Photo Courtesy discovereaston.com
Easton, MD - SOS Sink or Swim kicks off its 11th summer of providing free swimming lessons in Talbot County. Lessons are available for children from 18 months to 18 years old, as well as adults.
With more than 3,000 miles of coastline, 600 of which are located in Talbot County, water-related activities are immensely popular in the Chesapeake Bay Region. During the warm weather months, locals spend much of their time in and around the water, whether boating, participating in water sports, or relaxing by the pool.
According to the CDC, drowning is a leading cause of death for children, especially for those aged 1 to 4 years. A Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine report determined that formal swimming lessons can reduce the risk of drowning by 88%. Since the organization’s founding in 2014, they have provided more than 9,000 life-saving swimming lessons to local children. The organization’s founder, Libby Moose says, “Swimming is the only sport that saves lives.”
SOS offers three, two-week sessions of swimming lessons for children at the George Murphy Pool in Easton and the Bay Hundred Pool in St. Michaels. These sessions are available to any child who wishes to learn how to swim. This year’s children’s session start dates are June 17th , July 8th , and July 21st . The program is administered by Talbot County Parks & Recreation, which also provides trained instructors and lifeguards at each pool. Lessons are tailored to age groups and skill levels – as children learn and master various swimming skills, they move onto more challenging elements.
It’s not just children who need help with water safety. Over 55% of adults in the United States have bever taken a swimming lesson, and adults who are 65 years of age or older have the second highest rate of drowning. SOS Sink or Swim aims to change these statistics in our community by offering two sessions of adult swimming lessons and Junior Lifeguard Training. The sessions begin on June 30 th and August 4 th , respectively, and participants can choose to register for one or both sessions.
Swimming is an essential skill for people of all ages. “Imagine a future where everyone feels safe near water—where swimming is second nature. That’s the future we’re working toward,” says SOS Council President Kelly Simonsen. SOS also partners with other local nonprofit organizations, including Critchlow Adkins Children’s Centers, the Mid- Shore Early Learning Center, and BAAM (Building African American Minds) to provide lessons to the children attending their summer programming.
Registration remains open for the 2025 swim season. Those wishing to participate should visit sossinkorswim.org/register. These free lessons are made possible by charitable donations. A gift of just $50 can provide two weeks of lessons for a local child. To learn more or donate to save lives visit sossinkorswim.org.
SOS Sink or Swim is docked at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, a 501(c)(3) organization.
