SHARKS
YMCA-YWCA SHARKs swim program is an innovative an exciting swim program provided to grade 3 and 5 students in the city of Guelph. SHARKs has grown from humble beginnings of 6 schools and 250 students in 2004 to over 2400 students and 37 of 38 schools in Guelph participating.
Grade 3 SHARKs reaches over 1400 students in Guelph. Grade 3 SHARKs teaches the Life Saving Society's Swim to Survive curriculum of surviving a sudden and unexpected aquatic emergency. With SHARKs training the students of Guelph learn how to 1- recover from a fall into the water, 2-tread water until rescuers arrive and 3- swim to safety. With the help of the Lifesaving Society the Guelph YMCA-YWCA and City of Guelph have teamed together to bring this program to 96% of grade 3 students in Guelph FREE OF COST.
Grade 5 SHARKs reaches more then 1000 students in Guelph. Grade 5 SHARKs teaches students how to save themselves in case of an aquatic emergency and introduces how to become a life saver. By teaching non-contact rescue techniques, Grade 5 SHARKs participants gain important knowledge and skills to become rescuers in case of an aquatic emergency. With the help of local organizations such as, Rotary Club of Guelph, University of Guelph, Linamar and Canadian Tire, Grade 5 SHARKS has been able to grow and give the students of Guelph a fun and educational aquatic experience.
The goal of the YMCA-YWCA of Guelph and the City of Guelph is to have 100 percent of students graduating from grade 8 in 2019 be able to acheive the Swim To Survive Standard. SHARKs is an important and vital step to reaching this goal, and the YMCA-YWCA of Guelph looks forward to ensuring the aquatic safety of the students of Guelph both now and in the future.