A Kalamazoo swimming club receives a grant to run adult swimming courses

KALAMAZOO, Mich. (WOOD) – The Kalamazoo Masters Swim Club is receiving a grant from the USA Swimming Foundation to offer affordable swim lessons for adults.

The swim club, also known as ZOOM, was selected from more than 400 applicant programs to receive a portion of the $780,000 in the first round of funding. ZOOM’s board chairman Karl Kowalske said the money will be used to launch a learn-to-swim program for adults with the goal of “providing our community with affordable access to classes that build confidence in and around the water,” he wrote in a press release.

The first adult learn-to-swim program consists of eight classes from August 5-8 and August 12-15 from 7-8 p.m. at the Kalamazoo College Natatorium. It is designed for people ages 18 and older who cannot yet swim face-down or swim in deep water without assistance. According to ZOOM, the number of participants per class is limited to 12.

Over the course of four weeks, the courses teach skills such as breathing, diving, floating, leg movements, freestyle, treading water and side swimming.

A session of eight classes costs $70 per person, but ZOOM says scholarships are available with a 50% discount code for people with financial need. A free new swimmers’ pack with a swim cap and goggles will be provided.

ZOOM was originally founded as a training group in 2012 and now has over 50 regular members and offers 10 training sessions per week.

For further information please see the Kalamazoo Masters Website.