Safe Swim Berkshires: Water Survival Skills for Middle and High School Students

BERKSHIRE FAMILY YMCA TO LEAD SAFE SWIM BERKSHIRES INITIATIVE INTO NEXT PHASE

Community-Drive Water Safety Program Expands to Reach More Teens with Life-Saving Survival Skills

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Following a successful pilot this past April, Berkshire Family YMCA has been named the central nonprofit organization advancing the Safe Swim Berkshires initiative — a powerful youth water safety program born from tragedy and driven by collaboration.

“The YMCA has always been a place where lives are changed, and Safe Swim Berkshires is a perfect reflection of that mission,” said Christian Bianchi, CEO of Berkshire Family YMCA. “We are honored to lead this life-saving initiative and deepen our commitment to youth development, safety, and equity. Every child deserves the chance to feel confident and capable around water.”

The next session of the program is scheduled for August 11–15, 2025, and will continue its mission to equip middle school students with vital water survival skills in a judgment-free, empowering environment.

Originally launched in spring 2025 as Stop Youth Drowning: Berkshire Initiative, the initiative was created in memory of Earl Giver Essien, a Pittsfield middle school student who drowned during a school outing at Beartown State Forest in July 2024. The loss inspired a swift and heartfelt community response.

This youth-centered program is designed specifically for teens ages 12 to 15 with plans to expand to high school students. Unlike standard swim instruction, Safe Swim Berkshires focuses on water competency—teaching students how to recognize risks, manage emergencies, and stay afloat in real-world situations.

“Our goal is not lap swimming—it’s survival, decision-making, and empowerment,” said Jennifer Roccabruna, a physical education teacher with Pittsfield Public Schools and one of the program’s founding leaders. “Teens often overestimate their abilities around water. We want them to be prepared, not panicked.”

With the support of co-founder Linda Dulye of Dulye & Co., a funder and strategic advisor, a grant awarded by Greylock Federal Credit Union, sponsorships by National Grid and Focus Is Our Children, community volunteers, swim instructors, and Pittsfield Public Schools, the program is expanding its reach and refining its focus. Roccabruna, Dulye, and BFYMCA helped develop a curriculum that goes beyond swim basics to understanding how to react in unexpected water scenarios.

In its pilot phase, 22 students from Herberg and Reid middle schools, as well as local homeschool programs, participated in a five-day session. Many were non-swimmers and had never entered a pool before. Berkshire Family YMCA and Gladys Allen Brigham Community Center donated facilities and space for the intensive one-on-one instruction, with every detail—from transportation to towels—covered to remove barriers.

“We focused on creating a welcoming and supportive environment,” said Dulye. “For most of our students, this was their very first experience in safely accessing and moving in water—and it was transformational.”

Berkshire Family YMCA will now serve as the coordinating hub for Safe Swim Berkshires, with continued collaboration from Pittsfield Public Schools, the Dulye Leadership Experience and committed volunteers.

“Safe Swim Berkshires is more than a program—it’s a response to a preventable tragedy and a call to action,” said Roccabruna. “With community support, we can save lives.”

Those interested in donating or volunteering can contact Christian Bianchi at cbianchi@bfymca.org or Jennifer Roccabruna at jroccabruna2@pittsfield.net.

FREE WATER SAFETY PROGRAM FOR BERKSHIRE MIDDLE SCHOOLERS

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A collaborative effort involving the Gladys Allen Brigham Community Center (GABCC), the Berkshire Family YMCA (BFYMCA), Linda Dulye of Dulye & Co., and Pittsfield Public Schools (PPS) has launched the Stop Youth Drowning: Safe Swim Berkshire Initiative.

This pilot program will offer free water safety instruction to middle school students during the 2025 spring break.

The program aims to address an increase in youth drownings in Berkshire County by providing essential water safety skills and knowledge. Instruction will be led by trained aquatic professionals at both the GABCC and BFYMCA, with half of the participants attending sessions at each location. Participants will receive swimsuits and daily lunch in a supervised environment. The program also intends to encourage participants to become peer advocates for water safety.

Jennifer Roccabruna, a Physical Education teacher at Pittsfield Public Schools, assisted with student recruitment and family communication. Pittsfield Public Schools provided logistical support for the pilot program.

The initiative was inspired by the drowning of a local young woman during a school trip in the summer of 2024. Linda Dulye is providing funding for the program in her memory.

According to Dulye, the program aims to build confidence and competence in and around water for young people, as well as provide opportunities for leadership and peer advocacy in safety.

"I instantly felt the need to take action. I approached the Y and Gladys Allen leadership with the idea to help our community’s youth build confidence and competence around water. These are life-saving skills—and they also give young people the chance to grow as leaders and peer advocates for safety, inspiring others to shed fears and learn to swim," said Dulye.

Aquatics professionals Prashad Abeysinghe (GABCC) and Claire Langlois (BFYMCA), along with Jennifer Roccabruna, designed the program's curriculum, which emphasizes safety, skill-building, and youth empowerment.

The GABCC stated that the program aims to reach middle school students who may miss out on traditional swim lessons, providing them with critical water safety skills and the opportunity to become safety advocates.

Jennifer Roccabruna emphasized the collaborative effort of the partners involved in making the program possible.

"We believe no child should lose their life due to a lack of access to water safety education," said Roccabruna. "This program empowers youth with the knowledge and skills to stay safe and support one another—and it’s all thanks to a powerful team of partners who care deeply about our young people."

The Stop Youth Drowning: Berkshire Initiative seeks to expand beyond the pilot program to reach more youth and remove barriers to water safety education. The organizers are inviting local leaders and philanthropists to support the initiative.

Individuals interested in getting involved can contact Jennifer Roccabruna at jroccabruna2@pittsfield.net.