What Swim Lessons Look Like During COVID-19
It’s no secret that swimming is a life-saving and life-enhancing skill. With the closure of outdoor pools last summer, it’s more important than ever to reinforce that ability and get kids comfortable in the water again.
However, children aren’t the only ones who are welcome to enroll in CA’s swim lessons.
“Lessons are currently open for everyone over the age of two and a half,” said CA Aquatics Program Coordinator Dylan Reyes. “All ages, including older adults, can benefit safety-wise and lessons can be tailored based on each individual’s goals.”
Wondering how swim lessons work in the age of COVID-19? Read on to learn more!
What To Expect In Swim Lessons
Currently, 15-minute one-on-one lessons are held indoors at Columbia Gym and Columbia Swim Center. This allows CA to accommodate physical distancing and capacity restrictions.
The good news is that parents are still able to watch the lessons. The benches at Columbia Gym and Columbia Swim Center are numbered, so each parent receives a designated spot while their child is in the lesson.
For safety reasons, CA swim instructors wear a protective swim mask and swim goggles during the duration of the lesson. If instructors are experiencing any possible symptoms of COVID-19, a substitute will fill in for the lesson. The instructors must show a negative COVID-19 test result to return.
Guests are also required to wear face coverings when entering or exiting the facility and when interacting with CA team members or other guests. The mask should only be removed as swimmers prepare to enter the pool to swim and should be put back on immediately after exiting the water.
After each 15-minute lesson, there is a five-minute break to allow participants to safely rotate in/out of lessons, and for team members to disinfect the benches and tables.
Outdoor Lessons Coming Soon
If you or your child prefers your swim lessons al fresco, you’ll be happy to hear that outdoor lessons will be held at Phelps Luck and Hawthorn Pool after Memorial Day. Both morning and evening sessions will be available.
“Participants will sign up for four lessons but receive the fifth as either a free bonus or a makeup session,” said Reyes.
Additionally, CA is bringing back smaller class sizes for the Little and Me program this summer, which is geared toward little ones between the ages of 6 months and three years old. This 25-minute class is about water discovery and adjustment, safety and the basics of swimming, including relaxing on the belly and back and getting the head and face wet.
Class Dates
Registration opens on May 3rd for all summer lessons.
Week 1 Lessons: June 21-June 25
Week 2 Lessons: June 28-July 2
Week 3 Lessons: July 5-July 9
Week 4 Lessons: July 12- July 16
Week 5 Lessons: July 19- July 23
Week 6 Lessons: July 26- July 30
Week 7 Lessons: Aug 2- Aug 6
For more information, please call 410-312-6332 or email Aquatics@ColumbiaAssociation.org. You can also learn more on our website.
Stay Tuned For More Info
CA will continue to look at adding more diverse swim lessons class opportunities as regulations continue to adjust and update. The best ways to get the latest information on everything pools related is to sign up for the CA Swim newsletter and follow CA Swim on Facebook and Twitter.