The Milwaukee YMCA and the Milwaukee County Department of Parks, Recreation and Culture announced yesterday that the two organizations formed a partnership to bring day camps and swim lessons to County Parks this summer. 

The partnership will result in bringing Milwaukee YMCA programming to eight County Parks sites, including three new Y day camps held at Lincoln Park, Wilson Park and the Milwaukee County Sports Complex in Franklin.

In addition, the new partnership will bring Milwaukee Y Camp FLY (Fun Learning for Youth) curriculum into all seven Milwaukee Y day camp sites, with the goal of helping reduce summer learning loss. According to data from the Y's Camp FLY pilot program, more than 70 percent of campers who attended a minimum of four weeks at Camp FLY were able to sustain or gain in their math, science and reading skills. 

The final component is a new Milwaukee Swims initiative, introductory water safety and swim lessons – taught by certified Milwaukee Y swim instructors – will be available. The lessons will be taught four days a week for nine weeks at five County Parks sites, including the Schultz Aquatic Center in Lincoln Park, Pelican Cove in Kosciuszko Park and the pools at Jackson, Washington and Sheridan. 

The new partnership hopes to add to the approximately 800 kids served each summer weekday in day camps and more than 9,000 children and adults taught to swim each year by the Milwaukee YMCA. 

"We are very excited about our day camps and swimming lessons partnership with the Milwaukee YMCA," said Milwaukee County Parks director John Dargle in a press release. "This is a strong partnership that is mutually beneficial to both parties, but especially to the residents of Southeastern Wisconsin. Together, we’ll provide opportunities for healthy activities and water safety for kids and parents."