When Pima County opens the gates to its nine public pools Saturday, it will change the way its instructors teach swim classes.
Pima County Recreation Program Manager Grant Bourguet said the county recently decided to start teaching swimming lessons in accordance with the Starfish Aquatics Institute’s “Starfish Swimming Program.” The county's former method was lessons accredited by the American Red Cross.
Bourguet said the new program is backed by the USA Swimming Foundation. It focuses more on swim safety and survival than on specific swimming techniques.
“It’s about, ‘OK, if somebody falls into the pool, fully clothed, how do they get out of the pool?’ Just like what would happen in a backyard pool,” he said. “Then we will work on building up the skills to make you a better swimmer. But we want to maintain safety from the get-go.”
The county offers four swim school sessions at each of its pools — two in June, two in July. Each includes eight classes in two weeks, Monday through Thursday.
The city of Tucson has 11 year-round and extended-season pools open and will open nine more for the summer Thursday. Hours of operation vary and will change once the summer season starts in June.
For more information on the county’s summer swim class schedule, click here.
For more information on the city of Tucson's swimming pools, click here.
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