PEYTON NEELY The Marietta Times Marietta Aquatic Center lifeguard Kelsey Hall, 18, works with 3-year-old Evelyn Kufel during swim lessons on Tuesday morning.

Mid-Ohio Valley children are flocking to local pools. Some may be natural swimmers but others might need a little assistance.

Educating kids about water safety is vital and some pools offer swimming lessons to ease the stress of teaching a child how to swim.

“Almost everyone owns a pool now or knows somebody who owns a pool not to mention we live right by a few rivers,” said Jessica Ross, manager of Beverly-Waterford Community Pool. “That’s a big reason to educate kids about water safety and teach them how to swim. It definitely leaves a much better feeling for parents knowing their child is okay around water.”

The Beverly-Waterford Community Pool offers swim lessons all season long. Ross said the first session is currently underway but parents can still sign their children up for the next two sessions.

“We have a class that runs from July 10 through the 21,” she said. “The last session runs from July 24 through the third of August.”

Each class is $40 per child. Ross said there’s two classes; one class is for children in preschool offered at 10:30 a.m. and the other is for school aged children beginning at 11 a.m.

“The younger kids we focus on showing them that water isn’t something to be afraid of which can be very difficult,” said Ross. “We really stress safety rules and the pool rules for both classes. The school aged group works more on the techniques of swimming.”

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, about 10 people die from unintentional drowning every day. Of these, two are children aged 14 or younger. Drowning ranks fifth among the leading causes of unintentional injury death in the United States.

The Marietta Aquatic Center also holds lessons throughout the summer. Lessons there also cost $40 per child and run for two weeks Monday through Thursday. The dates for lessons are June 19 through 23, 26 through 29, July 10 through 13, 17 through 28, July 2 through August 4, and August 7 through 10.

Jessica Kufel, 34, of Marietta, has had her 3-year-old daughter Evelyn Kufel doing swim lessons for almost two years.

“These lessons are more about showing the kids to respect the water and water rules,” she said. “We don’t want them to fear it but rather understand the safety of it like knowing to stop at the ledge.”

Jessica said Evelyn isn’t afraid of water at all and that can worry her sometimes.

“She doesn’t have a fear for anything especially trying new things,” she said. “She’s learning to know when to stop but keeping her adventurous side wanting to swim with a lifeguard to the deep end and beyond.”

Marietta Aquatic Center lifeguard Kelsey Hall, 18, said she’s been teaching swim lessons at the aquatic center for four years.

“I like teaching the younger class the basics of water like getting their face wet while holding their breath and kicking. Kicking their feet is a big one,” she said. “We also work on floating and making sure they know to grab the wall whenever they can’t touch. Pool rules are something we really concentrate on and sometimes they come up with rules we never thought of.”

The basic pool rules include walking around the pool and not running, no horse play in the water, and listening to the lifeguard as he or she knows better than kids enjoying a day at the pool.

“We want to keep everyone safe,” said Hall. “Safe swimming makes for a fun day. I remember taking swim lessons when I was younger and it definitely helped me out.”

The Marietta Family YMCA also offers swim lessons at their indoor pool. From June 19 through 29, July 10 through 20, and July 24 through Aug 3, parents can sign their children up for swim lessons. The application is online and so is more information including age groups and information about private lessons. Each class is $35 for members of the YMCA and $45 for non-members.

Across the river at the Williamstown Healthy Lifestyles Pool, swim lessons are being offered through the end of the summer.

“July 10 through the 20 and July 31 through August 10, we have swim lessons for all age groups,” said Jacynda Hively, manager. “We never have them on Fridays to give the kids a chance to take a break. If anyone wanted to take a swim lesson, they’re $40 a kid and applications have to be picked up at the pool.”

Swimming lessons are also offered at the Devola Pool and information about their swim lessons can be found at devolarec.com.

Participation in formal swimming lessons can reduce the risk of drowning by 88 percent among children aged one to four years according to Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine.

“Swim lessons are important for everyone. No matter how good of a swimmer you think you are, practicing safe swimming and following the pool rules will definitely make your summer a lot better,” said Hall.

Swim lesson opportunities

≤ Marietta Aquatic Center: $40 per child. Call 740-373-2445 for information.

≤ Marietta Family YMCA: $35 per member or $45 per non-member. Register online at mariettaymca.org/swim-lessons.

≤ Williamstown Healthy Lifestyles Pool: $40 per child. Call 304-375-2707 to register.

≤ Beverly-Waterford Community Pool: $40 per child. all 740-984-4235 to register.

≤ Devola Pool: $45 per child. Register online at devolarec.com.

≤All pools offer private lessons per request with amount per class subject to change.

Source: Pool managers.