For the first time, the Greenwich Boys & Girls Club’s Camp Simmons participated in “The World’s Largest Swimming Lesson,” a 24-hour annual global swim event.
On June 26, 2025, the extreme heat broke, which was a relief. But it was warm enough for the children to enjoy the outdoor pool at Camp Simmons, located on Lake Avenue.
This was the the 16th year of the global event, but the first time the Greenwich Boys & Girls Club participated.
More than 275 club campers joined over 40,000 children at hundreds of aquatic centers, swim school and water parks on six continents.
The event was fun, but the goal was serious: helping beat the single leading cause of death of children ages 1-4, but it is preventable.
Janet Poillon, aquatics director for the Club, talked to the children about pool safety before they were broken into groups by their swimming ability. The biggest group of campers were absolute beginners, and swim teachers worked with them one-on-one.
According to the CDC more than half of Americans don’t know how to swim, and research shows the number of drownings in the US are increasing after decades in decline. On average roughly 4,000 drowned every year but after the pandemic that surged to 4,500.
Greenwich Emergency Medical Services (GEMS) were on site to demonstrate community commitment to health and water safety. After their swimming, campers learned about the equipment on the GEMS ambulance and meet a giant Teddy Bear.
“Our bear has oxygen on at the moment,” said Scott Baxter from GEMS. “He happens to have a cast and two ace bandages on, so we talk about that too.”
Photo by Blucher Photography
