Waterproofing

Waterproofing is Asphalt Green’s free swim instruction and water safety program for New York City public school students. Since 1994, over 35,000 second-graders have learned to swim through Waterproofing. The curriculum was developed in partnership with world-renowned swim coach Milt Nelms, who has worked with Olympic gold medalists Ian Thorpe, Natalie Coughlin, Dana Vollmer, and Missy Franklin.

HOW IT WORKS:

We partner with schools in low-income neighborhoods where a majority of students receive free or reduced-priced meals. The program runs weekly at seven sites and serves over 50 schools each year.

At the beginning [of the Waterproofing program], my son was shy near the water. He stayed in the shallow end of the pool, was scared, and didn’t know how to float. Slowly, he got better and started looking forward to going to the pool [and] beach. Now, he knows how to swim, so the ocean feels accessible to him. He’s comfortable in the pool and looks forward to water activities more than he ever has.

WATERPROOFING PARENT FROM P.S. 140M

 

WHY IT IS ESSENTIAL FOR EVERY CHILD TO LEARN TO SWIM:

• Swimming is a life-saving skill, not a privilege. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drowning is the second-leading cause of accidental death in children ages 1 to 14.
• Waterproofing, a 45-minute class, fulfills the majority of the daily youth physical activity guidelines recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
• Teachers report a correlation between Waterproofing and better grades and behavior in the classroom.
• Children who participate in Waterproofing learn confidence, leadership, teamwork, and perseverance.

 

Questions? Contact our Community Programs team at communityprograms@asphaltgreen.org.