Free Swim Lessons for CHildren & Adults

APPLY FOR SWIM LESSON SCHOLARSHIPS

The Florida Drowning Prevention Foundation offers scholarships to provide FREE swim lessons to all age groups in Florida.

To apply for your swim scholarship, please visit their website to apply at the following link: Swim Scholarships – Florida Drowning Prevention Foundation. Call (239) 919-2001 for more information!

Families with children with special needs can reach out to Sam Hernandez at the Golden Gate Aquatics Facility and get free swim lessons. Call (239) 252-6125.

Collier County Swimming Lessons

Everybody should learn to swim. Swimming is not an instinctive skill for humans.

Golden Gate Aquatic Facility (Ages 6 months +)
3300 Santa Barbara Blvd
(239) 252-6128
www.collierparks.com
Financial Assistance – Collier County Parks & Recreation

Immokalee Sports Complex (Ages 5 years +)
505 Escambia St., Immokalee
(239) 657-1951
www.collierparks.com
Financial Assistance – Collier County Parks & Recreation

Eagle Lakes Aquatics Facility (Ages 6 months +)
11565 Tamiami Trl E
(239) 252-1020
www.collierparks.com
Financial Assistance – Collier County Parks & Recreation

Sun-N-Fun Lagoon (Ages 6 months +)
15000 Livingston Rd
(239) 252-4021
www.collierparks.com
Financial Assistance – Collier County Parks & Recreation

City of Naples – River Park Aquatic Center (Ages 3 years +)
451 11th Street North, Naples
(239) 213-3037
www.naplesgov.com
Financial Assistance – City of Naples

Swimtastic Swim School (Located Inside LA Fitness) (Ages 6 months +)
871 Vanderbilt Beach Road Naples
(239) 260-4926
www.swimtastic.com/location/naples

Goldfish Swim School (Ages 4 months +)

12600 Trade Center Dr. Bonita Springs, FL 34135

(239) 312-5612

www.goldfishswimschool.com/bonita-springs/

Greater Naples YMCA – (Ages 6 months +)
5450 YMCA Road, Naples
(239) 963-3762
www.GreaterNaplesYMCA.org

Greater Marco Family YMCA (Ages 6 months +)
101 Sand Hill St, Marco Island
(239)394-3144
www.marcoislandymca.org

Naples SWIM School (Ages 6 months +)
4995 Airport Pulling Rd N,
(239)591-020,
lessons@naplesswimschool.org
teamunify.com

South County Family YMCA (Ages 6 months +)
27200 Kent Rd, Bonita Beach
(239) 221-7560
www.southcountyfamilyymca.org

Standards for Water SMART Baby Lessons

STANDARDS FOR WATER SMART BABY LESSONS

All standards are based on current research and best practices by the National Drowning Prevention Alliance (NDPA)

State Permitted Facility

The pools must be permitted by local government agency that oversees aquatic facilities.
The pool, deck, bathrooms, changing rooms must be clean and sanitary.
Babies need warm water to have a successful experience. The water temperature of 87*- 93*F is recommended.
It is suggested that wet suits be used for temperatures lower than 90*.
All babies must wear an approved, snug fitting swim diaper in the pool.

Small Class Ratio

There should be a 1 to 6 instructor/child ratio with a parent or caregiver holding the child and participating in the lesson.

Credentialed Instructors

Instructors must have a national swimming certification and a basic course in infant water safety.
They should be certified in CPR and First Aid for the professional rescuer.
Background checks should be required for every instructor & staff member at an aquatic facility.

Nurturing Instructional Style

A good program builds upon a child’s successes.
Instruction style should always be nurturing, positive and supportive.
Instructors should be patient, gentle and enthusiastic to be successful.

Water Safety Curriculum

Water safety skills should be taught.
The lesson plans should be ordered in a step-by-step plan of development where one skill is built upon another in proper order. The skills should be practiced until they are mastered.
The parent should know exactly what is expected of the child in each level of the program.

Our Programs

SWIM Central

In March 2012, The NCH Safe & Healthy Children’s Coalition in partnership with the Early Learning Coalition of SW Florida, Collier County Parks and Recreation, Greater Naples YMCA and City of Naples River Park Aquatic Center launched the highly successful SWIM Central program. In 1999, Broward County developed the SWIM Central concept to address the growing number of drowning an near-drowning child victims. Since its inception, SWIM Central has provided water safety education to over 400,000 children in Broward County and there are now more than 180 elementary schools transporting children to SWIM Central educational programs offered in neighborhood pools. None of the children who have participated in the program has been a near drowning or drowning victim. This is a curriculum-based program with guidelines specific to water safety.

Based on the national and local drowning statistics, our program targets children ages 3-5 years attending social-economically- disadvantage daycares and preschools. The program is supervised by professional aquatic directors and staffed with qualified instructors and lifeguards. SWIM Central provides a session of ten 30-minute lessons over a 2-week period. Each session begins with an evaluation of each child’s water safety skills. After an initial evaluation, the children are split into groups and work individually to develop water safety skills at their own pace. There is a maximum ratio of one instructor for every 6 children, but generally the ratio is much lower and all children receive individualized attention. At the end of the session, the children are evaluated again. Not only do the children learn a life saving skill, they also start to develop a healthy relationship with the water that can open doors of opportunity.

Since SWIM Central started in March 2012, over 6,371 children have participated, 54,274 water safety lessons have been taught. SWIM Central is possible, thanks to generous donations from the Naples Children & Education Foundation – Founders of the Naples Winter Wine Festival, NCH Healthcare System and the The Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation

Water Smart Collier