Greeley Recreation swim lessons enter new technological waters ...Saudi Arabia

The Greeley Recreation Department added new technology, at the beginning of the year, to its aquatics program that not only enhanced its swimming lessons program but also had youth swimmers excited to get into the water.

Thanks to a $20,000 grant from Phillips 66 this past July, recreation officials were able to purchase iPads and GoPros that have been utilized this year to enhance swim lessons for the majority of those learning how to swim.

Jamiee Borger, Greeley Recreation coordinator of aquatics, said four GoPros and three iPads were purchased, allowing swimmers and their parents to get another view of their swimming technique.

“We are taping swimmers in the water and seeing how they progress through the lessons,” Borger said.

After swimmers learn the basics of swimming, the iPads and GoPros are brought out. The footage they provide is shown to parents and is tracked until the final class. This footage allows parents to view their swimmers’ movements underwater, but it also gets younger swimmers excited to jump in.

“We have preschoolers that are technologically accumulated and they didn’t want to put their face in (the water) and we pulled out the GoPro and they started going underwater and coming up,” Borger said.

Borger said the technology isn’t used as much for the parent and tot swim lessons. Those lessons are for children under 3 years old.

In addition to the technology, the donation from Phillips 66 also purchased two toddler platforms that are at the FunPlex, as well as a TV. That TV was at the Greeley Family FunPlex in the pool area Tuesday showing which instructor parents and their child had for their preschool swim lessons.

As parents and children prepared for their lessons, Megan Hartman and Helena Chouinard with Phillips 66 walked in to get a feel for the Greeley swimming community.

Hartman, the regional public affairs director and communications and public affairs, said the company enjoys the way Greeley Recreation conducts its swimming lessons. Hartman said Phillips 66 prides itself on making sure everyone can access swimming lessons. With the success from last year’s grant, Hartman said the company gave another $20,000 grant this month to the Greeley Recreation Department for its aquatics program.

“I think what I’ve been most impressed with is their passion for the community and their passion for these life-saving rules,” Hartman said. “Swim safety is a way we can give back to the community and make sure everyone has an opportunity to learn how to swim.”

Hartman added that Phillips 66 will make similar donations this year to other Weld County communities and their recreation departments.

Kelly McClanahan, Greeley Recreation aquatics supervisor, said this past year there were around 3,300 who took swimming lessons. She expects to reach or exceed that number this year.

McClanahan said $10,000 from this year’s grant is set to go towards scholarships that help families pay for swim lessons. The remainder is set to purchase additional safety equipment, especially lifejackets, at all Greeley facilities.

Currently, if someone—like a young child— needs a lifejacket to help them swim, their parents have to buy or find one to use.

“We’re trying to take that burden off of families,” McClanahan said.

Borger and McClanahan said any leftover funding could be used to buy additional iPads and GoPros. McClanahan said it’s her hope, as well as others, that the partnership with Phillips 66 becomes an annual one. In the meantime, McClanahan said she planned on speaking with Hartman and Chouinard about Safe Swim events Greeley Recreation and Phillips are set to co-host.

The event would focus on pool and water safety and making sure the community knows how to stay safe when having fun in the water. The date of the upcoming Safe Swim has yet to be determined.

When it comes to water safety, lifeguards are one of, if not the most, important positions. McClanahan said there has been a shortage of lifeguards across the country since 2020. She said their department has 25-26 open lifeguard spots they’re actively looking to fill. All lifeguards must be at least 15 years old. McClanahan said the scholarships can also help pay for lifeguard certification.

Demand for swim lessons triples in the summer, according to Borger and McClanahan. Summer swim lessons start June 2 and will be located at Centennial Pool, 2315 Reservoir Road, and Discovery Bay Pool, 715 E. 24th St.

To register for lessons and lifeguard classes, and to learn more about other programs, go to  tinyurl.com/42s4h6r2.

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