Summer camp is back at the YWCA

If the long and hot days are getting to you, try summer camp at the YWCA. The camps are now in full swing but it doesn’t mean you can’t join in the fun. Jose Sanchez reports.

Jose Sanchez, Reporting
The YWCA on St. Thomas Street has several camps that your child can attend, including English and math.

Khadija Usher, Volunteer
“Right now we’re teaching standard three going on four students math, English and it includes reading and basic math like multiplication, division, subtraction and addition.”

Rasheed Terry, Student
“I’m learning math, English and what is about math and what is about English. We are doing adjectives and nouns and pronouns and prepositions on the blackboard.”

Jose Sanchez
“You having fun?”

Rasheed Terry
“Yes sir.”

Erron Grinage, Student
“I’m doing math and English for summer school. I’m learning about prepositions and adjectives and concrete nouns. Some of these I didn’t know in standard three. That’s why I came to summer school so I could learn them.”

And though there are no more spaces available in the classroom. There is one other activity that they will surely love to dive into. That is learning to swim.

Sasha Walker, Swim Instructor
“We have three different classes. We have beginners straight up to sharp. I teach mostly girls. I have one boy in the morning, four girls in the second session and four girls again in the last session.”

Jose Sanchez
“What exactly do you teach them to do?”

Sasha Walker
“I teach them different swimming techniques; jellyfish float, front float, back float, hand crawl, fresh stroke. It all depends on the level that they’re at. Each level has a different technique.”

Jose Sanchez
“How long does it take them to learn just some basic techniques to be able to wade in the water, to swim?”

Sasha Walker
“Well, it depends on the child really. Some children pick up faster and some kids need a little more attention. So sometimes we have one on one classes and sometimes the kids that pick up faster go in groups. So it just depends on the child and they’d rather see it than explain it. So when you show them and you demonstrate it, then they pick it up quite fast.”

Jose Sanchez
“Is everyone having fun?”

Sasha Walker
“Oh yes, they love it. When it’s time when the class ends they don’t want to get out of the water.”

Chelsi Noralez, Student
“First of all, we’re learning how to swim. We’re learning the back dive, front dive. Like they just teach you and what they’re teaching you is very fun. I’m having a great time here and the teachers are very friendly. They take their time with you.”

Jose Sanchez
“Are you having fun Chelsi?”

Chelsi Noralez
“Yes, it’s very fun. I like the part when they throw the little thing in the water then it sinks then you have to dive for it.”

Ashima Reneau, Student
“We’re learning to swim.”

Kelcy Longsworth, Student
“We’re learning to float but I know how fi float already but I just want come fi enjoy the summer.”

Jose Sanchez
“What are you enjoying about the classes?”

Kelcy Longsworth
“It’s fun and we’re in the water so it’s fun but we like to do back floats.”

And the parents who take the children to the camp have good reasons to do so.

Avril Ysaguirre, Parent
“I want them to learn to swim especially when I think of hurricane season, I think of the flooding that is dangerous for children. So I just want them to learn to swim so that they can survive in times like these.”

Jose Sanchez
“Do you yourself know how to swim?”

Avril Ysaguirre
“No, but they say mom we will all learn so we can save you when it’s flooding time. That gives me courage for them to learn.”

Reporting for News Five, Jose Sanchez.

The math and English classes are full, however, there is another swimming session coming up. And you can call the YWCA to enroll your child.