In 2011, Wayland High School swimmers harnessed their passion for swimming and created the 'Water Warriors' Program, which teaches swimming and water safety lessons to elementary and middle school METCO students from Boston. The high school students learned that many of these students were not participating in aquatic activities and celebrations in Wayland because they did not know how to swim. 

According to a study of six urban areas nationwide, nearly 70 percent of African-American children and nearly 60 percent of Latino/Hispanic children have no or low swimming skills. And while drowning is the second cause of unintentional death for children under the age of 14, participation in formal swim lessons can reduce the likelihood of drowning by 88 percent.

In Water Warriors' first year (2011), there were 30 METCO swimmers and 16 high school volunteers. The program grew to 80 swimmers and 56 high school volunteers in 2015, keeping the student-teacher ratio very low. In fact, the beginning swimmers have one-on-one instruction to ensure complete safety and maximize the learning/instructional experience. The COVD-19 pandemic cancelled the 2020 program after two weeks and prevented both the 2021 and 2022 programs from running. We were thrilled, however, to restart the program in 2023, with 35 METCO swimmers and 40 Wayland High School students as volunteer instructors. The 2024 & 2025 seasons have seen our number of METCO participants grow to 45 with an equal number of high school volunteers.

The Water Warriors program takes place over the span of 10 weeks from March to June. This free lesson program follows the American Red Cross Learn to Swim curriculum. During the lessons, swimmers work to improve their skills in the water and learn essential water safety skills. Some swimmers will become comfortable letting go of the wall for the first time while others will swim their first length of the pool. The more experienced swimmers set fitness goals by swimming “workouts” designed by high school swim team members. 

The Water Warriors program has also paid dividends for the Wayland High School Swim and Dive Team: its participation by METCO students has more than doubled since the inception of the Water Warriors Program.

For program-specific and registration information, use the Registration link in the menu at top.

Water Warriors in the Media

• Wayland Post - June 13, 2025

• Water Warriors Thank You Video for USAT - March 13, 2025

• USATriathlon Press Release on Endeavor-Tri Grant Recipients - December 19, 2024

• WSPN - January 26, 2024

• WSPN - March 29, 2023 

• WBZ News - May 11, 2016

• Boston Globe - May 22, 2014

• MetroWest Daily News - June 24, 2013

• WSPN - April 8, 2013

• WSPN - April 10, 2011

The Importance of Swim in the Media

• Boston Globe - Swimming Lessons Decrease Drowning Risk but They're Hard to Find - June 4, 2024

• Boston Globe - How the Wayland Community Pool Saved My Life - May 27, 2024