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INUVIK - Thanks to the Swim For Life program, primary student Samuel Skinner says he doesn't have to worry about swimming in the "deep zone."

In fact, there's a whole lot of things this youngster has learned with his fellow classmates and a handful of Grade 1 students while enrolled in the program since early March.

A few excited primary and Grade 1 students smile with pool lifeguard Dave MacDonald after their latest Swim for Life lesson on Thursday. They are, back row from left, Nicholas Dayman and Kierra McDonald; middle row, Tristan Sorensen, Dave MacDonald, and Lexis McDonald: front row, Caden Sutton and Samuel Skinner. - Andrew Rankin/NNSL photo

Samuel just finished another lesson on Thursday afternoon, and he couldn't believe the progress he has made.

"Now when I'm on my front, I can turn on over to my back," he said. "I learned how to use a life jacket. It's nice to learn and it's very fun to swim. We play. We listen. We get to do the things we want to do when all the work's done."

The Lifesaving Society program will be offered to each Sir Alexander Mackenzie School (SAMS) student until June. Boasting six swimmer levels, it's aimed at teaching every child the basics of swimming, gradually introducing students to everything from safely entering and exiting the water, to treading water, to eventually mastering the front and back crawl. The one-hour-long classes are offered at the pool Wednesday to Friday.

For the two lifeguards running the program, Deanna and Dave MacDonald, the progress for most of the students has been incredible.

"There was one little guy who didn't pass his first level," said Deanna. "But now he's so much more comfortable than he was. You couldn't get him to blow bubbles; now he's swimming underwater."

"They're flying from where they were when they came, five lessons later," said Dave.

They're hoping the program will result in students incorporating swimming into their lifestyles, and that some will eventually develop into lifeguards.

Janette Vlanich, SAMS principal, has been a fierce advocate of the program from Day 1. She's hoping to get the program into the curriculum permanently.

With the help of various community donations, the school has managed to raise $12,000, but Vlanich said an extra $4,000 is needed to keep the program going. She's hoping more community groups might step up to the plate.

The Swim to Survive program, which was funded by the IRC, Gwich'in Tribal Council and the Town of Inuvik, was offered to SAMS students last year.

Vlanich said it's in everyone's interest to ensure young people know how to swim.

"My goal is to have all of the children at SAMS learn to be proficient swimmers and gain a lifelong skill while they are at elementary school. By promoting swimming I really feel that we are promoting a valuable life skill and encouraging lifelong physical fitness."