Adaptive Recreation Swim Buddies

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Program Information

• Swim Buddies is an adaptive, inclusive swimming program for those with and without special needs.

• Demographics includes but are not limited to, autism, cerebral palsy, and related disabilities from the age range of 4 and through adulthood.

• Program is in the shallow end of the pool, so no swimming experience is necessary to help.

• Each group contains a max of 10 participants and each participant will be assigned to a volunteer, the same one, for the entire season.

• Swim Instructors and Directors lead the class, and volunteers help assist their participant learn skills

Volunteer Roles

• Provide help with an assigned buddy to ensure safety and build rapport during the session!

Volunteer Prep

• Attire - Swim clothes, one piece bathing suits, athletic clothes could be used over bathing suit. Volunteers must have a shirt on during session.

• An extra set of dry clothes to change into, towel, water bottle, sunscreen or sun protection is recommended, hats are allowed but not sunglasses.

• Please bring your cell phone to sign in.

To get started, please follow these initial steps:

1. Create a Profile on Volunteer Matters
   https://ymcasouthflorida.volunteermatters.org/register
   Signing up for Volunteer Matters is essential as it allows us to track your involvement and keep you informed about upcoming opportunities. Through Volunteer Matters, you’ll have access to program details, event registrations, and volunteer requirements.

1. Join Our Band App Volunteer Group
   https://band.us/n/a9adA27337VdO
   Our Band group serves as a hub for all things volunteer-related! Here, you’ll receive calendar updates, event notifications, and group chat access. It’s also where I share photos, sign-up links, attendance updates, and other important information. It’sa great way to stay connected and informed.

1. Track Your Hours on Give Pulse
   https://www.givepulse.com/group/928017-ymca-of-south-florida
   If you need to log your volunteer hours, Give Pulse is a fantastic tool many of our volunteers use. It allows you to track your contributions and even create reports for school, work, or personal records. Sign up for programs under the calendar!