La Cruz Students to be Camp Swimming Instructors Kevin Donnelly - Amigos de La Cruz
July 13, 2015

Six teenagers from Cet-Mar-6 high school in La Cruz took part in an extensive two day beach swimming instructor training course. The program was specifically designed to prepare these young men and women to obtain the skills and knowledge necessary for a very much needed and worthwhile program.

That program being to conduct the swimming instructional lessons for the 100 plus elementary school children that will be attending the La Cruz day camp this summer.

The course was designed and presented by Kevin Donnelly a former lifeguard, Red Cross water safety instructor (WSI) and Aquatic Coordinator for the City of Newport Beach, California. For these high school students to even qualify to take the two day course required that they first successfully complete a beach run, an ocean distance swim and demonstrate their ability to perform survival floating and treading water for an extended period of time.

Some of the subjects and skills covered in the course were; how to teach the crawl, elementary back stroke and back stroke, beginner swimmer floating, turning and treading water survival techniques, introduction to the breast and side strokes, CPR, what to do when caught in an under toe or rip current and how to rescue someone using a device.

The second day each member of the group had an opportunity to become the instructor and teach their fellow students at least two of the skills learned.

Those that successfully finished the course received a Certificate of Completion and will now continue to practice their swimming instructor skills until the camp opens on July 20th.

Read related: Music, Arts and More Summer Camp for Kids in La Cruz by Edgar Duran Duran 

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