Registration open for Bemidji State summer youth swim lessons

In a county where lakes shape the summer calendar, Bemidji State University is giving families an early shot at a classroom that can save lives. Registration opened for youth swim lessons at the Gillett Wellness Center, a program built around drowning prevention and water safety before the busiest stretch of the season fills up.

The lessons will be offered in three two-week sessions, June 22-July 2, July 6-16, and July 27-Aug. 6. Classes run Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m., with each lesson lasting about 35 minutes. The program is open to youth ages 4 and older, and Bemidji State is dividing swimmers into five levels so children can be placed by skill stage instead of dropped into a one-size-fits-all class.

That structure matters in a place like Beltrami County, where families split time between work, camps, cabin trips and the water that draws so many people outside. A morning-only schedule can make planning harder for some households, especially if rides depend on parents working daytime shifts or on one vehicle moving between jobs, child care and summer activities. The registration window gives families a better chance to secure a slot before those calendars lock up.

Bemidji State’s pool setup is built for instruction. The Gillett Wellness Center has a 6-lane, 25-yard pool with depths ranging from 3.5 feet to 12 feet, and the university says its facilities are open to students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members with a paid membership. Questions about placement or registration can go to Duane Biehn, the interim director of student wellness, at 218-755-4140 or duane.biehn@bemidjistate.edu.

The safety case for lessons is stark. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says drowning is the leading cause of death for children ages 1 to 4 and the second leading cause of unintentional injury death for children ages 5 to 14. The agency estimates about 4,000 fatal unintentional drownings and 8,000 nonfatal drownings each year in the United States, and says formal swimming lessons can reduce the risk of drowning among children and young adults. For local families, that makes the Bemidji State pool more than a summer amenity. It is a practical step toward safer days on the water.