The Jewish Community Center of Greater Baltimore will offer free beginner swim lessons for youth, teen and adult participants from May 31 to June 3. The lessons are made possible due to a grant to the JCC Swimming aquatics program from the USA Swimming Foundation. In total, the USA Swimming Foundation has awarded a total of $898,184 to programs across the country.

In addition, the JCC will now offer adults ages 16-plus eight swim lesson sessions for $50 (normally $180). “We are thrilled to be chosen for this grant,” says Shawnise Crawford, the JCC’s assistant aquatics director. “Due to the generosity of this grant, we can add something new this year. We will now be providing adults. ages 16+, swim lessons for only $50 per eight class sessions from June-August.” These will be small group classes held at the Rosenbloom Owings Mills JCC campus, 3506 Gwynnbrook Ave., where there are indoor and outdoor pools.

The JCC has offered swim lessons since the late 1920s at its Monument Street location in Baltimore City. Over the last few decades, it has built a robust swim school featuring American Red Cross swim lessons and certification programs for all levels and ages. It also offers a highly regarded swim team program during the school year, as well as a summer swim program.  It has a well-established relationship with both USA Swimming and the American Red Cross Swimming & Water Safety Program.