October @ the Wardle Family Y
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September at the Wardle Family Y
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August at the Wardle Family YMCA
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July at the Wardle Family YMCA
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June at the Wardle Family Y
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The Beaufort–Jasper YMCA of the Lowcountry Renews Longstanding Commitment to End Childhood Drowning with YMCA Swim Lessons Program
100 scholarships for swim lessons to be awarded to children in high-risk communities in Beaufort and Jasper counties
[PORT ROYAL SC; JUNE 10, 2019] – As part of the Y’s commitment to reduce drowning rates and keep kids safe in and around the water, the Beaufort–Jasper YMCA of the Lowcountry will provide scholarships for swim instruction and water safety to children from underserved communities in Beaufort and Jasper counties in 2019.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, fatal drowning is the second-leading cause of death for children ages one to 14 years old. In ethnically diverse communities, the youth drowning rate is two to three times higher than the national average, according to a USA Swimming study. Additionally 64 percent of African-American children, 45 percent of Latino children, and 40 percent of Caucasian children have no or low swimming ability.
“Educating children how to be safe around water is just as important as teaching them to look both ways before they cross the street,” said Lou Bergen, Aquatics Director at the Wardle Family YMCA. “The Y teaches children of all ages and backgrounds that water should be fun, not feared, and this practice not only saves lives it builds confidence.”
The Y has been a leader in providing swim lessons and water safety for more than 100 years, pioneering group swim lessons in 1906. The Wardle Family YMCA continues to help youth and adults experience the joy and benefits of swimming, so they can be healthy, confident and secure in the water. There are a variety of programs to choose, including:
- Lap swimming
- (BYAC) Tiger Sharks Swim Team with 3 levels of teams members (Shark Pups, TigerSharks Level 1, & TigerSharks Level 2)
- Water aerobics group exercises classes
- Fluid Fitness (work out ON the water!)
- Aqua Camp (specialty summer camp)
- Lifeguard Training
- Masters Swim
- 100-Mile Swim Club
- Scuba
To learn more about Wardle Family YMCA swim programs including lessons, swim team, and Aqua Camp, please contact Lou Bergen at 843-522-9622 ext. 236(l.bergen@wardlefamilyymca.org)
Waterproofing Kids May Be Impossible, but the Wardle Family YMCA Can Help Make Them Safer Around Water
May is National Water Safety Month
[PORT ROYAL SC; MAY 7, 2019] – As the season turns from spring to summer, the Wardle Family YMCA (1801 Richmond Ave., Port Royal) encourages children and parents in the Lowcountry to explore the many benefits of swimming, while also keeping safety top of mind. In Y swim programs, participants can enjoy water sports, enhance or learn new techniques, meet new friends and develop confidence, while also learning safety skills that can save lives.

“It’s never too early to get children involved in swimming—it’s an important for safety reasons, but also a great way to keep active and healthy,” said Lou Bergen, Aquatics Director, Wardle Family YMCA. “In fact, newer studies show that children as young as 1-year-old can benefit from formal swim lessons. There are so many options for parents, but the best place to start is by learning basic water safety skills that helps get kids familiar with the water that often continues with swim lessons and competitive swim programs and can even lead to a career.”
As part of National Water Safety Month in May, the Beaufort-Jasper YMCA of the Lowcountry encourages parents to take an active role in fostering a relationship between their children and swimming—beginning with water safety. The following are safety tips to practice when in and around the water:
- Only swim when and where there is a lifeguard on duty; never swim alone
- Adults should constantly and actively watch their children
- Inexperienced or non-swimmers should wear a Coast Guard-approved life jacket
- Parents or guardians of young children should be within an arm’s reach
- Children and adults should not engage in breath holding activities
In addition to learning lifesaving water safety skills, swimming is a great way to increase physical activity. Swimming also motivates children to strive for self-improvement, teaches goal orientation and cultivates a positive mental attitude and high self-esteem.
Kids are not the only age-group that should learn to swim. The Lowcountry is 51% marsh, river and ocean – the ‘land’ is quite literally surrounded by water – so it is obvious that learning how to swim well is a necessity for adults as well as kids. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than a third of adults in the United States can’t swim the length of a pool, which puts them at risk of being 1 of the 10 people who drown every day in the U.S.
In 2018 the Wardle Family Y taught over 7,000 swim sessions to local kids and adults, over half for free or at a reduced cost. This is made possible through donations to the YMCA Annual Scholarship campaign, the Y Learn to Swim program, grants and funds raised at the Beaufort River Swim, which is coming up on Saturday May 18, 2019. This 3.2–mile competitive water swim and 1-mile fun swim is now in its 13th year and is the only open water swim in Beaufort County.
As a leading nonprofit committed to youth development, the Y has been a leader in providing swim lessons and water safety locally for more than 23 years. The Wardle Family YMCA continues to help youth and adults experience the joy and benefits of swimming, so they can be healthy, confident and secure in the water. There are a variety of programs to choose, including:
- Age group lessons including parent/child and private swim lessons
- Lap swimming
- (BYAC) Tiger Sharks Swim Team with 3 levels of teams members (Shark Pups, TigerSharks Level 1, & TigerSharks Level 2)
- Water aerobics group exercises classes
- Fluid Fitness (work out ON the water!)
- Aqua Camp (specialty summer camp)
- Lifeguard Training
- Masters Swim
- 100-Mile Swim Club
- Scuba
To ensure that everyone has an opportunity to participate, financial assistance is available. To learn more about Wardle Family YMCA swim programs, please contact Lou Bergen at 843-522-9622 ext. 236(l.bergen@wardlefamilyymca.org) To learn more about the Beaufort River Swim, contact Denice Fanning, event director: 843-522-9622 ext. 223 (d.fanning@wardlefamilymca.org)
May at the Wardle Family Y
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March at the Wardle Family Y
Get all the latest information and news about Wardle Family YMCA programs & events in our monthly newsletter!
March at the Wardle Family YMCA
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