YMCA expands swim lessons, water safety programs ahead of busy summer season
WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — As families across southeastern North Carolina head to pools, beaches, lakes, and other waterways this summer, the YMCA of Southeastern North Carolina is encouraging parents to make water safety a priority by enrolling children in swim lessons and practicing safe habits around water.
The organization announced plans to expand swim lesson opportunities and community water safety initiatives throughout the region, building on its year-round efforts to prevent drowning and increase water confidence among children.
This summer, the YMCA will offer youth swim lessons not only at the Nir Family YMCA but also at the City of Wilmington’s outdoor pools and YMCA Camp Kirkwood. Officials say the expanded programming is designed to help children develop foundational swimming skills, gain confidence in the water, and learn life-saving safety practices.
“Living in a coastal community, water safety is not optional — it’s essential,” said Sarah Gibbs, Vice President of Development for the YMCA of Southeastern North Carolina. “Every child deserves the opportunity to learn how to swim and feel safe around water. Through partnerships, scholarships, and free community programs, we are working to ensure that access to swim lessons is available to every family, regardless of financial circumstances.”
In addition to traditional swim instruction, the YMCA is partnering with local organizations to provide free water safety education and community swim programs throughout the summer.
One of those programs is the YMCA’s Safety Around Water event, scheduled for Saturday, July 25, from 9 a.m. to noon at Robert Strange Pool in Wilmington. The event is open to children ages 3 to 14, and pre-registration is required.
The YMCA also recently celebrated another successful year of its Schools in Pools initiative, a collaborative effort involving the YMCA, the YWCA Lower Cape Fear, NSEA Swim, and New Hanover County Schools. Funded by the New Hanover Community Endowment, the program provided free swim instruction and water safety education to more than 1,005 second-grade students during the 2025-26 school year.
According to YMCA of the USA, drowning remains one of the leading causes of accidental death among children. Research has shown that formal swim lessons can significantly reduce the risk of drowning.
As part of its summer safety campaign, the YMCA is encouraging families to follow several key water safety practices, including never swimming alone, supervising children at all times around water, wearing properly fitted life jackets during boating activities, teaching children to ask permission before entering the water, and learning CPR and basic emergency response skills.
Families interested in swim lessons, aquatics programs, or supporting local water safety initiatives can find more information through the YMCA of Southeastern North Carolina.
