Swim Lessons 2010

Swim lessons begin in the shelter house with a "whale tale" that teaches the kids a safety phrase like, "Swim with a buddy in a supervised area," or "Be cool, follow the rules."

Ben "monkeying" from the ladder to his spot on the gutter. Ben spent most of his swim lesson holding on to the side and doing bobs.

Sam resting after swimming across the pool and back.

The boys both had 2 weeks of swim lessons at Twin River Swim Club. We used to be members, but have not been for the past couple of summers, but continue to return for lessons because we love the teachers, and the teachers love the boys.

Both boys passed their Red Cross swim levels. Ben will be in level 2 next summer and Sam will be in level 4! After taking 2 summers to pass level 2, we were very excited that Sam was able to pass level 3 in one attempt.

The last day is spent with a quick test for passing the levels. Sam had to swim across the deep end using his freestyle stroke, tread water for 30 seconds, and then use the elementary backstroke (better known as "monkey, airplane, soldier") back across. I'd post the video but it is almost 2 minutes long, but Sam did a super job.

The reward for 2 weeks of hard work is for everyone to go off the diving boards. We challenged Sam to go off the high dive, and we made a deal that he could get a lego (as if we don't already have enough) set if he did. I wasn't sure he would do it, but he marched to the ladder, climbed it, walked to the end of the board, and jumped! Then he did it again. After the 2nd jump he was done.Sam did not spend much time contemplating, he just jumped!

Ben was also very brave and went off. He probably wouldn't have minded at all if he would have gone under water. He has been jumping off the side and going under all summer at Gma and Gpa Keefer's pool. His teacher was very proud of him for going underwater, and with a little push got a ring off the bottom of the pool.

Now that Ben is older, I think we will save this fall and winter so we can join the swim club next year. It is so close to our house, it will be nice to have a pool so close. That way the kids can take swim lessons all summer long!!!