatboro Area YMCA
- Holland YMCA Outdoor Center
- Kennett Area YMCA
- North Penn Y
- West Chester YMCA
- White Horse Village (Newtown Square)
Swimming is a life-saving skill for children and a vital tool to prevent drowning, the second leading cause of unintended, injury-related death for children ages 1-14. Research shows if a child doesn’t learn to swim by the third grade, they likely never will. My own children started swimming lessons around the same time they learned to walk. And swimming lessons weren’t just a one-shot deal–they remained in swimming lessons until well into elementary school. Now, they love to swim, and I feel confident letting them go into the water with friends at the beach or the pool.
The World’s Largest Swimming Lesson 2011 event attracted more than 20,000 participants and set a Guiness World Record. The organizers are hoping to break that record in 2012.
Image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net
