NEW YORK (WBNG) — NY Swims, an initiative from the New York State Department of Health, YMCA and State University of New York, is expanding access to free swim lessons for children ages 12 and under.
The expansion builds on the program launched in 2024, which focused primarily on children ages 4 to 12. The updated initiative now includes children under the age of 4 as well.
SUNY Cortland’s role in the program
SUNY Cortland was among the campuses selected for the program in 2024. Head Swimming and Diving Coach Brian Tobin helped develop a proposal requesting up to $65,000 from the NY SWIMS budget, which was granted.
Tobin said the program brings children from the surrounding community onto campus for water safety instruction.
“We’re taking kids from our community, bringing them onto campus, getting them water safe, teaching them about what they need to do to be safe around the water, and basic fundamental skills,” Tobin said.
The program has also expanded beyond youth swim lessons. Through SUNY system funding, SUNY Cortland has trained older students and community members to become lifeguards and water safety instructors.
“We’ve also been able to teach lifeguarding classes and teach students from the community how to be water safety instructors, how to teach swimming to others,” Tobin said.
Hundreds of children reached since 2024
Tobin said the COVID-19 pandemic left many children without access to swim safety instruction, contributing to gaps in water safety knowledge. Since the program began in 2024, hundreds of children in the Cortland area alone have received swim lessons.
Tobin said drowning is the leading cause of death for children ages 4 and younger.
“They go through a lesson. Sometimes it’s as simple as putting their face in the water for the first time or jumping in off the side of the pool,” Tobin said. “When they’re having that experience and they’re getting used to it in a safe environment, now if they were to fall in when there’s no one around, they’re better prepared.”
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