The Mosquito Squad of Greater Scottsdale recently partnered with AquaSafe Swim School to provide 10 swim school scholarships for children ages 1 to 4 years old as part of a communitywide effort to educate families about safe swimming. Parents will have the opportunity to submit a letter explaining their desire to participate for a chance to win two months of swimming lessons with an AquaSafe instructor at the school’s Scottsdale or Gilbert locations.
“As a former lifeguard who saved many people from drowning, swim instructor, and varsity college swimmer, it has upset me to see so many drownings in the Phoenix area. The last two were 2-year-olds in the Phoenix and Paradise Valley areas,” says The Mosquito Squad co-owner Chuck Wells. “It seems that there are child drownings or near-drownings almost weekly and many of these are preventable with some basic swim lessons. If we can save just one child, the program is worthwhile.”
Classes will take place one to two times per week and will be in small group lessons. Expert instructors from AquaSafe Swim School will focus on beginner water safety skills, survival skills and drowning prevention training. The lessons will be conducted in a positive, structured and motivational manner through the use of age-appropriate activities, toys and songs so that each child can learn to swim through recreational activities.
“This is a project I am very passionate about and I feel it is a vital program for our community,” Wells says.
To participate in The Mosquito Squad of Greater Scottsdale and Aquasafe Swim School Scholarship, parents must submit a letter to the Mosquito Squad of Greater Scottsdale via email (scottsdale@mosquitosquad.com) explaining why their child should be awarded the scholarship. The email must include the child’s name and age to ensure they are eligible.
The submission process opened Monday, March 28 and will be open until Monday, April 11. The winners will be chosen via email on April 19.
“If we can save just one child, it is all worth it,” Wells says. “We have to start somewhere and now is the time.”
