The Harrison Township Recreation Commission will begin a kids aquatic program on Saturday, Jan. 6, at Kennedy Fitness in Mullica Hill.
“Everyone really seems to enjoy it,” said Recreation Coordinator Sharon Chew. “It’s very popular. It makes for a great Christmas gift, since it’s the gift that keeps on giving.”
The program will run for 10 weeks on select Saturdays and Sundays, with two classes from 10 to 10:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.; and Tuesdays, when four classes will be held from 3:30 to 4:15 p.m.. The program will conclude on Tuesday March 12.
Classes are for children who are six months to 2 years old, and those 2-and-a-half to 4 years. Parents are required to participate in these sessions, which will emphasize water safety and the foundations of swimming skills.
Other classes will include beginner and intermediate swimmers, generally those ages 5 to 7, who will learn the four main swimming strokes – backstroke, butterfly, freestyle and breaststroke – as well as breathing techniques. A developmental swim team for kids 7 and up is also planned.
“The swimmers are a part of a non-competing swim team,” Chew explained. “Kids will be instructed on the four basic strokes and be conditioned for swimming as they grow throughout the program.”
The kids aquatic program began when Chew first reached out to Kennedy Fitness about using its facility for the classes.
“I reached out to them 13 years ago in order to do a group program, and it’s been going strong ever since,” she noted.
Parents can register their kids and find additional information such as pricing at Sign Up Genius. Space is limited; the maximum number for each class varies based on the course. If no slots are available, the program will run again in the spring on dates yet to be determined. There will also be more sessions next fall.
There are no sessions in the summer, when the recreation commission focuses on summer camps, according to Chew.
