For more than 170 years now, the YMCA has been a leader in providing swim lessons, water safety instruction and water fitness classes to people of all ages. After nearly two centuries, a rich history of experience, involvement and practice has earned the YMCA the title of “America’s Swim Instructor.” This month, the South Shore YMCA is making good on this title once again by introducing a more comprehensive, convenient and powerful aquatics program across the Association to best meet the needs of today’s swimmers. Under this new umbrella, the South Shore’s best swim program will become even better by uniting its aquatics, competitive swimming and water fitness teams.
“Our indoor and outdoor pools see thousands of visitors on a weekly basis, and so we regularly assess our programs to ensure that we’re not only meeting, but exceeding the needs of today’s swimmers,” said Paul Gorman, CEO, SSYMA. “Based on this continual evaluation, we’re proud to announce the South Shore YMCA Swim Academy, which will improve our entire swim and water fitness program.”
Under the new South Shore YMCA Swim Academy name, the South Shore Y’s aquatics, competitive swimming and water fitness teams have joined forces, making it more convenient to schedule, providing clearer paths for progression, and always maintaining the highest levels of excellence in safety, training and certification.
“With these changes, we’re making it simpler than ever to stay involved with swimming at the South Shore YMCA,” said Director of Competitive Swimming, Bernie Dickman.
“You’ll now be able to register for our swim programming here at the SSYMCA at your convenience,” echoed Meaghan Hilton, Aquatics Director, South Shore YMCA, Emilson Branch. “Parents will now be able to know swim lesson schedules months in advance, just like other sports their children are involved with. Individuals will now have clearer paths for competitive swimming options, and for our general water fitness classes, too. We look forward to working together to find the options that best fit each person’s unique needs.”
In each category of the South Shore YMCA’s new Swim Academy, a spotlight will be shown on water safety education. Because most of the communities in the South Shore Y’s service area border the Atlantic Ocean, and all are bordered by major rivers and ponds, the need for safety reminders and training at every level is of the utmost importance across the South Shore.
“The SSYMCA Swim Academy will provide a refreshed and unified platform for us to more easily spread our water safety messaging and curriculum to as many adults, children and families as possible throughout the communities we serve,” noted Dickman. “This will ensure that we’re seizing every opportunity possible to highlight the importance of education regarding safer practices for people of all ages both in and around the water.”
“The new Swim Academy truly focuses on what families need, which is ease of use” said Erin Ney, SSYMCA Medical Wellness Advisory Board Chair. “The South Shore Y recognizes that today’s families need flexibility, and with this program, they Y is taking yet another step to make it as easy as possible for people to have fun, and to stay safe and get healthy.”
“Our new Swim Academy will offer so much more than swim lessons for those just starting out in the water – it’s really the complete package,” added Ken Berardi, Aquatics Director, Quincy. “This update will ultimately help to bring everyone in our Aquatics community closer together, and to better everyone in it.”
To learn more, contact the SSYMCA Swim Academy team:
- Emilson YMCA Aquatics Director: Meaghan Hilton, mhilton@ssymca.829stage.com
- Quincy YMCA Aquatics Director: Ken Berardi, kberardi@ssymca.829stage.com
- Director of Competitive Swimming: Tim Anderson, tanderson@ssymca.829stage.com
The South Shore YMCA is a charity serving the communities of Quincy, Randolph, Holbrook, Weymouth, Braintree, Milton, Hingham, Hull, Cohasset, Scituate, Norwell, Hanover and beyond. Financial Assistance is a Y community benefit available to all families in need, applicable to all Y programs and services. To learn more about the South Shore YMCA, visit www.ssymca.829stage.com.