Published: 10/09/2026 - 8:00 AM
Pottstown, PA - October 7, 20926 - The Pottstown YMCA will welcome third grade classrooms from the Pottstown School District on Monday, October 12, Monday, October 19, and Thursday, October 22, for Safety Around Water, a program that teaches children the skills they need to stay safe in and around water. Each visit includes a land-based safety lesson, an in-water session in the Y pool, lunch and a craft activity.
Safety Around Water is a national YMCA program designed to reduce the risk of drowning and build children’s confidence in and around water. Students learn two skill sets they can use if they ever find themselves in the water unexpectedly: “Jump, Push, Turn, Grab” and “Swim, Float, Swim.” They also learn what to do if they see someone in the water who needs help.
“Drowning is preventable. The key is to teach a child how to be safe around water before they find themselves in an unsafe situation,” said Aimee Smith, Executive Director of Programs and Aquatics at the Greater Philadelphia YMCA. “A child who knows how to get back to a wall, or how to float and catch their breath, carries that knowledge to every pool, lake, creek and beach they visit for the rest of their life. These skills save lives, and every child in our community deserves the chance to learn them. We’re grateful to have school partners who can make that possible.”
The need is real. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional injury death for children ages 5 to 14, behind only motor vehicle crashes. An estimated 4,000 people die from unintentional drowning in the United States each year, an average of 11 deaths per day.
EVENT DETAILS
WHAT: Safety Around Water Half-Day Field Trip for Third Grade Classrooms
WHEN: Monday, October 12, 2026: 9:30am – 1:30pm Monday, October 19, 2026: 9:30am – 1:30pm Thursday, October 22, 2026: 9:30am – 1:30pm
WHERE: Pottstown YMCA 724 N. Adams Street Pottstown, PA 19464
WHO:
- Third grade students and teachers from Pottstown School District (all 3rd grade classrooms in the district participate)
- Pottstown YMCA aquatics staff and swim instructors
EVENT HIGHLIGHTS
Land session: students learn water safety rules and what to do if they see someone in the water who needs help.
Water session: students practice “Jump, Push, Turn, Grab” and “Swim, Float, Swim” in the pool with YMCA instructors.
Each visit wraps up with lunch and a craft activity.