Make a Splash Program

 

When Monique Moore first enrolled her children in The Roeper School’s Make a Splash (MAS) swim program, she was nervous. Because of her own fear of the water, she was indecisive about her children learning and spent most of the lessons sitting directly by the pool in close proximity.

 

Roeper’s Director of Diversity Carolyn Lett says she watched not just a change in the children during the lessons, but in Moore as well. “On the last day of the program,” says Lett, “with tears in her eyes, she told me ‘If someone would have told me that my kids would learn to swim in one week, I would not have believed them.’”

 

Moore isn't alone in her experience. With a history of segregated pools and limited opportunities, Lett says the U.S. faces an institutionalized issue of generational fear.

 

In swimming pools, African American children are nearly six times more likely to drown than white children, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. In a 2017 study by the USA Swimming Foundation, 64 percent of African American children and 45 percent of Hispanic and Latinx children reported having little to no swimming ability.

 

“When our ancestors arrived on these shores, by force or by choice, many were swimmers,” Lett says. “Over time, over generations, African Americans have learned—and been taught—to fear the water. That knowledge needs to be re-established. We need equity in water safety.”

 

That’s where MAS comes in. For 12 years now, the program has been providing free and reduced-cost swim lessons to predominantly African American and Hispanic children who lack access to opportunities to learn how to swim. Hosted at Roeper’s outdoor pool in August, a week-long series of lessons teach life-saving skills to up to 160 children each year.

 

Over 600 children have attended the program since 2010. Roeper’s MAS initiative was one of a select group of local programs granted funding by the USA Swimming Foundation in previous years. In 2018 alone, through its MAS network, the USA Swimming Foundation helped provide more than 1.3 million children with swimming lessons.

 

As well as seeking out funding, MAS often struggles to find swim teachers. The paid position relies on lifeguard-certified camp counselors, local swim teachers, and a dedicated group of volunteers.

 

“Our teachers are incredible,” says lead swim teacher Kate Roff. “But we always need more of them, especially because we strive to provide a ratio of one teacher to four students. We’ve had to limit student numbers in the past because we just couldn't cater to them, especially last year when we returned from a COVID-related break.”

 

Jeanine Krause had been taking her daughter and grandchildren to swim programs for more than 30 years before she discovered Roeper’s MAS initiative.

 

“Without hesitation, I can say that this is the best swim program I have seen,” Krause says. “I always think of this program when I see children wanting to really enjoy the water, but parents yelling at them from the shore not to go any further. One day, with the continued help from Make a Splash, all children will respect the water—not fear it.”

 

This year’s program is August 15-19. Open House registration is August 6 at 9:30–10:30 am for new families and 11:00 am–12 noon for returning families. Interested supporters, swim teachers, and volunteers should contact Carolyn Lett.

 

Want to support the program? Donate some goggles! Students can drop new swim goggles (no snorkels please) into the collection bin in the Bloomfield Hills Campus CCB front hallway and Birmingham Campus main office. Thank you for your support!