Are you 55 or older? Do you like to swim? Would you like to improve? Or learn?

If so, you have such an opportunity at Wallace Pool on the University of Maine campus in Orono.

For just $25 per semester, seniors can swim three times a week and receive instruction from one of their own, Ann Skalski of Orono.

The program, run through the university’s recreation department with help from swim coach Jeff Wren, started last fall with three people. It gradually expanded to 12 and, Skalski said, it was such a success the swimmers complained when it was suspended for the summer.

“What really surprised me,” Wren said, “is that most of the people are continuing to do their laps this summer.”

Doing those laps came as no surprise to Skalski, however. “That’s what I told ’em to do,” she said.

Skalski admitted she does “feel a little guilty” about not working with her swimmers this summer “because they sort of sulked around when we said we wouldn’t do it, but we are doing what they want next fall by increasing from two days a week to three.”

The program will begin in early September and run Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10-11 a.m. It is open to anyone.

“We want to appeal to the community in general,” Skalski said, “and we want to appeal to the university community as well.”

Skalski is, admittedly, a tough taskmaster. “All they have to do is want to learn,” she said. And they have to do what she tells them.

“The people here are so interesting, and so amazing to me,” she said.

“We never thought anybody would care this much about working on strokes, but my thrust is, if you improve and really develop this skill and the technique, you will be able to do this the rest of your life. I’ve seen people get out of wheelchairs and become swimmers. You get the skill developed so you’re comfortable in the water.”

The oldest age “admitted to,” by a swimmer, Skalski said, is 73.

Skalski, who moved to Orono from Ohio last year, has been teaching swimming through the Red Cross and YMCA for about 10 years. “I was a swim team kid and then did nothing for a long time,’ she said.

“After raising a large family, I went back to school and ended up getting into exercising and then into swimming. Someone at the YMCA asked if I could help out so I got certified and they hired me.”

Asked the major difference in teaching older swimmers rather than younger swimmers, Skalski said, “Explaining.”

“I probably do more explaining than you would with young people,” she said. “They would rather watch and do, and try to do something and correct it. My own way of teaching is to let them go on and make their mistakes and then make individual corrections.”

Skalski is happy with the way the program is developing. “I’m just thrilled to death with what they are doing and how well it has been received,” she said.

The sessions start with exercises and stretching, Skalski said, “for those parts of the body you use for swimming.” That lasts about 15 minutes, then the swimmers do warmups for another 15 minutes and the final half-hour is basically instructional.”

Next fall, Skalski plans to bring in a retired nutritionist so her swimmers will be able to ask questions about swimming and nutrition.

Anyone interested in the program can call Wren at 581-1076 or the Recreation Sports Office at 581-1080.