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26 Jul Everybody Swims
As one, we rise.
As one, we swim.
Every year, more than 800 third graders across Klamath County get in the water. They learn how to float. How to listen. How to respect the water. How to feel a little less scared on day one, and a little more confident by the end of the week.
“We want to help teach everyone how to swim in our community so that people can stay safe.”
Every year, more than 800 third graders across Klamath County come to the pool.
Some are excited. Some are nervous. Some already know a little. Some do not know how to swim at all.
By the end of the week, they have spent time in the water, learned basic safety, and taken the first steps toward first steps toward a skill they can take with them wherever they go in life.
“If everyone knew how to swim, I feel like the world would be a lot better place and a lot safer place.”
The Everyone Swims program brings swim lessons to third graders throughout Klamath County. It reaches public schools, private schools, and homeschool families. Students come from Klamath Falls and from smaller communities across the county, including areas like Merrill, Malin, Keno, Bonanza, Bly, and north toward Chiloquin.
For rural families and schools, transportation matters. Some students live far enough out that simply getting to town can be a barrier. School districts help bring them in, and for four days, students spend time in the water learning how to be safer and more comfortable.
The lessons are short. Thirty minutes a day, Monday through Thursday. But even in that short time, instructors see change.
On the first day, many students are unsure. Some are scared to get in. Some need extra encouragement. Others move quickly. Every child learns differently, and the instructors take time with each one.
The outcome is simple: make kids safer in the water and more excited to be there.
“If they trust in themselves to do something safely and fun, they’re able to do more than they thought possible.”
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As one, we play.
When a community builds something together, it’s never just about the end result. It’s about connection, access, and a shared vision of what the future can look like.
“Play is so valuable, It makes us happier people. It brings us together.”