Non Profit Launches New Introduction to Swimming Course for Infants

YWCA Lower Cape Fear Becomes a “Welcome to Water Provider” for Infants 3-6 Months Old

Wilmington, NC - The YWCA Lower Cape Fear, the oldest and largest women’s movement, providing services for women and their families, is now the first U.S.-based Welcome to Water Provider, a course with a force-free philosophy on the basics of infant swimming. Welcome to Water, a no submersion swim program for 3-6 month olds, was founded by Pete Dalle Cort and Jessie Jones, who have taught over 7,000 infants how to swim through their gentle and safe method. As a provider, YWCA instructors are trained in this safe and gentle approach with the goal to instill water confidence and develop life saving skills for both infants and caregivers.

Aileen Sutton, Director of Aquatics, YWCA Lower Cape Fear says, “We are excited to add this course to our comprehensive learn to swim programming. The at home component offers access and availability for families who may not be able to make it to the pool and the in-person sessions are all about bonding and water safety.”

Thanks to a generous grant from The Landfall Foundation, YWCA will begin its free 5-class Welcome to the Water series on February 10, 2024. In addition to the free 5-class series, there is a 10-class series available for infants and toddlers, ages 4 months to 3 years, progressing in motor and swim skills until they are ready for a swim class without a caregiver.

Welcome to Water will introduce infants and caregivers to the pool, swimming and water safety. A combination of at-home online instruction and in-person swim lessons will educate caregivers on how to provide a force-free introduction to swimming to their infant or toddler. When prepared in a gentle and consistent manner, with the guidance of our instructors, infants and toddlers quickly learn the cues for going underwater, submerging comfortably and happily; swimming a short distance to their caregiver.

Interested in signing up? Contact Aileen Sutton at 910-799-6820 or pool@ywca-lowercapefear.org.