At-Risk Children Scuba Dive
Miss Scuba Teaches At-Risk Children How To Scuba Dive
As a California based stunt woman and scuba instructor, I get to work on
exciting movie sets with actors like Drew Barrymore, boss around LAPD Dive
Team Leaders during training and swim with sharks in remote reefs around the
world. Yet my most anticipated activity every year is the Chance for
Children Summer Camp.
In the early 90's Greg Bonann, a Los Angeles County lifeguard and creator of the world famous television series Baywatch, talked about the concept of having a "Baywatch theme related camp”. A year after hearing him talk about the idea, Tai Collins a freelance writer for the show, spoke up. She asked Bonann if he was serious about the summer camp and he was.
Collins, with a background in mission work and after school programs, offered to help. They started the Chance For Children Summer Camp for kids who live in poverty and around gang influenced violence. They focus on kids who could easily choose the wrong path, without productive and creative outlets to help develop and discover their dreams. Their focus became the "at-risk" youth of inner city Los Angeles.
Gangs start recruiting kids as young as 7 years old. Statistics show that as many as fifteen million children nationwide have no place to go after school. These children are more likely to be victims of crime or to participate in bad behavior. We believe that if you give a child something positive to do, they in turn will develop the ability to dream big and learn to create goals in life.
Greg's vision was to give these children a chance to experience the beach, fresh air, and a place to run. He wanted them to learn to swim, be water safe, have knowledge of CPR, and have happy memories to hold on to.
About seven years ago, Eileen Kenny, one of my scuba diving students and close friend, told me about her volunteer work at the Chance For Children Camp.
Coming from a formal “Eastern Block” Country (Hungary), I often feel the need to share my fortune with those less fortunate and asked Eileen to talk with the camp organizers about bringing SCUBA into their camp.
The following summer I invited my diver friends and fellow instructors to
come and help me introduce the 30-40 kids, in the camp, to the underwater
world and share our love for the oceans with them. I also approached my
training organization, PADI to donate towels and scuba toys for the event.
Everybody was excited and on board with my plan to give back to our
community and to do something for the pure joy of others, rather than making
profit.
The
difference between teaching privileged and underprivileged children to scuba
dive is something I have always had hard time explaining to someone who
never experienced it first hand. To many of the fortunate kids, it is just
one of the numerous activities their parents scheduled for the summer. But
for many of the “at-risk” kids, that same one hour of underwater practice is
one the best things to have ever happened to them.