Some second graders in Orange County Schools will have free swim lessons as a part of their curriculum starting this spring semester.
This new program is in partnership with Orange County Schools, Swim for Charlie and the Orange County Sportsplex. This program will consist of eight sessions over the course of two weeks, and it will count as physical education hours for the students.
Swim for Charlie, also known as the Dr. Charles van der Horst Water Safety Initiative, is a nonprofit organization based in Orange County. Their mission is to “provide financial resources for youth-focused water safety programs which aim to provide the opportunity for every child to be safe in and around the water.”
Jonathan Klein, chairperson for Swim for Charlie, said the organization was founded as a way to commemorate the late Dr. Charles van der Horst. He had a passion for swimming, and when he died, the local swimming community was devastated.
“We talked about how we could appropriately do something in his name,” Klein said.
Klein said he sees children who are not water-safe during his job as a family doctor in Hillsborough. He said he has always wanted to do something about this and decided to bring up the idea of a water safety program for second-graders and name the initiative after the late doctor.
“We don’t want to have to recreate the wheel,” Klein said. “We want to find a successful water safety program for kids.”
Will Atherton, chairperson of the Orange County Schools Board of Education, said the nonprofit approached the Board with the idea for free swim lessons for kids. He said this conversation sparked interest in OCS.
“All of us have been really excited about the program,” Atherton said.
