Our Learn-To-Swim program has been making waves throughout the Richmond region, with over 2,000 children slated to hop in the pool throughout the duration of the school year to foster vital swimming skills and further our Drownproof Richmond initiative.

After the conclusion of the first couple sessions in the early fall, we accumulated an overflowing mailbox of letters from teachers and students across multiple schools. With a mix of thoughtfulness and humor, the letters detail student’s thoughts on learning to swim in the program. Below are some of the highlights, completely unedited, that filled us with laughs and ultimately a sense of accomplishment to our mission:

My favorite thing about swim class is dofin.

My favorite thing about swim class is flote and canin boll!

My favorite thing about swim class is drying of cuse you get to be warm.

My fovit part about swim class is kanibozz.

My favorite thing about swim class is elmichre bark shok.

My favorite thing about swim class is blowing bubulss.

Thank you for teching me those triks.

The pool wols asam thak you for teching me how to swim and I love rva!!!!!!!

I liked when I rang the bell and swimed. It was so much fun. I am sad that this was the last day. I liked when I went under the water.

I love rigin the bell people be vare nis to you. And we love SwimRVA. It is the bast and youre the bast pepole.

I am thankful that you taught me how to do nose bubbles. And I loved SwimRVA!

I love SwimRVA! Because I think I mastered the Elamichreye backstroke.

I loved SwimRVA it was so fun I lernd so much I want to stay! I’m going to miss yall so much! I was so happy wen I rung the bell! Thank you so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so much!

I past the swim test. I did iss undr water this is the best day ever! I love swimm lesions. Yaa!!!!! This roks!

Thak you four helpen me swim. Now I will helpe ethrs swim.

I like to go underwater and swim araund i’ts fun and I’m at level two and I learned so much it is so fun but we only have one more day but I hope I get to level there i’m so exided for today I love swiming I hope my dad sets up are pool i’ts going to be so fun!

I learned how to flot on my back and flot on my stomach and go undr wodr wis at hodin my nozz I love to go here. 

Is so fun. I mad a big slasp. It was big and the techers are so nise. I love love love simw leseni. The techers are so good to me. Il neve frget tham. Is so siesl to me. I’s so hrud wif ot you. But i’s is so easily good.

I sat by my freind on the bus. When we got to swim lesonss I was so exited about that we were going to be helpers. I got to teach levell one. I loved teaching. I hope they become graete swimers one day. I love swim lessons. I love learning to do butterfly!

In the pool, I learned that I can open my eyes underwater. I also learned that I can go underwater and I can do underwater bubbles. I loved swimming. They put water warm on cold days. Its wonder full!

I leaned that swiming is inporit. To other peolp and me.