Swim Rva

Learn to Swim: teach every second grade child in Richmond how to Swim. We provide cost free swimming lessons to second graders in 5 jurisdictions throughout the Richmond region. Swimrva is working to implement along with partner agencies a seven lesson curriculum in 138 elementary schools across 9 jurisdictions. This fiscal year 1,436 second grade students participated from 14 schools. 977 children lost the opportunity to participate due to the covid-19 pandemic from 7 schools. Since inception, swimrva has taught children through the cost free program. The need is staggering as 78% of children in the us from households with income under 50,000 will never learn to Swim. Drowning is the second leading cause of accidental death for kids under 14 and african-american children drown at rates five times that of the rest of the population.

Health and wellness: creating health equity through Aquatics. The organization is working to create equitable access to Aquatics throughout the region. Historically, Aquatics have been exclusive due to financial and social limitations. Swimrva is working to ensure every richmonder has access to be active through aquatic opportunity. The organization has a strong engagement with seniors throughout the region. Last year, swimrva served over 600 seniors a week with over 70 group exercise courses a week. The organization is fighting senior isolation and working to ensure our seniors live younger, longer.

Swimrva workforce development: the organization is working with the Virginia department of education to gain course accreditation for the professional rescuer as accredited coursework in career and technical education. Pilot programming is underway in chesterfield and henrico counties. Swimrva has grown safety training courses and increased the workforce supply of lifeguards and aquatic professionals. The safety school combines both aquatic professional safety with aquatic facility management skills training. The combination serves with the goal to improve the aquatic professional's core competencies throughout the Richmond region.