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Free swim lessons are coming to 5 Broward County YMCAs. Here’s what to know

By Reporting by Allison Beck. Produced with AI assistance
Five YMCA locations in Broward County will offer a week of free swim lessons to children and adults from March 16-20.
Five YMCA locations in Broward County will offer a week of free swim lessons to children and adults from March 16-20. Miami Herald file photo

The YMCA of South Florida is offering five days of free swim lessons for all ages at five Broward County locations from Monday, March 16, through Friday, March 20, through its “Swim for Jenny” campaign.

The initiative honors Jenny Hong Nguyen, who drowned at a party in 2011 in South Florida when she was 12.

FULL STORY: ‘Swim for Jenny’ campaign to provide free lessons for all ages at 5 Broward YMCAs

Five YMCA locations in Broward County will offer a week of free swim lessons to children and adults from March 16-20.
Five YMCA locations in Broward County will offer a week of free swim lessons to children and adults from March 16-20. Courtesy: PoolSafely

Here are key takeaways:

  • The program has served over 2,000 people in recent years. This year’s free 30-minute classes are at YMCAs in Weston, Greater Hollywood, Hallandale Beach, Pembroke Pines and the L.A. Lee YMCA/Mizell Community Center in Fort Lauderdale.
  • Session options include child-with-adult, preschool, youth, teen and adult classes. Times vary by location and age group.
  • Florida leads the nation in child drownings, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Research from USA Swimming shows Black and Hispanic children face particular risk because they are less likely to receive formal swim lessons.
  • A child’s drowning risk is also higher if a parent does not know how to swim, as it makes that child less likely to receive aquatics instruction.
  • The YMCA will provide free swimsuits to those in need. Donors can drop off new and gently used swimwear at class locations or visit the campaign’s Amazon wish list.
  • To register, visit ymcasouthflorida.org/swim-for-jenny or call 954-334-9622. YMCA officials say they expect spots to fill up. Swim lesson vouchers are also available through WaterSmartFL.

This report was produced with the assistance of a proprietary tool powered by artificial intelligence and using our own originally reported, written and published content. It was reviewed and edited by our journalists.

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