Some Swim For Life participants will be required to re-register in order to participate

ALBANY – Swimming students who were signed up as part of Swim For Life for lessons at the Water Safety Academy will get a chance to register to participate instead at the Albany Boys & Girls Clubs site.

Parents may sign their children up at the Boys and Girls Clubs site from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturday at the 1309 N. Jefferson pool site as well as through the remainder of next week. 

There also may be slots for individuals who did not register during the May 30 sign-up event, Dougherty County Coroner Michael Fowler, who started the water safety program that is entering its 11th year, said.

“Right now we’re trying to make things safe for our kids,” Fowler said during a Monday news conference. “It will be a safe environment.”

The move to the Boys & Girls Clubs means that budding swimmers will be able to take classes locally instead of in Terrell County, the coroner said.

The club anticipates giving lessons to about 378 youngsters during the summer, Boys & Girls Clubs of Albany CEO Jacqueline Robinson said.

For 2025, 1,003 young people signed up for swimming lessons.

The Swim For Life program consists of five weeks of instruction for one hour each day. 

“This adjustment is necessary to ensure that classes continue as planned and that all participants remain properly enrolled,” Fowler said of the change. “We understand that this change may cause inconvenience, and we sincerely appreciate your patience and understanding as we work through this transition.”