Jennifer Garrish

My life has always involved swimming.  I first came to Ocracoke in 1983 to work for the NPS as a lifeguard.  One of our tasks was to teach the local children swimming lessons.  This occurred (unfortunately) in the canals on the backside of the island and Oyster Creek.  Needless to say, the conditions were not very pleasant, but we tried anyway.  

A few years later, I moved here permanently where I worked for the realty companies and then later began my teaching career, first in the Pre-school and then an additional  27 years teaching Middle and High School Science  at Ocracoke School. 

However, during my summer ‘vacations’ I worked with the Ocracoke Youth Center to organize and teach swimming lessons to the local children.  I did this for over 20 years.  These lessons were very strictly scheduled at the various motel pools around the village and while the motel owners were very generous in allowing us these opportunities, swimming lessons were difficult to manage going from pool to pool every week and often every day.   

This is why I feel very strongly about the creation of a Community Pool.  The island children and possibly many adults are in dire need of accommodations that will allow them to learn to swim safely and to increase their swimming strength.  I can’t think of a greater need for the Ocracoke Community.