This spring, the halls of our schools are a little quieter as third graders trade their pencils for goggles. Throughout April and May, students across Klamath Falls City Schools are participating in a cherished community tradition and participating in the Everyone Swims program at Ella Redkey Municipal Pool.
For one full week, students trade the classroom for the geothermally heated waters of The City of Klamath Falls’ outdoor pool. Under the guidance of devoted community volunteers, the program consists of four intensive, 40-minute sessions which are designed to move beyond simple splashing.
With drowning still the leading cause of accidental death for children, Conger Elementary School students are gaining critical, life-saving skills that build both confidence and safety in the water.
At Conger, third grade students recently experienced the program firsthand as instructors Madaline Elliot and Ashley Doty brought their classes to the pool. For Elliot, the impact of the program is clear, not just in what students learn, but in the opportunity it provides.
“It’s an incredible program. We’re really lucky to have it,” Elliot said. “There are volunteers who come out to make sure every kid learns how to swim, and that makes a huge difference for our students.”
The sense of community support is what makes Everyone Swims possible as Ella Redkey staff and volunteers make sure each child receives individualized attention in the water. According to Elliot and Doty, the results are evident as Conger students are learning confidence at their own pace.
“There are different levels of how the students are taught, from starting at not knowing how to swim, to learning how to float and all the way to having them run laps,” Elliot said.
During Conger’s visit, Hannah Cartlidge, pool manager for the City of Klamath Falls, and Claire McKee, pool supervisor, were on hand serving as lifeguards.
This massive undertaking is made possible through a unique and generous partnership as Sky Lakes Medical Center serves as the primary benefactor, providing the funding necessary to ensure the program remains 100 percent free for every child. Sky Lakes’ support rejuvenated the program in 2022, removing any financial barriers and ensuring zip codes or family income do not dictate a child’s safety in the water.
The program honors the enduring legacy of Ella Redkey, who believed every child in Klamath Falls should be “water safe.”
