Aquatic Education

Each year more than 150,000 children and adults take part in aquatic education programs at the Y.  That’s a large commitment to the teaching of swimming and water safety to Australian communities. 

The YMCA AquaSafe Aquatic Education Programs:

• are about much more than just learning to swim
• combine water safety education and skill development with personal development
• provide opportunities for students to build a healthy body, mind and spirit
• place an emphasis on simulating open-water environments
• are available to everyone from the age of six months

• are designed in an effort to reduce the incidence of drowning and aquatic accidents.

• encourages students to progress at their own pace

• are offered in small group classes

Shelly the Shrimp and her AquaSafe Friends (r.r.p. $9.95) is a terrific new children’s book launched nationally in November 2005 by the YMCA as part of its commitment to building the water safety skills of Australians.

The story, aimed at children aimed 5-9 and their parents, was inspired by the tragic loss of life of author Kylie Lehman’s brother-in-law, Justin Lehman, in a swimming accident.

The book’s underlying water safety messages are cleverly told through the adventures of Shelly the Shrimp, who learns to swim safely with the aid of her clan of sea creature friends.

Kylie Lehman has donated the story and all proceeds from book sales to enable disadvantaged children to learn to be safe in and around water through the YMCA AquaSafe Aquatic Education Program.