January 25, 2019 at 4:10 p.m.
Three Lakes grads help local children learn water safety
Three Lakes grads help local children learn water safety
Last May, these 17- and 18-year-olds approached the YMCA of the Northwoods in an effort to bring back a fond memory from their youth: attending swim lessons at the Y.
"We (the senior class) wanted to do something more impactful than put up a bench or put a plaque on the wall," Class President Grace Stefonik explained in a press release. "When we were kids, we thought swim lessons were just part of school. We didn't realize it was funded by a local donor. When we found out, we wanted to be that donor!"
As a result of fundraising from when they were in eighth grade and planning a class trip to Washington D.C., the class has the ability to pay for two to three years of swim lessons for every third-grade student in the Three Lakes district.
These lessons, held at the YMCA of the Northwoods, started Jan. 8 and will run through Feb. 12.
"Educating children about how to be safe around water is just as important as teaching them to look both ways before they cross the street," said Matt Steingraber, Aquatics Director, YMCA of the Northwoods. "The Y teaches children of all ages and backgrounds that water should be fun, not feared, and this practice not only saves lives, it builds confidence."
Class Vice President Maggie Servent met Stefonik and other students through swimming lessons at the Y when they were in third grade.
"It was our first time meeting each other and it started friendships that will last a lifetime just from playing and learning in the water," Servent said.
To learn about swim lessons at the YMCA of the Northwoods, call 715-362-9622 or visit www.ymcaofthenorthwoods.org.
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