Hello Friends,
As the Division of Community Affairs prepares for an upcoming vice-presidential leadership transition, all of our traditional k-12 summer programs will be suspended for summer 2026. This includes Swim to the Top, which began 12 years ago.
Our Community Affairs team has appreciated the support we have received over the years from our students, our faculty, our staff and our community partners, our families, and the children who have benefitted from their participation in these programs.
We are currently working with all of our community partners to help provide other similar opportunities for our participating children and families, as well as for our UA students, staff and faculty who have been vital to the success of these important programs.
We remain committed to being a part of providing the kind of programming that offers these needed opportunities for children and families while also advancing teaching and learning opportunities for our UA faculty, staff and students.
We value our relationships with each of you and encourage you to reach out if we can be of any assistance.
Instructors from The University of Alabama and local school districts work with YMCA Barnes Branch summer attendees to provide quality swim instruction, physical education, and academic enrichment activities.
Who
WHEN
Why
All Swim to the Top attendees must also be registered with the Tuscaloosa YMCA Summer program.
Swim Instruction
Focusing on swimming skills and water confidence, attendees swim improvements are captured via pre- and post-Red Cross Swim Tests.
Enrichment
Combining writing exercises with hands-on experiments, attendees learn about the digestive system, as well as how to keep our hearts, kidneys, stomachs, brains, and eyes healthy with nutritious foods and exercise.
Physical Education
Social Emotional Learning
Attendees will explore different mediums over the course of the program, while also building Social Emotional Learning skills.
The Benjamin Barnes Branch of the YMCA, the Tuscaloosa County Park and Recreation Authority, and The University of Alabama Division of Community Affairs are proud to come together to provide this physical education and enrichment program, Swim to the Top.
want to learn more about Swim to the Top?
Contact Jake Peterson, Community Engagement Director, at jtpeterson2@ua.edu or 205-348-4352.