Young swimmers kick up a splash in their classes
Lessons started three weeks ago with plans to continue until end of August
Joseph Tunney
Northern News Services
Wednesday, July 20, 2016
LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON
Swimming lessons have started back up at the recreation centre pool and for instructor Michael Gast there is something rewarding in watching the children improve.
Instructor Michael Gast, left, and Nailia Tsetso play Sharks and Minnows, a game where the children have to swim across the pool without being tagged. - Joseph Tunney/NNSL photo
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"There was this one kid that wouldn't jump in the pool or swim alone . and now they jump into the deep end all the time," said Gast. "It was like it wasn't the same person swimming."
The lessons started three weeks ago and, depending on when the instructors decided to go to university, there are plans to keep them running until the end of August.
A single swimming lesson would take in at most 10 children, Gast said higher than that and it becomes too hard to manage.
"The smaller children, for sure, because they need a lot of attention," Gast said.
During the lessons, the children learn how to tread water and perform different styles of swimming.
Typically the hardest one for the children to master is the breaststroke because of its initially unintuitive rhythm, he said.
Having taken swimming lessons as a child in Fort Simpson, Gast said he knows its benefits in the community.
"It teaches kids to swim and be safe around our river," said Gast. "It's a prominent part of our town."
On top of the safety benefits of teaching the children to swim, Gast also said it's just good to see the children being active.
One of the children's favourite parts of the lesson is playing Sharks and Minnows where they must swim across the pool and avoid being tagged by the instructor.
If they are tagged they become "seaweed" and must try to tag their classmates.
Gast likes to end his swimming lesson with the game to leave the swimmers on a high note.
Overall, however, Gast said the children seem to have fun with every part of the lesson.
"Just swimming around," he said. "They seem to have fun doing everything."
