City of Bryant participates in World’s Largest Swimming Lesson
Lesson
The Bryant Aquatic Center at Bishop Park was filled Thursday afternoon with the sound of children learning the very basics of swim and water safety from on-staff instructors as they participated in the World’s Largest Swimming Lesson.
WLSL is a promotional event designed to build awareness and generate local conversation about the vital importance of teaching kids to swim, and about water safety to help prevent drowning. Since its inception in 2010, TEAM WLSL has shared the message Swimming Lessons Save Lives
Bryant Aquatics Director Kristin Robinson, who organized the event for the city, states, “Many of the children we see every day at Bishop Park and at the Mills Park pool have never received formal swimming lessons. This is not unusual. In fact, according to the research conducted by the American Red Cross, more than half (56 percent) of kids ages 4-17 cannot perform basic water safety skills needed to save their own life. Our hope is that this event will help spark positive conversations and awareness in our community about water safety not only with the kids who took part in our lesson, but with their parents, friends and family as well.”
For Thursday’s event, the city partnered with the Bryant Boys and Girls Club and 57 children participated in this world wide swimming lesson event.
Suzanne Passmore, CEO of the BGC, and Jason Whittington, director of operations, were onsite to observe and many local community leaders showed up to show support. Senator Kim Hammer, Bryant City Attorney Ashley
support. Senator Kim Hammer, City Attorney Ashley Clancy, Council Members Star Henson and Rhonda Sanders, along with David Carnahan, representing Congressman French Hill's office, and Gene Higginbotham, representing Senator John Boozman’s office, were all on hand to cheer the kids on.
The Bryant Fire Department also joined in and several firefighters assisted with the class instructors. Bryant Police Chief Carl Minden and Sgt. Todd Crowson, who also serve on the Bryant Boys and Girls Club Board, were also in attendance.
“It was an honor to serve as the official witness to the City of Bryant’s participation in the World’s Largest Swimming Lesson, "added Mayor Allen Scott. "I hope we reach the event goal of surpassing the existing Guinness World Record for this event, but even more so, I hope that we bring awareness to the importance of swimming lessons and water safety to the community” .
For more information on WLSL or to discover how to enroll your children in local swim classes, you can contact the Bryant Aquatic Center at 501-943-0444. For more information on WLSL go to https://www.wlsl.