Get your feet wet with swim lessons and water aerobics

DAYTONA BEACH, FL (Aug. 14, 2008) - Don’t be a fish out of water by not knowing how to swim and be safe. The American Red Cross “Learn to Swim” classes offered at the Aquatic Center at Daytona State College are designed to teach all ages to swim and be safe around aquatic environments. Classes are held Mondays and Wednesdays - the next series of classes start Sept. 8 and continue through Oct. 1.

Held in Daytona State’s 25-yard by 25-meter indoor pool, the programs are broken into five levels:

Aquatic Exploration is for ages six months to 23 months. This program is designed for infants and toddlers to be introduced to the water and swimming in a fun, safe and loving environment. Children will be taught the fundamentals that form the basis for swimming and introduced to basic swimming skills. Class runs from 4:30to 5 p.m. and cost $30.

*Parent accompaniment in the water is required. Children ages three and under must wear a swim diaper.

Aquatic Adventure is for children ages two to three years old. This program is designed for infants and toddlers to be introduced to the water and swimming in a fun, safe and loving environment. Children will be taught the fundamentals that form the basis for swimming and introduced to basic swimming skills. Class runs from 5:15 to 5:45 p.m. and cost $30.*Parent accompaniment in the water is required. Children ages three and under must wear a swim diaper.

Aquatic Journey teaches children ages four through seven the fundamentals of swimming and basic water safety skills. Children are grouped by skill level with a student-instructor ratio not to exceed 5:1. Class runs from 4:30 - 5 p.m. or 5:15 - 5:45 p.m. and costs $35.

Aquatic Challenge offers seven levels ranging from beginner to advanced. Participants, age’s eight to 12, and a separate group aged 13 to 17 years old, are evaluated on the first day to determine their group placement. Participants learn stroke techniques, proper breathing, personal water safety skills and methods of basic water rescue. Class runs from 6 to 6:45 p.m. and cost $40.

Adult Swimming is offered to those 18 years and older and focuses on making the swimmer more comfortable in the water. It also aids in learning the different strokes, and building up endurance. Class runs from 6 to 6:45 p.m. and cost $45.

Water safety is stressed and taught to all participants. All instructors have been certified as American Red Cross Water Safety Instructors.

Water aerobic sessions provide people of all ages the opportunity to burn calories, increase strength and flexibility, tone-up, improve the cardiovascular system, and get more to fit overall. Water aerobics offers lower injury risk while working the entire body in a very different way than it is accustomed to. Water provides natural resistance and the intensity is varied by alternating between shallow and deep areas. A low-impact exercise often used by pregnant women, people recovering from an injury, and people with arthritis. Classes are held Mondays and Wednesdays, and are free with an Aquatic/Fitness Center Membership; cost $3 per class or purchase a $30 swim card which is good for 11 visits within a four month period.

The Aquatic Center is open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturdays 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., closed Sundays and on all college holidays. Any other closures will be posted at least one week in advance.

The Aquatic Centeris located in the L. Gale Lemerand Center (Bldg. 310) on the Daytona Beach Campus. For additional information about the “Learn to Swim” programs or water aerobic classes, call (386) 506-4386 or visit the Daytona State Web site at www.DaytonaState.edu/Aquatic_Ctr.

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MEDIA CONTACT:

Glyn Johnston, Public Information Officer - Marketing & Communications, (386) 506-4499, johnstg@DaytonaState.edu

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