Swimming

Swimming is a key component to the Horizons program and a crowd favorite among our students. According to the Center for Disease Control, more than one in five fatal drowning victims are children younger than 14. In predominantly minority communities, the youth drowning rate is often 2-3 times higher than the national average. In addition, swimming teaches resilience and strategies to overcome fears and obstacles. It inspires a healthy lifestyle, introduces students to a competitive sport, and teaches skills for summer employment. 

During our Summer 2025 program, students received 54 hours of swim instruction, learning safety in the water, how to blow bubbles underwater, and how to tread water. Every student showed growth and improvement in their skills. By the program’s end, 100% of our students were comfortable wading if not treading water in the pool.