Swim Safe Sumter update: All spots have been filled and registration for 2026 is now closed. Thank you, Sumter County, for the incredible response! Keep an eye out in March 2027 for program announcements.
Each year, our education and lessons take place in May, June, and July. We are excited to welcome everyone to the 2026 Swim Safe Sumter program season, continuing to provide the high-quality service our residents trust. It is truly rewarding to help teach today’s youth how to stay safe in and around the water.
Please contact Robbin Washburn at 352-569-3149 or Madelyn Lewis at 352-569-3147 if you have any questions, and continue to check back at our website for updates.
2026 Registration CLOSED
Date: Next season date will be announced in March 2027
Time: TBD
Location: Florida Department of Health in Sumter County
Swimming Lessons
Swim Safe Sumter is a county-wide summer program that provides affordable swimming lessons for children ages 3-17, as well as adults.
Parent and Child Aquatics
(only 3 years old)
Helps children to become more comfortable in the water while remaining in the security of their parents arms. This class requires a parent or guardian to accompany the child in the pool.
Preschool Aquatics
(Ages 4-5)
Begins with basic skills, floating and moving through the water with support and continues to build on these skills until the child is able to swim independently or until the child reaches age 6.
Learn to Swim
(Ages 6-17)
Begins with basic skills, floating and moving through the water with assistance. The child continues to build on these skills until he or she can swim independently advancing to individual strokes including front crawl, elementary backstroke, back crawl, breaststroke and more.
Adult
(Ages 18 and up)
Begins with basic skills, advancing to swimming on their own, then to individual strokes including front crawl, elementary backstroke, back crawl, breastroke and more.
Lessons in the early levels emphasize skills to make the child both comfortable and safe in the water.
- Drowning is the leading cause of injury death for young children ages 1 to 4.
- In 2013, Florida had the highest unintentional drowning death rate (7.54 per 100,000 population) in the nation for children 1 to 4 year old age group.
- Florida had the second highest drowning rate (2.54 per 100,000 population) in the nation for children 1-14 years old.