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George Washington Rec Center Swim Instructor - Beth Campbell
Beth Campbell says, learning to swim isn't just fun, it can save a life. Beth has been a swim instructor for many years and has taught swimming in 6 states. She has been with the Fairfax County Park Authority since 1993 starting at Franconia Rec Center, moving around to 5 Rec Centers in the County and has been teaching at George Washington (GW) Rec Center since 2015. Beth has taught countless children how to swim, focusing much of her time to help children with disabilities. She even spearheaded the difficult project to have a lift installed in the deep end of GW Rec Center to provide everyone access into the pool. When the pandemic hit, Beth found and purchased waterproof masks for her students so she could continue working with them.
Beth's favorite part of her job is seeing her students light up when they accomplish a difficult task. "Their smiles are contagious... [this job] really is my calling" she claims. Beth first started teaching at age 15. The first child she ever taught was a young boy with disabilities who lived by a lake and needed to be a confident swimmer. Beth taught him for 2 years and by the end of instruction he was jumping off the diving board and able to swim 25 yards. That teaching moment sparked her love for the job.
Beth is a swim instructor celebrity in our community, constantly booked and asking her manager to make space for more students. Along with being a wonderful leader, Beth and her family have lived in the Mount Vernon District since 1990 and her children graduated from Mount Vernon High School. Thank you Beth for being an extraordinary educator and giving everyone the opportunity to learn how to swim! Check out group or private swim lessons at GW Rec Center.
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