In development
Learn to Swim
Swimming is a survival skill that has been distributed unevenly in this city for generations. We intend to be part of changing that in Northwest Philadelphia.
Why we are adding water
Water safety is not an enrichment activity. It is the difference between a summer afternoon and a funeral, and access to it has tracked neighborhood lines for as long as anyone has been measuring. A child who learns to swim at eight carries that for the rest of their life, along with a piece of evidence that they can learn a hard physical skill.
It also fits how we already work. Swimming rewards exactly what the puzzle labs build: repetition, tolerance for being bad at something in front of other people, and an adult in the water who expects progress.
What it will take to open
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Pool time
A partner facility in or near Germantown, West Oak Lane, or Mount Airy with recurring weekly lane availability.
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Certified instructors
Water Safety Instructors and lifeguards, paid, with background clearances.
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Transportation and gear
Getting children to the pool and outfitting them is consistently the largest line item in programs like this one.
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Funding to make it free
A swim program families have to pay for will not reach the children who most need it.
If you have a pool, a certification, or a checkbook, we want to hear from you.
This program opens when the partnerships are in place, not before. If you run an aquatics facility, train instructors, or fund youth health programming, a short email moves this forward more than anything else on this page.