Outdoor Recreation offers swimming lessons for kids

  • Published
  • By Lee Ross
  • Nucleus editor
KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --  Kirtland's Outdoor Recreation program still has opportunities for kids to cool off and learn to swim this summer at the outdoor pool.

According to Leanne Hancock, who has worked as an instructor for eight years, swimming skills don't just make water activities more fun; they could just save your life.

"Swimming is one of those things that is a sport, but it's also a survival skill and recreational," she said. "That makes it unique.

Hancock is also a lifeguard and has seen plenty of people who can't swim get themselves into serious trouble.

On Monday, Hancock taught a group of four kids ranging in age from 5 to 9 how to do the backstroke and freestyle.

"They did really well," she said.

Maria Smukalla has taken her son, Ajay, 5, to four lessons so far. She said she would recommend them to other parents, partially because of how friendly everyone at the pool has been.

"Even if we just come on the weekends, they all remember his name," she said. "It makes him feel so welcome."

The sessions are $55 per student and must be paid for in cash or check.

Starting on July 13 there will be morning and evening sessions for a variety of age ranges, from parent and tot sessions to advanced.

A full schedule of classes, pool hours and more are available at the outdoor pool, which is just south of the Mountain View Club, southeast of the intersection of Golden Smoke Drive and Club Road.

For more information, call 846-5821.