“Since she can walk, she’s been constantly wanting to be in the water, but we’ve never actually put her through swim lessons, so I wanted to at least have her with that foundation of correct swimming,” said Alex Nelson, whose children participated in Swim to the Top. “They both [children] went up one level after their assessment, which is really cool, and every day they come back to tell us great stories about it.”

Swim to the Top is held annually during the month of June for children 4–14. To celebrate campers’ accomplishments, the Swim to the Top final showcase was held at the gymnasium of the Benjamin Barnes Branch YMCA on June 28.

During the showcase, attendees were treated to musical and dance performances that campers performed as part of the arts and enrichment component. Campers’ STEM projects were also on display, along with photos from throughout the camp.

Five junior swim instructors were also recognized during the ceremony for their leadership in helping the 4–8-year-olds learn how to swim. The juniors swim instructors program began as a collaborative effort in 2023 and expanded this summer.

“For the children Swim to the Top means fun, but for the Y, Swim to the Top represents safety for our campers,” said LaKeda Smith executive director of the Benjamin Barnes Branch YMCA.

While water safety is a top priority of the partnership, this year’s 127 campers also learned valuable skills in STEM, arts education, physical education, music and dance. Instructors from The University of Alabama and local school districts work with YMCA Barnes Branch summer attendees to provide swim instruction, physical education and academic enrichment activities to create a fun and supportive learning environment.

“I think the experience has been really good for the parents and the children because it gives the children an opportunity to stay active during the summer and learn different things that they haven’t been able to learn before,” said Ronneka Bazile, whose son participated in Swim to The Top. “And it gives the parent also an opportunity to feel like their children are in safe hands and that people are going to actually take care of them like you would.”