courtesy of Metroparks
Statistics show a significant disparity in swimming ability among Black children and adults, with many facing barriers to learning how to swim. Factors such as limited pool access, financial constraints, and cultural attitudes contribute to this gap. Programs like the Everyone in the Pool initiative aim to address these disparities by providing free swim lessons, helping increase access, and encouraging learning in underserved communities.
One year after expanding the Everyone in the Pool swim initiative, the Huron-Clinton Metroparks and its partners make a big difference in Southeast Michigan. In 2024, they provided 3,128 free swim lessons for adults and children, surpassing their goals for the year. This year was special because, for the first time, they offered swim lessons in schools and classes for adults.
From 2021 to 2023, the Metroparks and its community partners offered free swim lessons to more than 4,600 children, helping to keep them safe in the water. At the end of 2023, the Huron-Clinton Metropolitan Authority Board approved a new five-year plan called Everyone in the Pool, which started in 2024. Drowning is a serious problem, especially for low-income families and children of color.
In particular, Black children between the ages of 5 and 19 are over five times more likely to drown compared to white children in the same age group. Metroparks is dedicated to changing this situation by providing more free swim lessons and essential water safety skills to communities that need them most through the Everyone in the Pool program.
Amy McMillan, director of Huron-Clinton Metroparks highlighted by meeting and exceeding 2024 goals, being addressed is the urgent need for water safety education while building a foundation for a safer and more accessible future in Southeast Michigan.
“We know access is one of the biggest barriers to learning how to swim and we want to ensure everyone in our communities, regardless of their circumstances, have the opportunity to gain these lifesaving skills,” McMillian said.
The 2024 Everyone in the Pool annual report showcases important progress in teaching water safety skills. Last year, 10 partner organizations provided free swimming and water safety lessons to 3,128 participants across Livingston, Oakland, Macomb, Washtenaw, and Wayne counties at 20 different locations. More than half of the participants finished their lessons with good or excellent skills in back floating, which is a crucial technique for staying safe in the water by helping swimmers keep their heads above water. 87% of the swimmers learned how to get in and out of the water by themselves, and 57% mastered bobbing, a technique that helps with breathing control after going underwater unexpectedly.
Jecoliah Warren, the City of Detroit’s aquatics coordinator, emphasized that learning to swim reduces the drowning rate, improves cardiovascular health, and decreases child obesity, but the impact of this program goes beyond that and changes lives.
“Last year, I spoke to two grandmothers who shared that not only did their grandsons learn how to swim, but they were able to overcome their fears of water,” Warren said.
“That lets me know our program is working! To partner on this with Metroparks for another year means a lot to me as a Detroiter and our community.”
In 2024, the Metroparks started a great new program by offering free swim lessons right in schools. This initiative was designed to help students by making it easier for them to learn to swim without worrying about transportation or parents’ busy schedules. That year, Whitmore Lake Public Schools joined as a new partner in this program. They not only provided adult swim lessons but also offered free swim lessons to all first and second-graders at Whitmore Lake Elementary School. Each session lasted two weeks, giving every child a total of ten lessons to improve their swimming skills.
At Detroit Public Schools Community District’s East English Village Preparatory Academy, swim lessons facilitated by the YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit – Detroit Swims program were incorporated into high school gym classes, ensuring every student has the opportunity to learn essential skills. Swim lessons were also made available after school at South Lake High School for students in the district.
Ann Kehn, Recreation and Aquatics Director, Whitmore Lake Public Schools. With the support of the Huron-Clinton Metroparks Everyone in the Pool program, Whitmore Lake Public Schools was able to support every first and second-grader in 2024 and will expand into third and fourth-grade students in 2025.
“What an amazing opportunity to meet the kids in the pool during the school day. Now every child in this lake community is being taught the basic skills to be safe in and around the water,” Kehn said.
Last year, Metroparks also launched free adult swim lessons, with courses held at six YMCA locations in Macomb, Detroit, Farmington Hills, Wyandotte, Birmingham, and Royal Oak, as well as at Whitmore Lake High School Community Pool. When adults feel confident and knowledgeable around water, they’re more likely to promote water safety and ensure the children in their lives learn to swim and navigate water responsibly.
Lifeguard shortages have been a recurring challenge not just in Michigan but across the country. The Everyone in the Pool 5-Year Plan included expanding lifeguard training programs by launching a pilot collaborative lifeguard training program with the YMCA. In 2024, in partnership with the YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit, Metroparks launched a pilot training program and trained six new Metroparks lifeguards for free, who were then employed through the summer.
Metroparks partnered with Annapolis High School to help them offer swim lessons. Although the school had a pool, it struggled with finding the money and staff needed to run the program. To solve this, Metroparks obtained funding from the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan. They also teamed up with the YMCA to bring in an experienced swim instructor and to train six lifeguards. With this support, Annapolis High School can now provide free swim lessons to students from Dearborn Heights for the very first time in 2025.
Amanda Barone, Regional Aquatics Director for YMCA Metro Detroit noted when community service organizations and public services join forces, the community wins.
“Thousands of children and their parents will experience water safety and swim lessons this summer, thanks to the Everyone in the Pool initiative,” Barone said.
“One of the gems of this union has been offering free lifeguard training. We will never truly know how many lives we have saved through our partnership, but we know more of our children and families are safer around water because we came together.”
The Metroparks received not only the money they had planned for but also some extra funding from various grants to help them grow and continue their programs into 2025. One of the key supporters was the CDC Foundation, which gave them up to $50,039 to help expand swim lessons in schools. This initiative includes partnerships with schools like Detroit Public Schools Community District, South Lake High School, and Center Line Public Schools.
The Metroparks received not only the money they had planned for but also some extra funding from various grants to help them grow and continue their programs into 2025. One of the key supporters was the CDC Foundation, which gave them up to $50,039 to help expand swim lessons in schools. This initiative includes partnerships with schools like Detroit Public Schools Community District, South Lake High School, and Center Line Public Schools.
Greg Yankee, associate vice president of Programs at the Community Foundation, highlighted that the Everyone in the Pool program aligns with the vision of a southeast Michigan where everyone thrives.
“It removes financial barriers to water safety and swim education courses, while increasing opportunities for lifeguard certification training. Thanks to the Huron-Clinton Metroparks and its partners, more children and adults in our region have the life-saving skills they need to stay safe in the water,” Yankee said.