Making a splash

County offering 111 free swim scholarships to combat rise in drownings

Summer Swim programs are right around the corner, and the City of Yuma’s Parks and Recreation Division offers swim lessons for Yuma County’s youth, among its other water-based programs.

This year, the Yuma County Public Health Services District (Health District) is providing 111 free scholarships to Yuma County residents ranging from six months to five years of age. These scholarships are part of an effort to keep Yuma County’s youth safe around water.

“Drowning is the number one leading cause of death for one to four years old nationwide, and unfortunately Yuma County is no different. We know swim lessons help reduce the risk of drowning, and we are confident Yuma County families will take advantage of this great opportunity,” said Ryan Butcher, program coordinator with the Health District.

In the fall of 2023, the Health District joined Yuma

Regional Medical Center and multiple City of Yuma public safety agencies to form the Greater Yuma Water Safety Alliance (GYWSA), whose mission is “to raise awareness around the importance of water safety, promote water safety education and reduce the number drownings in the Yuma community,” according to its official page on the City of Yuma’s website.

“Early access to swim lessons are an integral part of water safety for the whole family,” said Ann-jeanette Mosqueda, Recreation

Manager with Parks and Recreation Division. “Not only is a young child gaining water acclimation skills, but they are gaining the building blocks of being safe around water that will carry through a lifetime.”

Lesson registration begins on May 13, and classes start on June 3. The 45-minute sessions are available at Marcus Pool in the mornings and Carver Pool in the evenings, Monday through Friday. Sessions are two weeks long, barring national holidays.

Scholarship-eligible classes include the “Guppy/

Turtle” class for infants and toddlers six months to three years of age and the “Starfish” class for preschoolers ages three to five.

Register in person at the City of Yuma Parks and Recreation office at One City Plaza, Yuma, AZ, or call 928-373-5200.

For more information about the GYWSA and relevant water safety facts, visit yumaaz.gov/watersafety.

For more information regarding the youth swim scholarships, email Ryan Butcher at ryan.butcher@ yumacountyaz.gov.