If you’re looking for a fun and interactive way to log community service hours, come to Pop Swim, Choate’s adaptive swimming program. Every Thursday from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m., Choate volunteers work at the WJAC pool with children and adults with disabilities. Participants come from a variety of backgrounds and often have different physical or intellectual needs, but all have similar goals: They are looking for someone to spend time with them and treat them with kindness and patience.
Joaquin Antunez ’19, a Pop Swim volunteer, said, “Pop Swim takes in a large part of the community that would otherwise have been seen as outcasts, but because we have such an accepting community at Choate, we provide an opportunity that they might not have received somewhere else.”
The program, which was founded approximately 35 years ago, is now run by Mr. Gary Lynch and Ms. Cyndi Lynch. Having a special needs child of their own, Pop Swim is particularly important to the Lynch family. Ms. Lynch said, “The volunteers are wonderful. What’s most rewarding for me is to see them grow up right before my eyes, from freshmen year when you were shy and timid to senior year when you’ve got a career path in mind. It might be entirely different from working with folks with special needs, but somehow Pop Swim leaves almost every single volunteer with something in their heart.”
Pop Swim relies on its volunteers. Suki Kalra ’18 said, “I love that we get to swim with the kids because I feel like that’s a rare hands-on service opportunity that we don’t get in very many places. In addition, it really allows Choate students to let loose and have fun with the participants.”
Pop Swim has two student leaders: Lyon Foster ’18 and Lila Kirchhoff ’18. Their responsibilities include recruiting volunteers, setting up the pool, and pairing Choate students with participants to ensure that everyone has a safe and enjoyable time in the pool. Foster, who grew up near the ocean, said, “I know that every client has the same love for the water as me, but that they don’t have the same opportunities to enjoy it because of a developmental, intellectual disability. It’s just cool to share something with others.”
Kirchhoff, who has been going to Pop Swim since her freshmen spring, enjoys swimming with Nathan and Cameron, who are eight-year old twins with disabilities. Kirchhoff said, “It’s been really amazing to watch the boys grow over the past year. This situation happens with a lot of participants. People that used to get out of the pool after merely fifteen minutes are now staying in and swimming around for the full hour or so.”
Jordan and Josh are brothers who have been going to Pop Swim for two years now. Jordan loves playing ball with the volunteers in the “Volleyball Squad.” He’s a valuable member to the group and is a constant ball of energy. Josh is more laid-back and relaxes in a tube watching the game from the side. Their mother appreciates this time for her kids to gain some independence in the pool.
All members of the Pop Swim family are grateful for the program. Ari’s mom said that to her that Pop Swim means free time. She said, “I know for an hour Ari is taken care of, and during that time, I get to network and talk about different things with friends.” Josh and Jordan’s mother said, “Pop Swim shows me that the community cares about kids with special needs. This program helps these kids socialize more and know that they have a place where they can come and have a good time without being judged.”
It’s never too late in the year or in your Choate career to join Pop Swim; more volunteers are always welcome. Come down to the pool, brighten someone else’s day, and yours may get a little brighter, too.
