Encouraging family swim lessons, water safety at Carmel Clay Parks & Recreation

In an effort to raise awareness for water safety and to encourage year-round swimming skill development, Carmel Clay Parks & Recreation (CCPR) has launched the “Circle of Water Safety” program. During this program, families are invited to prioritize consistent swim lessons, an important component of being comfortable and safe in and around the water.

Participants who enroll in swim lessons each month September through December will receive a reward for their efforts to further their progression. Participants who register for swim lessons in all four months will receive 50 percent off the registration fee of an additional swim lesson in January or February.

“Swim lessons are most popular during the summer, but learning how to swim comfortably can take up to two full years,” said Leah Weprich, Aquatics Program Supervisor at CCPR. “We want families to take advantage of the fact that we offer swim lessons year-round, which gives new swimmers the opportunity to improve their swimming skills uninterrupted.”

CCPR offers swim lessons for all ages and ability levels at the Monon Community Center, ranging from parent-child classes for children as young as six months to adult lessons. The department also offers private lesson opportunities and adaptive swim lessons for individuals with disabilities. All CCPR instructors are American Red Cross® Water Safety Instructor (WSI) Certified and classes follow the American Red Cross® swim lesson curriculum. In addition to basic swimming skills, WSI certified instructors are trained to teach water safety skills to help participants remain safe around all bodies of water and in all aquatic activities.

“Our goal is, and always will be, to make swimming a safer activity for as many people as we possibly can,” said Weprich.

For more information about the “Circle of Water Safety” program, or to enroll in swim lessons, please contact Leah Weprich at lweprich@carmelclayparks.com.

 About Carmel Clay Parks & Recreation

Carmel Clay Parks & Recreation holds the Gold Medal Award for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management by the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration (AAPRA) in partnership with the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) for parks serving populations of 75,001 to 150,000. As an accredited agency, the department serves the recreation, fitness, and nature needs of the community, manages and develops existing spaces and resources and creates a sustainable future for parks and recreation programs through a financially viable and environmentally conscious parks system. CCPR manages and maintains more than 500 park acres and numerous recreation facilities, including the Monon Community Center and The Waterpark.

For more information, visit www.carmelclayparks.com.