Derby joins effort to host world’s largest swimming lesson

More than 350 Wichita-area children might be record holders after participating in what could be the Guinness World Records’ largest swimming lesson.

For the eighth year in a row, Derby’s Rock River Rapids Aquatic Center joined about 600 aquatic centers from around the world in an attempt to simultaneously teach youth water safety strategies.

To beat the current record from 2014, more than 36,564 children will have had to have participated worldwide.

Aleatha Ezra, media spokesperson for the World’s Largest Swimming Lesson, said the organization actually beat the record in 2016, but did not officially record it with Guinness World Records because of the complexity of hosting a worldwide event. That year, 40,298 participants learned to swim at 641 locations in 24 countries.

Although the official count will not be in for several weeks, the 350 children in Derby chanted this at the end of their free 30-minute swimming lesson: “I am a world record holder!”

The lesson was designed by the World Waterpark Association, and it taught youth preschool age and above how to float, kick, tread water, blow bubbles and safely enter and exit the pool.

Ashlyn Morris, 10, of Mulvane, said the most valuable lesson she learned was how to float on her back when she needs to rest while in the water.

“I knew how to swim a little bit, but I feel better about it now,” Ashlyn said. “I can use the back float to relax and stay above the water.”

Ashlyn and the other participants also learned how to make ice cream scoops out of their hands for their arm strokes and how to streamline with their arms as sharp as an arrow so they can glide through the water.

Donita Grinde-Houtman, aquatic program coordinator, said everyone who participated learned the basic skills needed to be safe around the water.

Drowning is the second leading cause for accidental death of children ages 1-14 in the United States, according to the World Waterpark Association.

“Drowning can be prevented if we’re swimming in pairs, if we have adults watching us, if we are in a guarded facility,” Grinde-Houtman said. “Decreasing the number of drownings is what this is all about.”

Kaitlyn Alanis: 316-268-6213, @KaitlynAlanis

This story was originally published June 22, 2017 at 1:54 PM with the headline "Derby joins effort to host world’s largest swimming lesson."