TEACHING VALUABLE LESSONS

Right, Swimming instructors Heather Brown, left, Andy Wine and Jamie Dost teach Dana Overbeck, 7, important swimming lessons at level 2.

Erica Knowlan, left, and Mike Schemel assist Taylor Collins, 5, also left, and Mitchell Montgomery, 5, with floating on their back.

James Reedy and Kellie Seabaugh have their swimming students learning to dive with the aid of a hula hoop.

One way many kids and adults are beating the summer blues is by diving into swimming lessons offered at the Jackson Municipal Pool.

The pool staff is teaching children and adults valuable swimming lessons that could save their life.

The program was originally designed for citizens of Jackson. However, the program has recently attracted community groups from Perry County and Cape Girardeau.

There are four sessions for levels 1-6 that last two weeks long and the first session of the summer is already under way.

Session two will be from June 23-July 3. Session three will be from July 7-18 and the final session will be from July 21-Aug. 1. The times for each session vary so contact the pool for the times.

Brett Blackman, programs director, said that the swimming program will train nearly 1,000 people this summer.

Each two-week session goes from Monday through Thursday and the kids are in the water for 45 minutes at a time.

The training is provided by the 21 lifeguard/water safety instructors employed by the pool.

Brenda Pfefferkorn of Tender Care Playhouse has been taking her daycare students to the swimming lessons for the past three years.

"They are so perfect you can't even imagine how wonderful they are here," Pfefferkorn said.

The kids are eager to get in and learn how to swim, she added.

Parents Lounge is a new addition to the program where the parents are given information about the program and the certifications of each of the instructors.

The program offers a number of different training programs for children of all ages and adults.

There is a Water Babies program that teaches mothers and their 6 to 16 month old babies some water skills. There is one more Water Babies session remaining this summer July 7-18 from 6:30-7 p.m.

There is also a training program for toddlers ages 16 to 36 months. The training is more in-depth. Armstroke skills are taught and the children go under water more. One more session remains for toddlers, it runs July 7-18 from 6-6:30 p.m.

Basic Adult classes and Lifeguard Training for the summer have already begun.

Advanced Adult classes will begin July 7. They will be held from 7-7:45 p.m. two nights a week for four weeks.

Community Water Safety classes will run from July 7-18 from 9-9:45 a.m.

Aqua Fitness session one began Tuesday, but a second session is slated for July 15-Aug. 14 from 7-8 p.m. This class is offered through the Red Cross and is great for senior citizens, especially those suffering from arthritis

There are many different stations that the swimmers must learn as they go through the course.

The aquatic programs has outlined a description and age guideline for each level of training. It is stressed that age should be the last option when deciding to enroll for lessons. Skill level and experience should be the first thing that is used to determine which level to enroll in.

"Swimming is the most popular aquatic activity that kids are involved with," Blackman said.

"It's good exercise for kids and kids are around the water a lot and they need these skills."

The program has grown since 1994. Blackman said that it has grown 41 percent since its beginning.

"I feel that swimming lessons in Jackson are still the cheapest thing you can do in Jackson."

These programs require prior registration, to register call the pool at 243-8343. Registration for the classes ends four days before the class begins.