Letters

As the warmer weather starts to peak its head around the corner, I find myself reflecting back on last summer. The warmth, the sun and the beach . . . our beach at Tobey Pond. 

In late July of 2021, a swim lesson program was put together at Tobey Pond, and local families rejoiced! 

Several of these parents had themselves first learned how to swim at Tobey. While watching their children bravely enter the water on Monday and Friday mornings for four weeks, many recounted memories from their childhood. They reminisced about similar summer mornings when the weather was windy and temperatures chilly. Former swim students, turned swim parents, were now the ones on the beach wrapped up in sweatshirts and blankets encouraging their kids to go jump in the water. 

This program brought to the beach roughly a dozen children, ranging in levels from beginner to intermediate and advanced. There were children who were fearful of swimming in July, but by August were putting their whole bodies under the water. Other children passed dock tests by using skills learned during swim lessons. One child passed both the small and the large dock tests last summer! The lifeguard swim instructors gave the children of Norfolk the skills and confidence to enjoy and excel in the water. 

On behalf of the parents of these children, I want to extend a great big heartfelt thank-you to lifeguards Ellie, Xavier, Jacob, Ethan and Luke. In a crazy pandemic world, this was something that our kids looked forward to each week. We are eager to continue the swimming journey with them this summer.

Michelle Padua