Swimming promotion in the Regensburg district: children get into the water safely!

Swimming promotion in the Regensburg district: children get into the water safely!

There is good news for all little water lovers and their parents in the Regensburg district. In view of the worrying number of primary school children who cannot swim, the Bavarian state government has launched a comprehensive swimming promotion program. Under the motto “Join in – Show up!” Over 1,300 preschool children and first graders have already taken advantage of the opportunity to learn to swim and acquire the coveted “Seahorse” badge. District Administrator Tanja Schweiger emphasizes how important it is that every child has the opportunity to learn to swim at an early age and thanks the swimming schools and the dedicated helpers from Wasserwacht and DLRG.

The program is now being further expanded. From the 2024/25 school year onwards, “Join us – Dive in!” permanently offered to all preschool children. This is to ensure that no child comes to school without swimming skills. In addition, there is a regular “Swimming Intensive” project and the “Swimming Star Courses”, which are aimed at children and young people in order to further promote swimming skills.

Vouchers for swimming courses

The new vouchers worth 50 euros for swimming courses have already been distributed to all preschool children and are valid until August 31, 2025. These vouchers can be redeemed at all participating swimming schools as well as at the local associations of Wasserwacht and DLRG. The providers of swimming courses are required to contact the Regensburg district office about costs once the courses have been completed.

Another positive aspect is the extension of the redemption period for the vouchers for the 2023/24 campaign until December 31, 2024. This gives many preschool children and first graders the opportunity to still redeem their vouchers and learn to swim.

But that's not all. In addition to the program for preschool children, there are also special offers for third and fifth graders. In collaboration with the State Education Authority, the “Intensive Swimming” project is offered, which is aimed at children in the third and fifth grades. Last school year, over 2,100 children took part in this project and earned various swimming badges.

District Administrator Tanja Schweiger is enthusiastic about the success of the “Swimming Star Courses”, which were specially designed for secondary school and high school students. “It is important to me that we promote the swimming skills of children and young people on several levels and convey to them the joy of swimming safely,” said the district administrator.

For the coming school year, swimming star courses are again planned for children who cannot yet swim. Interested parents are asked to contact the school administration at the district office for further information.

The school district is available to answer questions about the “Intensive Swimming” project to ensure that all children in the district have the opportunity to learn to swim and feel safe in the water.