Whelan’s Whales Giving Atlantic City Kids Their Fins
By Ryan Gerace
Swimming is a skill that people often take for granted. It may come as a shock to some that many children do not know how to swim or safely navigate out of a water emergency.
This an especially vital skill to have in our area because we live so close to the Atlantic Ocean, which often produces deadly rip currents. Whether in the ocean or in pools, lakes or rivers, it is important that kids to have their summer fun, as long as they are well-prepared and know how to be safe.
Green Whales Inc., a local nonprofit, funds and helps operate Whelan’s Whales along with the Brigantine Aquatic Center. The goal of Whelan’s Whales is to provide free swimming lessons to Atlantic City kids of all ages.
The program was named in memory of Jim Whelan, former state senator and Atlantic City mayor who died in August of 2017. Whelan was also a former Atlantic City Beach Patrol captain and an avid swimmer who loved to teach children how to swim.
In his memory, Whelan’s Whales became the official name of the program as this was a cause he firmly believed in.
“We started back in 2017 and now have around 400 kids in our program,” said Sari Carroll, the program director for Whelan’s Whales.
The program is still young but there has already been an amazing turnout the past two years.
The initial seven-week trial period back in 2017 saw the Brigantine Aquatic Center teaching 130 Atlantic City children basic water safety and swimming techniques.
“We really want the kids to build endurance in the water,” explained Carroll.
Water safety and swimming techniques are vital, however, having endurance is what will save your life in a water emergency.
Whelan’s Whales has seen unbelievable progress in these young children with some even taking an interest in swimming.
The kids in the program meet once a week at one of two practices held at the Martin Luther King School pool complex in Atlantic City. The instructors are mostly volunteers from the Brigantine Aquatic Center. The kids who have shown progress and a liking to swimming will often come back for second practice during the week.
Often the children are understandably hesitant to get into the water for the first time, but the instructor’ goal is to instill confidence. Some of the kids who attend the program are the first in their families to learn how to swim.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are about 4,000 drowning fatalities per year in the United States with 1 in 5 being children 14 and younger.
The Whelan’s Whales program is being proactive teaching kids in our area the skill of swimming as early in their lives as possible so they are both prepared and also able to have fun in the water.
If you would like to learn more about Whelan’s Whales see greenwhales.org or look them up on Facebook.
Ryan Gerace is a recent graduate from La Salle University with a Master’s in Strategic Communication. Born and raised in Linwood, NJ. He enjoys cooking, baking, and community events.
