Our neighbor had a pond that he raised baitfish in. He gathered all the neighborhood kids one day and told us: "You're not allowed in this pond without my permission, but since kids will be kids, you're all learning to swim" then proceeded to give an all day swimming class until every kid in the neighborhood was a swimmer. Later, dad bought a boat that we used for skiing at Meredith and Holbrook, so, yes, I'm a proficient swimmer.