Statistics show that if a child doesn’t learn to swim by the time they are nine years old, they are highly unlikely to ever learn to swim. Furthermore, 79% of children in households with incomes less than $50,000 have little-to-no swimming ability. Idaho’s children have the second highest drowning rate in the nation.

When confronted by these tragic realties our YMCA introduced Make-A-Splash, a learn to swim program. Every Blaine County 2nd grader is enrolled in the program, which also teaches water safety, water rescue, self esteem and independence. Since it’s inception, more than 2,750 of our kids have graduated from Make-A-Splash and are now water-safe. (Spring 2024)

We believe all kids should learn to swim because it’s fun, it’s good for you and it’s a healthy-life-long skill

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