La Crosse area YMCA, school district partner to offer free swim lessons

Part of a program at Northside and North Woods elementary

LA CROSSE, Wis. (WKBT) — With so much of the region surrounded by water, it’s important for kids to know how to swim. That’s why the La Crosse Area Family YMCA and the La Crosse School District are teaming up and offering free swim lessons.

They kicked off today at the La Crosse Area YMCA. 

It’s part of an after school program at both Northside and North Woods Elementary schools.

The program is a pro-active approach to teach potentially life-saving skills to kids.

Swim instructors say learning how to swim early in life makes lessons much easier. “If you start them when they’re older, they may be afraid of the water already and it’s much more difficult to get these older kids into the water and learning swimming. Where the younger kids are more enthusiastic, and they’re ready, willing to learn,” said the Y’s Aquatics Dir. Brenda Maxwell.

The schools do provide transportation to the lessons.