IN THE SWIM

Learning how to swim offers a three-for-one return on the investment: water safety, physical fitness, and a form of recreation that can be enjoyed throughout a lifetime.

Many drownings could have been prevented if the victims knew how to swim and had been taught water safety. Each summer in thousands of communities across the United States organizations offer swimming lessons to people of all ages.

In Cape Girardeau at least three organizations offer swimming lessons this year: the Cape Girardeau Parks and Recreation Department, the Cape Girardeau Jaycees and the Cape Girardeau Kiwanis Club.

Swimming lessons are offered on weekday mornings at the Capaha Park pool by the Jaycees and Kiwanis clubs and in the early evening at the Central Municipal pool by the Parks and Recreation Department.

The Jaycees began its swimming program in 1959, two years after the Capaha pool was dedicated. Karen Chapman, director of the Jaycees program, said it originally was a community service of the Jaycee wives to raise funds for community activities. Jaycee wives was phased out in the 1980s after women could become members of the Jaycees.

"Today, the Jaycees operate the program as a community service project, said Chapman. "We no longer use it as a fund-raiser. We charge only what it takes to cover the expenses of the program and pay the water safety instructors.

"The purpose of our project is to provide an aquatic program that promotes water safety knowledge and practices, aquatic adjustment and swimming readiness skills, fun and enjoyment in the water, participant socialization and parental involvement.

"Our program is designed to develop in young children a comfort level in and around the water as well as a readiness for learning to swim. The program is not designed to teach children to become accomplished swimmers; that comes as they move through the seven swimming skill levels as they grow into their teens.

"Our emphasis with the 3 1/2- to 6-year-old age group is on having fun while learning the basics of water safety," said Chapman. "The earlier children are introduced to the water the easier it is for them to lessen their fear of the water and have the desire to become good swimmers."

Chapman said each swimming lesson begins with the water safety instructors letting the children play in the water. "It looks like play, but we are also letting the children become comfortable in the water," she said. "Later we move on to deeper water and show them how to use flotation devices, and then on to the basic elements of swimming. We end each session with more water play so they remember the fun of being in the water."

Chapman said all water safety instructors are certified and trained by the American Red Cross, and have been with the program from two-to-seven years. "Many of our instructors were once students in the same program they first learned about the fun and enjoyment of aquatic sports."

Chapman said the Jaycees offer three sessions each summer. The first began June 13 and ends Thursday. The second will run July 4-21, and the third July 25-Aug. 11.

Chapman said: "Right now we have about 156 children enrolled in the first session. Our age limits are 3 1/2- to-6 years of age, and all lessons are given in the small pool."

Lois Unfer has been director of the Kiwanis Club's learn-to-swim program for almost 20 years. She said the program has grown as more parents realize the value of teaching their children how to swim at an early age.

"Swimming is now promoted as a way to learn more about water safety, to keep physically fit, and as a recreational and team sport activity," said Unfer. The large number of summer swim teams in the region is one result of the increased interest in swimming."

Unfer said the Kiwanis program works with children 6 and older. They offer swimming lessons in swimming skill levels 2-7.

She said: "At each skill level students are able to perform a number of swimming maneuvers and demonstrate their knowledge of water safety rules and practices. By the time a teenaged student reaches the top skill level, they're accomplished swimmers and are eligible to go on to lifeguard and water safety instructor training, if they desire."

In addition to swimming lessons, the Kiwanis also offers for adults swimnastics at 10:15 a.m. and aqua-aerobics at 11 a.m., both at the Capaha pool.

The three Kiwanis learn-to-swim sessions run concurrently with the Jaycees swimming lessons at Capaha pool.

In addition to offering swimming lessons for 3- to-5-year-olds, 6- to-13-year-olds and adults, the Parks and Recreation Department offers Water Babies classes for infants and toddlers 6 months to 3 years. Doug Gannon, aquatic-recreation coordinator, said the class is designed to introduce children to the water with mom or dad.

"The goal of this course is to get the baby accustomed to water and having fun in the process," said Gannon.

The department is offering four learn-to-swim sessions this summer. The first began June 13 and ends Thursday, the second starts July 4 and ends July 21, the third runs July 25-Aug. 11, and the final session Aug. 15-Sept. 1.

Gannon said: "We still have openings for the remaining three sessions. Parents should call the park office at the Arena Building, 335-5421, to register for the Central pool swimming lessons."

To register for the remaining Jaycees or Kiwanis swimming lessons, call the Capaha pool during the morning, 335-4510.

Gannon said the department also offers a number of other aquatic programs during the summer, including: home pool safety instruction, emergency water safety, basic water safety, water safety instructor aide training, lifeguard training, water safety instructor training, CPR-first aid training, swimnastics, aqua-aerobics levels I and II, and the Long Fellows Wales Tales elementary age instruction in water and swimming pool safety.