Making a Splash at the Children’s Education Center
On warm summer days at the Children’s Education Center in Brookville, you can always hear pop music, splashing and laughter echoing across campus.
That sound would be Children’s Education Center students having a cool afternoon in the pool! Throughout the day, classes venture out to enjoy some time outside the classroom and in the sun, swimming, playing and spending time with their friends in the water.
On July 15 Heather Ferguson’s class of 9- to 11-year-olds had big smiles on their faces as they escaped the ongoing heat wave. The students venture over to the pool twice a week in the afternoon. Pool time, Heather said, is the student’s favorite time of day.
“They love coming to the pool,” Heather said. “They always get excited when they see it on the schedule. It’s a nice way to end the day.”
Besides all the fun, the pool provides occupational, sensory and therapeutic benefits for the students, many of whom receive physical therapy, as they get to exercise and play all while floating peacefully in an environment that is safe and staffed with lifeguards and pool aides.
The swimming pool, originally built in 1918 as part of the campus, underwent a major reconstruction in 2020 thanks to successful parent-led fundraising efforts. The renovation included transitioning to a heated saltwater system and leveling the pool depth for full usage, making it the perfect place for students to enjoy a summer splash.