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PRESTON – Forty years ago this summer, Norris and Candy Craft took on a unique legacy from their friend, fellow Southern Caroline County local Chuck Planner. Planner had been teaching swimming lessons to neighboring children and asked the Crafts - a couple then in their twelfth year of marriage - if they’d be interested in continuing his work. Now, they’ve taught hundreds (if not thousands) of Caroline County kids how to swim, including many children of former students.
The Crafts’ backyard on Gallagher Road in Preston has been the classroom, though Candy said the pool area has seen its fair share of upgrades over the years. Similarly, Craft Swimming Lessons has expanded over time; that first year of 1986 they simply hosted their friends’ kids to “see if it was something we could do.” Now, they hold class every hour on the hour for multiple age groups during a few weeks out of the summer.
“Water safety is a really important thing to me,” Candy said, “We have three goals. Number one is to have fun, number two is water safety, and number three is to improve your skills.” Every session includes a PFD (personal flotation device) day to teach the children how to safely wear and use life jackets. “Every summer you hear a sad story,” she said. She explained that while she was a teacher at Federalsburg Elementary School, a devastating drowning incident cost three local boys their lives, and she carries that heartbreak with her as she and Norris conduct the swimming lessons. “That was the worst funeral that I’ve ever been to… and I tell that story to the older [students],” she said.
Norris is also a retired teacher. Together they instruct ages six months up to young adults on basic water safety and swimming skills. “I like to see when the kids get to the point that they can function in the water on their own,” Norris said.
Every year, the Crafts have “picture day.” And during the final classes of each group, they pull out thick binders full of photos of former classes – every one since 1986 - to show the students. Many find their parents’ much younger faces within those binders.
While Norris and Candy aren’t quite sure how much longer they can keep up with the swimming lessons, their youngest son, Chet Craft, said, “It’s been something that’s been a part of my summer every year of my life… they really really love it and they enjoy it. I’m so happy and really honored that they’ve gotten to do it for forty years together.”
