The hot days of summer continue as Newburgh students participate in the Empire Summer Swim Program through the Newburgh Enlarged City School District. Over the course of several weeks from July into August, students across all skill levels take to the pool, have the opportunity to learn cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and swim safety and to make new friends.

The program runs out of Newburgh Free Academy’s Main Campus, from Monday to Friday, beginning in the morning till early afternoon. On most days, a range of 45 to 55 kids across grade levels can be in attendance, said NFA’s Zachary Williams, head coach of the Boys Swimming and Diving team.

According to Williams, the program first began back several years ago with him, Coach Pat Kavanagh and Aquatics Director Kathy Young at the time with their collective idea that with a new pool facility, it would be able to offer as many kids as possible to get in and use it. Williams also saw an opportunity to supplement his varsity programs. Swimmers have come from the summer program and it has led to overall school program success at the competitive level.

As the program progressed, Williams now sees a stronger emphasis on water safety and instruction, which stems from him having children of his own now in swimming. Williams has seen children increase their swimming abilities to the level of now being able to swim safely and even save their own life. Other programs Williams highlighted that help grow and promote the sport of swimming while offering safety education include Swimfinity and the Newburgh Sharks club and Williams would like to see more promotion and support for swimming instruction for the adaptive community.

As the program continues, Williams extends his gratitude to all the coaches involved and the Newburgh district administrators and staff who help plan and prepare each year for the program to run. “The beauty of the program is once you introduce that pool and swimming, most of the kids really lighten up,” said Williams.

“Over the four weeks of these programs, we have this community of older kids helping younger kids, younger kids becoming kind of friends, or having mentors with older kids, while getting, in our opinion, top level swim instruction, depending on where they are.”

On Friday, July 25, students spent part of the morning outside, either walking the track area or enjoying games on Academy Field. After time outside, they were then brought back inside NFA and made their way to the pool to swim for the later part of the afternoon. Kids took dives off the blocks or hung out in the shallow water on the other side of the pool.

For about three years, Elian Boateng has been attending the program and says it has been very rewarding. “This program has been very fun since they provide CPR classes and they provide swimming lessons from beginner to advanced. So over the years, it’s been pretty fun,” said Boateng. “It’s another thing you can do in the summer instead of just staying inside.”

For Zaneta Montaque, one of the newest members, she says since joining, it has changed how she is swimming and she feels confident in her technique. For her, she feels the program is important and should be shared. “I think I would share with my friends and all that, so that they can get an experience on what it feels like to be in the water,” said Montaque.

With Victoria Tingling, she grew up playing multiple sports but has expressed further interest in swimming and plans to try out for the varsity squad this year. “The swimming class is good because people are starting at all different levels and they’re able to show you how to go from beginner to advanced really quickly,” said Tingling. “My favorite part of the program so far has been when we learned to dive. They started me off with kneeling on the edge of the pool and then they progressively got to the blocks and now I’m diving pretty well.”

Nicholas Morales came into the program the previous year and since then, he has been working upwards to the varsity swim team and has benefited from receiving an education in CPR and gaining certification. “The people here are amazing and I just love this program so much,” said Morales. “I think this program is such an amazing program. It teaches young scholars how to swim better, not only that, but learn CPR. Not a lot of people know how to do CPR, and it’s good to get out of the house.”

The CPR portion of the program is led by CPR First Aid Instructor David Maldonado, who within Newburgh schools is a Criminal Justice/Emergency Management Teacher. He has been with the program for a few years now and in his own words, Maldonado said it provides an outlet to students during the summertime where they can go and have fun while also learning life skills.

As an educator, Maldonado tries to relate his materials and information to real life situations and experiences for his students. He recalls on the first day, he engaged with his students, talking to them and explaining the benefits of learning this material and how this can be used in everyday life. Students recently learned how to stop focus bleeding and would be learning about tourniquet kits and their uses.

Each student, Maldonado explained, is going to be hands-on with lessons and materials. He helps and guides students through the class to ensure they are understanding it. Maldonado said he is also happy to know students are sharing what they learn in class to their parents, further spreading that information.

Maldonado would be welcoming guest speakers and emergency professionals to spend time with his students and continue until its conclusion with additional instruction. Maldonado believes that this program is important and further encourages parents to be more involved. “It allows kids to do something more in a positive manner. It gives them something to strive for. They can enjoy themselves, still get educated, but in a fun way and not just be sitting home on their games,” said Maldonado. “With this program, it’s giving them something to do. It’s something that they’re actually picking themselves because we don’t pick these for these kids. We offer them the programs and then they pick themselves. So the fact that they’re here on their own accord, I think it’s fantastic.”