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Hundreds get in the swim at Water Safety Week

YMCA program helps children shed their fear of water
Taraji Hazzard, 5, takes the plunge into the waiting arms of volunteer Toni Walton during the YMCA's 10th annual Water Safety Week swim lessons. More than 550 young people, ages of 18 months to 13 years, had fun and developed their water safety and swimming skills during the free week of lessons. BY DAN COOK
Dan Cook
April 20, 2015
Nadia Ahmed is all smiles as she learns important lessons about water safety during the YMCA Water Safety Week. BY DAN COOK
YMCA volunteers assist the 4-year-old group. BY DAN COOK
This is tough work says Angelina Dmytrenko ,4, as volunteer Marjorie Buchanan looks on. BY DAN COOK
YMCA volunteer Erik Lynch helps to calm Nadia Ahmed as she enters the pool. BY DAN COOK
Adryana Savage, 4, has a great time learning water safety from volunteer Ken Catteron. BY DAN COOK
Kayona Ayers, 4, leaps to YMCA Aquatics Director Lydia Schmierer as she holds Bryant Allen,4. BY DAN COOK
Sammy Greer, 3, gets a helping hand from volunteer Thomas Weeks. BY DAN COOK
Kyle West, 6, is loving the water during YMCA Water Safety Week. BY DAN COOK
Ava Wyatt, 5, rides a pool noodle as volunteer Andreina Crimmins assists. BY DAN COOK
More than 550 children from the area took advantage of the free Water Safety Week program at the Sussex Family YMCA. BY DAN COOK

More than 550 local young people blew bubbles, splashed and stroked their way to water safety during the 10th annual Water Safety Week, April 6-10, at the Sussex Family YMCA in Rehoboth.

"Each year it gets bigger and bigger," said YMCA Aquatics Director Lydia Schmierer. "This year the swimmers progressed quicker than ever. They shed their fear of the water quickly. I credit it to the 68 volunteers who gave of their time and were eager to help this week."

The program included children from 18 months into their teen years. The Water Tots group, ages 18 months to 3 years, was added this year.

"This group captured the parents who were interested in being involved with teaching water safety," said Schmierer. "They help by being in the water and assisting their children."

But the benefit wasn't felt only by the children learning how to have fun and handle themselves in the water.

"The staff says this is the best week of the year at the Y," Schmierer said with a smile. "They love working with the kids."

The YMCA is continuing to help swimmers as they host a free, open-water safety program on Lewes Beach in June. Please call the YMCA at 302-296-9622 for more information.

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Dan has worked for the Cape Gazette for more than 30 years as a photographer and reporter, covering high school sports and happenings around eastern Sussex County. He won a photography award from the National Newspaper Association, and numerous awards from the Maryland, Delaware, D.C. Press Association. A Delaware native, Dan graduated from Cape in 1972 and returned as a teacher and coach in the 1980s. He retired from the classroom in 2016. He was inducted into Cape High’s Legends Stadium in 2016. In his spare time, Dan enjoys spending time with his wife, two sons, grandchildren and dogs. 

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