Swimming is Great for Everyone

Swimming can be enjoyed by everybody - at every age and fitness level - and has amazing health benefits. This is one of the reasons aquatics is such a large part of the programming at JCC of Youngstown. Swimming helps energize your body and mind, takes the pressure off bones and joints, and allows you to use and tone all of the muscles in your body. 

The Learn to Swim program is at the heart of the aquatics program. JCC offers classes for people of all ages and abilities! Classes start for babies as young as six months, are provided to all full time pre-schoolers enrolled in the Early Learning Center, are offered each summer to kids in Camp JCC, and are given free of charge through special grant funded programs like PALS+, Swim Safe 500 and Water Women.

Wellness Manager Casey Atkinson’s daughter Tori has been taking lessons through the PALS+ Program, which offers free one-on-one swim lessons for persons who are on the autism spectrum or who have developmental disabilities. Tori is thirteen and has Down Syndrome. “It’s been so amazing to watch my girl, who just a month ago was terrified of the water, really connecting with her swim instructor, being cheered on by all the lifeguards, and now jumping in and swimming the length of the pool. The smile I see on her face is incredible.” 

The Swim Safe 500 program provides free swim safety lessons to children that receive free or reduced school meals.  Scholarships are provided by The United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley, The Thomases Family Endowment of the Youngstown Area Jewish Federation, The Redwoods Group, The USA Swimming Foundation, and Step into Swim. 

From a Swim Safe 500 mom: “My daughter was chosen for Swim Safe this year. The swim instructors were amazing. They worked with all the kids and had patience. Thank you JCC for giving my daughter the opportunity to learn to swim.”

The Water Women Program is designed for women with little or no swimming ability. Participants learn the skills needed to feel safe in the water. Over 200 women have learned to swim through this program. 

Aquatics has been a big part of JCC Executive Director Denise Wolf’s life, and she can attest to just how big of an impact swimming can make on someone’s life. “I was a competitive swimmer from age 5 thru high school. My undergraduate degree is in Adapted Aquatics and my first job was the Asst. Aquatic Director at the JCC in Marblehead MA. My favorite class I taught was Arthritis Water Exercise. That was 35 years ago. Now I am 56 and have Severe Degenerative Arthritis. Who knew that swimming would be the only exercise I can do regularly that is good for my body AND makes me feel better physically and mentally. Swimming is the ALL-AROUND best form of exercise, therapy, and recreation that will benefit anyone and any age. Try it!!”