World’s Largest Swim Lesson

Kingsport Aquatic Center Hosts ‘World’s Largest Swim Lesson’
Event aims to teach life-saving swimming skills to people of all ages

The Kingsport Aquatic Center is once again participating in this year’s World’s Largest Swim Lesson – an event created by the World Waterpark Association to promote the importance of swim safety worldwide.

The 30-minute swim lesson will take place in the Outdoor Lap Pool at the Kingsport Aquatic Center at 2 p.m. on June 19. The event is free with a KAC daily admission.

“This event brings together people of all ages and skill levels for a fun, life-saving event that promotes essential water safety skills and empowers individuals to enjoy water activities with confidence and care,” said Aquatics Program Coordinator Madison Gump. “Make sure to join us to help keep your whole family safe in the water this summer.”

Swimming is a life-saving skill for children and a vital tool to prevent drowning – the second leading cause of unintended, injury-related death for U.S. children ages 1-14. Research shows risk of drowning can be reduced by 88 percent if children participate in formal swimming lessons between the ages of 1-4.

Yet, a survey conducted by the American Red Cross in 2014 found that more than half of Americans (54 percent) either can’t swim or don’t have all of the basic swimming skills.

The Kingsport Aquatic Center offers American Red Cross-certified swim lessons year-round for all ages and abilities. To learn more about taking swimming lessons at the KAC, visit swimkingsport.com or call 423-343-9758.

About Kingsport Aquatic Center

The Kingsport Aquatic Center is the region’s most comprehensive indoor-outdoor public aquatic and recreation facility. Located in Kingsport’s Meadowview district at the base of iconic Bays Mountain, the center provides area residents and visitors with the best in health, fitness and recreation features in a safety-focused environment. The Kingsport Aquatic Center features the area’s only indoor Olympic-sized pool, the HMG Competition pool, plus year-round swim courses and American Red Cross-certified water safety and lifeguard training. A seasonal outdoor water park offers recreational activities from mid-May to early September. Seasonal, annual and daily rates are available. For more information, visit www.swimkingsport.com.

About the City of Kingsport

Founded in 1917, the City of Kingsport (pop. 55,400) is located on the Tennessee-Virginia border at the crossroads of I-81 and I-26 near the geographic center of the eastern United States. The city is widely known as a planned community, designed by renowned city planner John Nolen and wrapping around the foot of Bays Mountain – a 3,750-acre park, nature preserve, planetarium and observatory. Kingsport is recognized as an International Safe Community by the National Safety Council, a Healthier Tennessee community, and won the 2009 Harvard Innovations in American Government Award for its higher education initiatives. While many city names are duplicated throughout the U.S., there’s only one Kingsport – a fact that invokes community pride, known locally as the “Kingsport Spirit.” For more information, please visit www.kingsporttn.gov.