Students get swim lessons at YMCA

ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. (WAVY) - The YMCA and the Perquimans County school district have joined together to bring swim lessons to kids in Elizabeth City.

"Kids are taught at a very young age to stay away from the water, it's dangerous, you're going to drown, it's not safe. We're trying to erase those negative things of water and give them a positive approach to water," said Christina Weiss with the YMCA.

For Elizabeth City, that's a good thing.

"We have pools and rivers everywhere, and so this opportunity not only gives our children a chance to learn swim lessons but to learn water safety," said Melissa Fields, principal at Perquimans Central School.

Five-year-old Maci Higgins is in the class. She swims a lot anyway, but her mom says the swim lessons help.

"This really helps exceed everything that she already knows, so this helps give her more of an opportunity to learn different things," said Heather Higgins.

The swim lessons teach more than keeping your head above water. They're also learning to put life jackets on, how to get in and out of a boat, how to assist other swimmers in distress, and survival skills. They also get a big boost in confidence when in the water.

"They learn here to be excited about water and not scared, and that's what's important," said Weiss.

And hopefully the students will keep the lessons with them their entire lives.