Were You Taught to Swim as a Fundy?

[notdrinkingthekoolaid]

I can swim...basically, though I never took lessons. My kids are all taking lessons right now though.

[Tikatu]

Fourth graders were eligible for free swimming lessons at the local county pools here. All of my kids took them -- the two eldest while in Christian school. The Christian school distributed the flyers and brochures about the lessons even though it meant there would be mixed swimming and even though the school didn't necessarily agree with the sponsors.

[Perry]

My brother and I took swimming lessons when we were very young. That was before we were fundies. However, pretty much everyone I knew at church knew how to swim. The church owned property on a lake, so everyone would always have birthday parties and getaways there. Plus, we have always had some type of body of water near our home (we used to have a pond; the house we live in now has a pool), and lots of people would come over and use our pool. If friends were over, we would all wear normal swimming clothes, but if the important church people came to use our pool we'd have to wear our fundy swim clothes.

[exOBCstudent]

(05-13-2012 09:11 PM)SomethingFundy Wrote:  I wasn't fundy but knew how and thank God because I had to pass an army swim test, I feel sorry for people going into the navy who were fundy

Lol that sounds all too familiar to me! The first time I learned to swim was when I was standing blindfolded on the high dive, wearing all my combat gear, holding a rubberized M16 out to the front of me with BOTH hands, then being shoved off and told to dive to get the rifle, remove all my gear, then swim back with the rifle OVER my head.........all without drowning.

I choked in a LOT of water yet survived. That was my first swim lesson compliments of the US Army. Oh and it was Feb in Ft. Leonardwood, MO with a thin layer of snow on the ground.

Us uber fundys were too holy to swim during vacations....we had family devotions instead.

[Jenni]

I attended a public school (scandalous - I know, but my family couldn't afford Christian school tuition), and we were required to swim as part of PE class. Actually, before we became full Fundies I went swimming all the time. But no, as a Fundy I wasn't around water much ... it's just too complicated when you have to have separate swim times for each gender and still have to wear a ton of clothing in order to avoid immodesty ...

[C_Fresh]

(05-13-2012 07:53 PM)elfdream Wrote:  I could never float either....I have no idea why not. I always sank.

I didn't learn to swim but that was because I had a mother who wouldn't let me do anything when I was growing up. I think I can keep myself from drowning thanks to the Scouts.... but that's about it.

I could float as a kid but lost the ability later. My legs were the problem and would sink until I just had my head floating and that was if I held my breath to keep bouyancy.

Last summer, I accidentally discovered how to fix it. Instead of having my arms at my side or straight out, I just had to move them back behind my head. Once I reached about a 45 degree angle (Y shape from above) my legs would stay up. I'm guessing it shifts my center of gravity to the point that everything works.

[Phatchick]

I took swimming lessons as a kid but that was back waayyy before the current modesty movement. All long as we wore modest (read one-piece, no funny cut-outs) swimsuits and covered up (usually t-shirts) when we came out, we were OK. I truly can't imagine not knowing how to swim in WI, where half the summer seems to spent near lakes and rivers.

[Scorpio]

(05-13-2012 07:53 PM)elfdream Wrote:  I could never float either....

Remember in the event of a water landing, and your flight becomes a cruise, your seat cushion can be used as a floatation device.

[Waldo L]

Here's a copy-paste from the Wilds Christian Camp teen camp brochure:

Quote:Christian conduct: As a Christian organization, THE WILDS maintains high
standards of conduct and separation. Separate swim times are scheduled
for male and female campers. Campers who use tobacco, alcohol, or any
form of illegal drugs will be dismissed. Any noncooperative or noncompliant
campers will be subject to dismissal.
Ladies/girls note: Please bring knee-length skirts or dresses for the evening
services (slits must not come above the knee). Any fashion worn must come
at least to the top of the knee and cover the shoulders. Low necklines (front
or back) are not acceptable camp attire. Loose-fitting pants, jeans, or kneelength
fashions may be worn except when otherwise specified. Swimsuits
should be one-piece.

Yes, even with "high standards of conduct and separation," one-piece swimsuits are still required for girls. (Be glad they dropped the "and lined" requirement as well, whatever that means. Perhaps I'm too fundy male to know.)

[exOBCstudent]

(05-14-2012 11:27 AM)Waldo L Wrote:  Here's a copy-paste from the Wilds Christian Camp teen camp brochure:

Quote:Christian conduct: As a Christian organization, THE WILDS maintains high
standards of conduct and separation. Separate swim times are scheduled
for male and female campers. Campers who use tobacco, alcohol, or any
form of illegal drugs will be dismissed. Any noncooperative or noncompliant
campers will be subject to dismissal.
Ladies/girls note: Please bring knee-length skirts or dresses for the evening
services (slits must not come above the knee). Any fashion worn must come
at least to the top of the knee and cover the shoulders. Low necklines (front
or back) are not acceptable camp attire. Loose-fitting pants, jeans, or kneelength
fashions may be worn except when otherwise specified. Swimsuits
should be one-piece.

Yes, even with "high standards of conduct and separation," one-piece swimsuits are still required for girls. (Be glad they dropped the "and lined" requirement as well, whatever that means. Perhaps I'm too fundy male to know.)

That brochure is one of the items my wife tries to use to show me that The Wilds isn't fundy like I say it is. I argue that it actually proves my point.

I'm so glad that I no longer worry about weather or not my clothing is "approved" for whatever activity I choose. When my wife and I go to the beach, we blend in with all the other "heathens" out there now.