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The start of something extraordinary

Kaitaia get behind Learn to Swim

Kaitaia Amateur Swimming Club has enrolled a massive 165 swimmers this summer season, and is full to the brim with a huge waiting list.

They also have 22 incredibly motivated volunteer coaches on board to teach and coach their budding swimmers.

The swim club booked ten volunteer coaches on the Swimming New Zealand Swim Teacher Award course which was held on the last weekend of November.

The group had a great time, and all of the ladies feel more comfortable and competent in their teaching abilities.

One course participant has only recently begun teaching learn to swim and she found the pool sessions very interesting as we did things that she had not tried yet. She was keen to start implementing the activities with the children in the pool.

Loryn Davis, secretary of the Kaitaia Swimming Club, learned to swim with the club when she was six years old. For the past 14 years she has given back to the community by coaching young swimmers, and she seems to have the knack of getting people on board to help out.

“I am quite passionate about teaching kids to swim and it's lucky our small community can offer cheap swimming lessons from trained volunteers. Our dream is to have an indoor aquatic centre here in Kaitaia where we can teach kids all year round. We are working on that one!” said Davis.

It is fantastic to see such enthusiasm within the swim club, and not only are they teaching a life skill to the community, they are also introducing their swimmers to the sport of swimming.

Perhaps the next Lauren Boyle or Danyon Loader will be amongst the Kaitaia community.