HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014 03-19 More than a swim MAPLEWOOD REVIEW R 1 9 2014 ore t han a swim
Females-only swim brings 4some of the women have said that they often
feel like outsiders. They have said specifically
together diverse cultures, that because we found a need and responded
to that need, it made them feel like valued
views in Maplewood members of the community.
Barb Bellinger
Kaitlyn Roby dresses, enjoyed swim- founder of`Girls Swim Night Out'
Review staff ming when they were
children, but no longer
A females-only swim swam in mixed-gender For: Women and girls, including those who
time in Maplewood has environments when they are unable to swim in a mixed-gender environ-
become much more than got older. went
an opportunity to get into They didn't have a When: 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on a Friday once
the water. place where they could a month during the school year. Next ones are
Over the past two years, swim while upholding March 21, April 11 and May 9. A social time fol-
organizers have watched their views on modesty. lows the swim until 8:45 p.m.
women and girls from a "Would you like to?" Where:John Glenn Middle School, 1560 East
variety of backgrounds, Bellinger asked them. County Road B in Maplewood.
religions and cultures find "Well, we don't mind," 1 Details: Child care provided for boys, who
common ground while the girls responded, the gym while females swim i
play games in th in the
they learn to swim and according to Bellinger. pool
enjoy snacks and conver- "It's our choice to wear Cost: $3 for adults, $2 for children and $6
sation afterwards. The modest clothing." for immediate family. No charge for the boys.
program, which is funded "I'll see what I can do," Admittance not denied for those who can't
by the Educational Equity Bellinger told them. afford the fee.
Alliance, even garnered She contacted the
an award in late 2013 school district aquatics
from the Minnesota Com- manager at the time, say met the needs of several the community.
munity Education Asso- ing she wanted to start a and it continues different groups. Some "It made a difference in
ciation
females-only swim so girls people just come to swim how they felt in the com-
to be a unique offering in and women similar to the where there aren't men. munity."
the Twin Cities. daughters she met could It's been quite a melding It's also about teach-
When the founders have the opportunity to experience of a variety of ing parents and children
retired, Linda Napoli sum women and kids." water safety, Svendsen
stepped in. Pat Svendsen says she They found out last says.
"There really was not told her, "`I think we year that some women "Because I'm a water
other program like it in could do it."' weren't able to attend safety instructor, it's
the east metro area," says Svendsen worked for because they had to stay always my goal to get as
Napoli, the North St. District 622 community home with their sons. many kids to learn how to
Paul-Maplewood-Oakdale education for 27 years So, they added child care, swim as I possibly can,"
school district community until her retirement in where the boys could play she says. "Any parent or
education aquatics coor- July 2012. She thought games in the gym while child that even has a lit-
dinator. "It's really a need the pool at John Glenn their moms and sisters tle ability, that's one less
that's out there that we're Middle School would swam. family or child that could
able to fill or respond to. be an appropriate spot, "That's increased the have an accident around
That's why we really felt because it only had one number of girls going," the water."
it was important to keep small window that could Svendsen says. Last spring, the swim-
the program going." be easily screened. mers insisted on organiz-
The first night, they A simple, but meaning- ing the social portion of
Identifying a need had also planned a social ful, opportunity the night,bringing in food
It started when Barb hour after the swim time, Bellinger says she that represented each of
Bellinger was still a first- but weren't sure how gets goosebumps when their cultures.
grade teacher at Skyview many women and girls she reflects on what the "Everybody was try-
Elementary School in would actually show up. program means to the ing everyone else's, too,"
Oakdale. Then known "All of a sudden, there women she's gotten to Bellinger says. "The con-
as Mrs. Asmussen, she were 50 people in the know over the past two versations are very inter-
asked her students' fame pool," Svendsen says. ears. esting because the women
lies if she could share a "We were„ro shocked. th, i , -n o,I" gut
_ spew them to She= .r uicJ l a ' e a C
,w y. 4 o. 4 ,, . ,. t t . , en
know them fetter. learned t at it wash feel like outsiders," Bell- than they have different."
Swimming came up only Muslim females from
while she ate with a area cities who wanted to inger says. "They have
Somali family with four swim with just the girls. said specifically that Kaitlan Roby can be
daughters. "There was a church because we found a need reached at 651-748-7814
The older daughters, in Oakdale (that) shared and responded to that and krobb @lillienews.com.
who Bellinger says wore that same modesty prat need, it made them feel Follow her at twitter.com/
who Bellinger
and long black like valued members of KRobyNews.
g rice," Svendsen says. "We