At the start of summer, Carlee was terrified of the water and had never taken swim lessons. She wouldn’t even approach the pool edge. After just two weeks of lessons through the YMCA (Y) of Greater Birmingham’s Red to Green Initiative, she was going underwater without assistance and gaining confidence with every session.
“Her smile, giggles and jumps for joy say it all!” said Sharon Moon, Mountain Brook Y Aquatics Director.
Toward the end of Carlee’s camp experience, she was getting closer to swimming independently like fellow camper Kelsey, who has autism. She didn’t want to take the swim test during her past swim lessons, but after seeing other campers pass their tests, she gained the confidence to go for it and passed. By the end, they were swimming across the pool with the rest of the campers and instructors cheering them on.
“Moments like this show how powerful this program really is,” said Missy Gooden, Trussville Y Aquatics Director.
Swimming is more than strokes – it’s a life-saving skill. Drowning remains a leading cause of accidental death among children. The YMCA of Greater Birmingham, a United Way partner agency, advocates for kids’ swimming skills to greatly reduce these risks, yet many families face barriers like time and financial resources to accessing lessons.
This past summer, the Y’s Red to Green Initiative provided hundreds of children across the Birmingham metro with the skills, confidence and safety knowledge they needed to enjoy the water responsibly. The program offered free swim lessons to summer day campers who had not yet passed the YMCA swim test, serving all seven membership branches, the Downtown Youth Center, and school-based summer day camps in Homewood and Trussville. Campers were assigned swim bands based on their ability:
- Red: Non-swimmer; must wear a Coast Guard-approved life jacket
- Green: Confident, independent swimmer allowed in all areas of the pool
Building Skills and Confidence
In its inaugural year, 414 campers progressed from red to green bands, marking a moment of pride and achievement for many.
Joy Mann, Hoover Y Family Life Director, said, “Earning that green band is a milestone that makes campers proud of themselves. Providing this free to campers gave every child the chance to learn this life-saving skill.”
The initiative was inspired by a growing number of campers wearing red bands and life jackets, a clear signal of a gap in swim skills. The Y designed Red to Green to give every child the chance to become a confident swimmer who can safely enjoy the pool with independence. Even more, for some children this was their first attempt at setting a goal and accomplishing it.
“Trust is a huge factor in learning to swim, and our campers quickly discovered they could trust their instructors,” said Moon. “Our campers thrived having the same instructors in the water with them each week.”
Stories of Success
Four-year-old Henry overcame his fear.
“It is so amazing to see how kids conquer their fears and have fun,” said Melanie Norman, Greystone Y Youth and Sports Director. “Henry was very hesitant at first but has completely overcome his fear of the water.”
Laurie Ann had previously taken swim lessons, but the program at camp gave her the skills she needed to tread water and swim a lap in order to pass the swim test. Her older brother Josh, a rising 4th grader, was her biggest cheerleader, motivating her to pass the test so she could wear a green band like him! “She was so excited to pass her swim test and finally wear a green band at camp,” said Jenny Rozen, mother of day campers Laurie Ann and Joshua.
Empowering Staff and Campers
Red to Green goes beyond safety, building confidence and self-esteem. Christin Dowdy, Hoover Y Aquatics Director, said,
“Swim lessons have a huge impact on confidence, both in and out of the water. Campers often encourage and cheer each other on, and you can really see their confidence grow throughout the summer.”
Addison Davis, Pelham Y Aquatics Director, added,
“It goes beyond teaching swimming. Kids develop core memories of ‘I learned how to swim at the Y.’ They form amazing relationships with instructors and counselors as well as a feeling of security and care that will stay with them.”
Ensuring Access for All Families
Looking to the future, Chad Zaucha, CEO and President of YMCA of Greater Birmingham, said,
“Our hope for Red to Green is that every child, regardless of their starting point, has the chance to learn to swim and feel safe in the water. At its heart, this initiative is about building confidence and nurturing growth in spirit, mind and body.”
The Y offers swimming lessons year-round and provides financial assistance for group lessons. But the Y understands fear of water isn’t isolated to children. The Y provides financial assistance for adults wanting to learn to swim, too. A child with a swimming parent or guardian has a 70% or higher chance of learning compared to non-swimming parents or guardians. Interested participants can visit the Y website or a local branch to apply.
The YMCA of Greater Birmingham provides inclusive programs that promote youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. The Red to Green Initiative is one of the many ways United Way partners support Youth Health and Wellness in Central Alabama.
To learn more about our impact, click here.