The Berkshire Family YMCA, the Gladys Allen Brigham Community Center, and Dulye & Co. have joined forces to make a splash in Pittsfield’s community by launching the Stop Youth Drowning: Safe Swim Berkshire Initiative. This comprehensive program is specifically designed to build confidence, essential water safety skills, and knowledge among middle school students in the area, with a focus on creating a water-safe community.
The Tragic Reality of Water Drowning in the Berkshires
The initiative takes its cue from a tragic event that shook the community last summer. A young woman, part of a school outing, tragically drowned in a Berkshire community, leaving a lasting impact on her teachers, peers, and family. This incident served as a catalyst for the initiative’s creation, highlighting the importance of water safety and swimming skills for young people.
- “We’re starting with a pilot,” says Linda Duyle of Dulye & Co., the program’s main sponsor. “The goal is to make this a curriculum where water safety is embedded in our curriculum in the schools, and students emerge with lifesaving skills to prevent drowning in our community.”
- “We have magnificent waters in the Berkshires,” notes Duyle. “Our lakes are free, and everywhere, we have beautiful waterfronts and rivers. Having youth at risk for drowning is just not something that I personally felt comfortable with.”
A Collaborative Effort to Equip Young Berkshire Residents with Swimming Skills
The initiative is a collaboration between Dulye, the Berkshire Family YMCA, and the Gladys Allen Brigham Community Center, with the Pittsfield Public Schools’ support. Abigail Allard, Development and Communications Manager at the Gladys Allen Brigham Community Center, emphasizes that water safety and swimming are not privileges, but priorities. “Water safety and swimming isn’t a privilege, it’s a life skill. It’s something that everyone should have in order to be safe,” Allard stresses.
- “There really is this gap that happens after the age of 12, where when you’re 13, 14, 15 years old, and if you don’t know how to swim, it’s almost a detriment to their growth and development,” Allard explains. “You’ll be embarrassed to tell your friends you don’t know how to swim, and you’ll want to attend social events, making risky choices to fit in.”
- “We’re working with some of our teens that are from under-resourced or marginalized communities where maybe paying for swim lessons or aquatic access is outside of their realm of what they can do and their families can do,” Allard continues. “So that way, we’re offering this program continuously for years to come, and at no cost to these families.”
Inaugural Program Features Anti-Drowning Classes for 21 Young People
For its inaugural run, 21 young people will attend anti-drowning classes for five days over the course of the week. The program is designed to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to prevent drowning and water accidents.
| Program Details | Duration | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Anti-drowning classes | 5 days | Berkshire Family YMCA |
| Target audience | 21 middle school students | Under-resourced or marginalized communities |
Creating a Water-Safe Community
The Stop Youth Drowning: Safe Swim Berkshire Initiative is a step towards creating a water-safe community in Pittsfield. By equipping young people with essential water safety skills and knowledge, the program aims to reduce the risk of drowning and water accidents.
“Water safety and swimming isn’t a privilege, it’s a priority,”
Abigail Allard emphasizes that water safety and swimming are not privileges, but priorities. By making water safety education accessible and affordable, the program is working to create a culture of water safety in the community.
Community Support and Resources
The initiative has received support from the Pittsfield Public Schools, the Berkshire Family YMCA, and the Gladys Allen Brigham Community Center. The program is designed to be self-sustaining, with a focus on providing resources and support to under-resourced and marginalized communities.
“We’re working with some of our teens that are from under-resourced or marginalized communities,”
Abigail Allard continues. “So that way, we are working with some of our teens that are from under-resourced or marginalized communities where maybe paying for swim lessons or aquatic access is outside of their realm of what they can do and their families can do.”
Conclusion
The Stop Youth Drowning: Safe Swim Berkshire Initiative is a comprehensive program designed to build confidence, essential water safety skills, and knowledge among middle school students in the area. By equipping young people with the knowledge and skills to prevent drowning and water accidents, the program is working towards creating a water-safe community in Pittsfield. With community support and resources, the initiative aims to make water safety education accessible and affordable for all.
“Water safety and swimming isn’t a privilege, it’s a priority,”
by Abigail Allard, Development and Communications Manager at the Gladys Allen Brigham Community Center. “We’re building confidence, essential water safety skills and knowledge – really, it’s confidence – in our youth, and we are targeting middle school students in the Berkshires,”
by Linda Duyle of Dulye & Co.
