Even though I am in South Florida, just miles from some of the most beautiful beaches on the country, most of our campers don't know how to swim. Naturally pool day is a challenge. We do our best to teach them to swim. Sometimes just getting them to put their face in the water is a struggle. After just two hours in the pool, I have a sunburn, and can feel tiny bruises forming from kids gripping on to my shoulders. Most of our kids have never been to the beach, and have only been swimming at the public pool with our camp. So we all crowd in to the shallow end of the pool with those who can't pass the swimming test and do our best to teach them how to swim.
As our campers bravely faced the water I pulled out a water proof camera that my mom had sent with me. After downloading the pictures, I don't see any fear or hesitation. Instead, I see courageous, trusting, smiling faces.
This week, a kid who wouldn't even let us take him off of the steps the first day could swim almost ten feet to someone's arms. Another kid, who just learned to put his face in the water can now swim, and isn't afraid to just start out on his own.
Here are some of the moments I captured from our first week at the pool.
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