Vicksburg, Miss…The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Arkansas Corps lakes personnel and the local YMCA of Hot Springs have partnered for the past three years to spread the water safety message through a summer swim day camp for youth.
The camp is geared towards youth aged 5-13 years, with approximately 100 youth having enrolled this year. Through this partnership, the educational camp includes a Fun Day at Arc Isle, a public park at Lake Hamilton. This Fun Day at Arc Isle is one of the educational field trips which gives the youth the opportunity to swim in Lake Hamilton.
Other activities for the youth include games, arts and crafts, and learning to swim - the main focus of the program. The swim camp teaches water safety and highlights the dangers of swimming to retrieve items carried away by the wind, such as beach balls and Frisbees. The program also highlights topics such as Learning to Swim, Reach, Throw, Row, Don’t Go, and Lifejacket Wear.
Fees for the camp are paid on a weekly basis throughout the summer. The program has been successful with more than 200 youth learning to swim or enhancing their swimming abilities as well as learning about water safety.
The Corps is the Nation’s leading provider of outdoor recreation with over 420 lake and river projects in 43 states and over 370 million visitors per year. In Arkansas, approximately 9-10 million persons visit the Corps’ three Arkansas lakes annually, which bring about $33.89 million in total sales, and support more than 700 jobs within the areas.
Summer Swim Camp PHOTOS:
Swim Camp Photo 1 - Brian Westfall, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Natural Resource Specialist/ Ranger teaches youth about water safety.
Swim Camp Photo 2 - Renea Guin, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Natural Resource Specialist/ Ranger teaches proper wear of lifejacket.
Swim Camp Photo 3 - Amy Shultz, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Natural Resource Specialist/ Ranger teaches Reach, Throw, Row, Don’t Go techniques with beach lifesaving equipment.