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Canonsburg pool participates in World’s Largest Swim Lesson

By Katherine Mansfield staff Writer mansfield@observer-Reporter.Com 2 min read
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Katherine Mansfield/Observer-Reporter

The big splash! Lifeguard Abby Hollandsworth gets sprayed after a World’s Largest Swimming Lesson attendee jumped into Canonsburg Town Park Pool June 22.

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Katherine Mansfield/Observer-Reporter

A Canonsburg youth holds his nose and jumps fearlessly into Town Park Pool June 22, where veteran lifeguard Abby Hollandsworth, right, led the borough’s World’s Largest Swimming Lesson. The event coincided with lessons worldwide, including in 41 states and 18 countries.

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Katherine Mansfield/Observer-Reporter

Abby Hollandsworth explains a variation of the game Red Light, Green Light, where swim lesson attendees kicked furiously until they heard “Red Light!” Canonsburg Town Park Pool participated in the international World’s Largest Swimming Lesson June 22, and participants enjoyed hot dogs after the class.

Overcast skies couldn’t keep a group of teens and kids out of the water last month, when nearly a dozen youth gathered at Canonsburg Town Park Pool to participate in the World’s Largest Swimming Lesson.

“It goes on all around the world today and it’s basically to help prevent drowning and (promote) water safety,” said Terri Startare, president of Friends of the Park, who spearheaded the event.

Since 2010 the World’s Largest Swimming Lesson, coordinated by the World Waterpark Association, has taken place internationally on June 22, the day after the first day of summer in the U.S.

According to a news release, tens of thousands of kids of all ages registered to partake in the June 22 big swim, representing 41 U.S. states and 18 countries. Now in its 14th year, the World’s Largest Swimming Lesson has reached more than 354,000 kids and adults on six continents.

A global swimming outreach event is important in the U.S., where more than half of Americans can’t swim or lack basic swim skills, according to a 2020 American Red Cross survey. The World’s Largest Swimming Lesson aims to prevent drowning, which the American Academy of Pediatrics said in 2021 is the leading cause of death for U.S. children between ages 1 and 4, by teaching fundamentals.

The 11 Town Park Pool attendees jumped one by one into the chilly water Thursday, where veteran lifeguard Abby Hollandsworth led a series of simple swim exercises. Lesson-goers held onto the pool wall and played a variation of Red Light, Green Light, kicking – and splashing the affable Hollandsworth – when “Green Light!” was called.

Kids also practiced floating, treading water and freestyle arm strokes before drying off and enjoying hot dogs and water in the concession area.

“It’s all part of the 100-year celebration of the park,” said Susan Passante, a member of the Park Board.

For more Canonsburg park or pool events, follow the Canonsburg Park & Recreation Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/people/Canonsburg-Park-Recreation/100063473174008/.

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