Lincoln Elementary third-graders recently swapped their backpacks for swim trunks when they visited the Springfield YMCA to learn essential water-safety skills.
The unique partnership allowed students to receive hands-on instruction from YMCA swim trainers, and several third-graders took their very first plunge into the water.
While the day was full of splashes and smiles, the purpose is also serious: too many kids nationwide grow up without basic swimming skills. According to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, drowning is the leading cause of death for children ages 1–4 and the second leading cause of injury-related death for children 5–14.
Access, opportunity and socioeconomic status all play major roles – more than one-third of Black adults report not knowing how to swim, and swimming lessons are far less common among Black and Hispanic adults compared to other groups. Additionally, the American Red Cross notes that 79% of children in households earning under $50,000 have few-to-no swimming skills. That reality mirrors the demographics of the Springfield City School District, highlighting why prevention programs like this are so important.
This is the second year Lincoln students have taken part in the YMCA experience.