NORWICH – The Norwich Family YMCA and the Chenango County Youth Bureau have teamed up to provide area residents with an affordable opportunity to take a water safety instruction course or lifeguard training.

“We have been working with the Youth Bureau for several years to offer these programs to youth in Chenango County,” said YMCA Aquatics Director Krista Sheridan. The two programs offer certification opportunities for young people that could lead to future employment.

“The lifeguard training program gives certification in waterfront lifeguard, first aid, CPR and AED. The waterfront part of the class enables youth to work at state parks, if they choose to go on to take the state test. The WSI program trains youth to be able to teach swimming lessons, a program that most local pools run in the summer time,” Sheridan explained.

Due to funding by the Youth Bureau, both courses will be available to Chenango County youth at a reduced cost. Participants will only be required to pay for the books necessary for the course.

The WSI course is open to Chenango County youth between the ages of 16 and 21. Sheridan explained participants will take part in a swimming screening – demonstrating all swim strokes – on the first day of class.