Krystial Harrell 
Aquatics Director

   Krystial Harrell has always had a love for water. As the oldest child of five children, Krystial is a born leader. At seventeen, she was the first of her siblings to take the lifeguard course at the YMCA and become a certified lifeguard. This accomplishment later influenced three of her siblings to also become lifeguards. As soon as Krystial entered the YMCA Aquatics Center she knew it was the place for her and as she continued to spend time there it eventually became a second home to her. Jean and Doug Davis became her second family and gave her a firsthand education in the history of the YMCA and the organizations Christian values.

   She is a positive and influential member of the community and an outstanding model of the YMCA’s values of honesty, caring and responsibility. There are few youths in the community who have not benefited from her exemplar performance as the YMCA Aquatics Director.

   She holds numerous certifications including; Lifeguard, CPR, First Aid Instructor Trainer, Water Safety Instructor, PADI Scuba Diver. She is also a member of the in the Arthritis Foundation.  

   Aquatic experience, love for the water and water safety. These are important aspects if you want to teach your child how to swim. Practice makes perfect. The more you swim the better you will get. After a child learns how to go under water for five to ten seconds the second step is teaching the flutter kick with and without a PFD. The last step is a front float and adding your kick. The combination of all three steps equal swimming.

   Swimming should be fun. Swimming is a survival skill and is vital to learn however it is best to learn from play. I have ten years of experience teaching children how to swim. If a child can complete all three steps then he or she will learn how to swim. Eat, sleep, swim at the YMCA.

Sincerely
Krystial Harrell.