Triad families learn swim skills at Greensboro water park lesson
Dozens of Triad families practiced basic swim skills at Wet N Wild Emerald Pointe, where first-time swimmers joined a drowning-prevention lesson.
Dozens of Triad families practiced basic swim skills at Wet N Wild Emerald Pointe in Greensboro, where first-time swimmers joined a free drowning-prevention lesson built around hands-on water-safety instruction. The World’s Largest Swimming Lesson was launched by the World Waterpark Association in 2010, and the 2026 event was set for Thursday, June 25, at aquatic venues around the world.
North Carolina’s dashboard logged 624 unintentional drowning deaths from 2020 through 2024, and ABC45 counted 135 of those deaths as children 17 and under. CDC data show drowning is the leading cause of death for U.S. children ages 1 to 4, the same age group where North Carolina data show the highest drowning burden.
The American Academy of Pediatrics links disparities in swim competency to race and socioeconomic status because of limited access to aquatic activities, fewer community resources and restrictive policies that can block low-income families and Black communities. CDC health-equity data show Black children ages 10 to 14 drown in pools at rates 7.6 times higher than White children.
Parents looking for lessons after the one-day event can turn to Greensboro Parks and Recreation. The city offers Safety Around Water lessons at Peeler Pool, 1300 Sykes Ave., and Warnersville Pool, 601 Doak St.; the six-week program is for children ages 3 to 12, costs $60 for six sessions in the parent-and-child class, and requires registration. The YMCA of Greensboro also offers swim lessons starting at 6 months, with financial assistance available and Guilford County group rates of $78 for members and $102 for community guests.
The Greensboro Aquatic Center’s privately funded Learn to Swim program with Guilford County Schools taught more than 3,100 second-graders last school year, but current funding reaches only 23% of Guilford County second graders; the program has surpassed 18,000 graduates since 2011. The center also offers Parent and Child Aquatics, children’s group lessons, teen and adult lessons and adaptive lessons at 1921 W. Gate City Blvd.
State health officials recommend designating one responsible adult to watch children around water, and swim with a buddy.
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