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Tinker youth learn water safety during ZAC Camp

  • Published
  • By Kimberly Woodruff
  • Staff Writer
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  "I believe we can swim! We're going to swim all over you!"

Cheers like this rang out during a medal ceremony marking the conclusion of ZAC Camp July 24 at the Tinker Youth Center.

For a week, 120 base youth attended ZAC Camp, a water safety course designed to teach them the A, B, C and Ds of water safety. The children were all very eager to share their new knowledge at the ceremony.

A stands for Adult -- Always swim with an adult.
B stands for Barriers -- Never climb over a fence to get to the water.
C stands for Classes -- Children learn water safety by attending classes.
D stands for Drain -- Never swim near or put your hands in the drain.

The camp was sponsored by the ZAC Foundation, which was formed by Brian and Karen Cohn to honor their son, Zachary Archer Cohn. The 6-year-old was a terrific swimmer, who lost his life in the family's backyard swimming pool after he became trapped in the drain. This week marked the seventh anniversary of his passing.

Each year ZAC camps are held around the nation, helping more than 4,000 children to date. Tinker has a three-year grant to provide the program for children ages 3 to 9 years old.

Mindy Whittington, Tinker Youth Center director, talked about a few of the kids and their successes. Five- year-old Owen William was afraid of the water, but this week he was able to jump in the pool. Owen Shelly was very nervous at first, and maybe overwhelmed with all the children, but by the end of camp he was the first one in the pool and the last one out.

The camp featured classroom instruction, swimming lessons at the Iszard pool with qualified lifeguards, and the "touch a truck" experience where the children were able to interact with first responders.

Friday, the children were treated to a medal ceremony for completing the course, and they got to meet Zeke, the polar bear from the book, "The Polar Bear Who Couldn't, Wouldn't Swim," written by the Cohns. All participants received a copy of the book, along with some other goodies.