Parents with students in Sooke’s elementary school system will know that SEAPARC offers Grade 2 students some basic swimming lessons, sponsored by the Sooke Lion’s Club.
For this one year, SEAPARC expanded the program to offer a special program to all Grade 3 students in the elementary school system in Sooke. SEAPARC recently received funding from the Lifesaving Society so they could offer every Grade 3 student the opportunity to take the “Swim to Survive” program.
According to Elizabeth Olsen, the Aquatic Programmer at SEAPARC, the recreation centre received $2,100, which was enough to offer all of the Grade 3 students in Sooke’s four elementary school the opportunity to attend.
Given Sooke’s proximity to water, knowing how to survive an accidental fall into water can ensure survival. The Swim to Survive program teaches these young students how to roll into deep water, how to tread water for one minute, and how to swim for 50 metres.
According to the literature provided by this program, “Swim to Survive training helps prepare your children for an unexpected fall into deep water.”
“They come down to the center for three lessons based on the ‘Swim to Survive Standard,’” wrote Olsen in correspondence. “The grant was for over $2,100 dollars and covers the busing fees as well. The grant was given by the Lifesaving Society of BC whose goal is to have 25 per cent of Grade 3 students in British Columbia take part in this program.”
SEAPARC will apply again next year for funding.