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OP aquatics hosts ‘World’s Largest Swim Lesson,’ today

(June 18, 2015) Ocean Pines Aquatics help set the world record for “World’s Largest Swim Lesson” last year and from 10-10:30 today (Thursday), it will attempt to top its own Guinness record at the Sports Core Pool at 11143 Cathell Road.
“This is our second year doing it,” Aquatics Director Colby Phillips said. “You have to register your pool and it’s all the people that are registered around the United States and the world – they all get in the pool at the same time.”
Ocean Pines Swim Academy instructor Michelle Hitchens will lead the lesson.
“At 10 o’clock sharp, Michelle will get into the water with the kids and their parents, and she just teaches them the basis of swimming and what we would normally do in a 30-minute swimming lesson. It’s a lot of little kids that come for this and the nice thing for us is people see [the facility] and want to do more.”
Phillips said last year’s event was well attended, drawing 40-50 children.
“The main focus of the event is basically to stress how important it is to swim,” Phillips said. “Hopefully, they’ll gain a little bit of knowledge in that timeframe of the basics, and if they don’t want to sign up for lessons, then the parents can work on things with their kids. We’ll show them things they can work on.
“Being surrounded by bodies of water here, swimming is so important,” Phillips added. “It is really essential here and we just like to constantly broadcast the importance of learning to swim. This is just another avenue where we can bring people in that can learn a little bit and see what we’re about.”
The event is free and open to the public. Registration is recommended.
Up next, Aquatics will return the Junior Lifeguard program on July 7, for ages 8 and up.
On July 11 from 3:30-5 p.m., the department will host the Anna and Elsa Tea Party, allowing children to meet their favorite characters from the Disney smash, “Frozen.”
“We got the cutest little tea cups,” Phillips said. “They’re plastic with a straw, and they’re pink and purple. They’re so cute. Working with all these girls [in Aquatics] we’re all into all this stuff.”
Children will make tiaras, meet the princesses, swim and have an apple juice and cookies “tea party.” Registration is encouraged.
Mermaid classes for girls and boys ages 8-12, also begin on July 11.
To register, call the Sports Core Pool at 410-641-5255 or visit www.OceanPines.org.