The Friends of Lopez Island Pool is starting the 2012 season off with a big splash. In collaboration with Lopez Elementary School and Fidalgo Pool, FLIP is sponsoring the first Lopez Kids Will Swim day at Fidalgo Pool, Anacortes, Thursday, May 24.

Kids, parents and chaperones will board busses and private transportation at Lopez School in the morning, to arrive at Fidalgo Pool for a 1-2:30 p.m. private reserved swim time. Fidalgo Pool is providing swim equipment and pool toys.  All participating children will require signed permission slips returned to the school. Call Lopez School at 468-2201, for more info. Participation is limited to 125 swimmers.

Additional volunteer chaperones are sought for the day, and will get an opportunity to swim in warm water. Call Linda Barton, 468-4655 to volunteer.

FLIP is focusing on opportunities to teach water safety and water confidence while fundraising for a Lopez Aquatic and Wellness Center on Lopez, a few steps from Lopez School. K-12 Principal Lisa Shelby echoes FLIP’s concern for water-surrounded island kids.

“I believe, as an educator and parent, that learning to swim is an essential life skill for students,” she said. “Learning the basics of swimming and water survival may help save a child’s life, and being comfortable in water will benefit them for a lifetime.”

FLIP is also launching another season of Club 468 wetsuit swimming at MacKaye Harbor on Sunday, May 27.  The “wetsuit library” is growing, so if only the lack of a wetsuit has prevented you from participating, call Linda Barton at 468-4655 to see what is available for checkout.

For more information about the planned Lopez Pool, visit the FLIP booth at the Saturday Market, across from Vita’s, and check our website: www.lopezislandpool.org. We urge friends of the pool to volunteer at our booth on Saturdays, to include training in pool progress. Call Micki Ryan, 468-4442 to volunteer for a two-hour shift.