We hosted our first + POOL Camp!

One thing we’ve learned about providing free swim lessons for youth over the years is that in NYC, there just aren’t enough opportunities to meet the demand! This spring break, we decided to host a four-day camp to get kids swimming and teach them more about the water that surrounds us. Our inaugural Camp + POOL was held over NYC Public Schools’ Spring Break, with all-day fun from April 10–13, 2023. The program provided full days of learning, swimming, and active play to 20 youths ages 8–15, all from different schools!

We asked our friend Shawn Selvin to speak to both participants and their parents about water safety; we led a water filtration experiment to engage kids in the design thinking process; and John Jay Men’s Basketball Coach David Muchnick came with three of his current players to shoot some hoops! We also worked with an amazing new partner, Active Plus, who got the kids outside to DeWitt Park for all kinds of outdoor activities! We had a blast designing the full pool experience for some pretty inspiring kids, incorporating elements of design, environmental stewardship, and swim education.

We loved building community with these students and hope to make this an annual tradition! Special thanks to the staff and lifeguards at John Jay, our rock star swim instructors, program assistants Alex Lopez and Matt Wilder, and Physique swim instructors Kevin, Arni, Wu, and Nani, who joined forces to make this week unforgettable! If you want to be a part of our amazing team for future programs, drop us a line or complete this form to let us know!