With Door County’s shoreline and inland waters drawing residents and visitors back to the lakeshore for summer, the Door County YMCA is urging families to prioritize water safety training before peak recreation season arrives.

The Door County peninsula is surrounded by water, and learning proper swimming skills and safety habits is essential as boating, swimming and beach activities increase.

“The aquatics center at the Y should be your focus now with summer coming,” said Mike McHugh, Competitive Swim Director at the Sturgeon Bay campus YMCA.

McHugh said early preparation can make a major difference in preventing accidents and building confidence in the water. “Get in a couple safety sessions before summer, they'll be all set, safe and can enjoy the water,” he said.

The YMCA offers programs designed for all ages and skill levels, from infants and toddlers to adults. “We have lesson starting with babies, adult learn-to-swim classes and even competitive swim lessons up to the collegiate levels,” McHugh said.

He emphasizes that structured instruction helps reduce drowning risks and improves awareness in open water settings, which are common across Door County.

McHugh encourages families to enroll early as classes fill quickly ahead of summer. “Those classes fill up right away; we still have some availability in the current spring session though.”

The goal, McHugh said, is simple: build lifelong skills that keep swimmers and their families safe wherever water recreation takes them.

For more information please visit the Door County YMCA website, or listen to this week’s full Y-Wednesday podcast here.