The happy news for the week is that there will be swimming lessons available for youngsters in Wake Forest this summer. The town is partnering with the Kerr Family YMCA in Wakefield for the lessons. Registration, however, for the first session will end at 5 p.m. tomorrow, July 14.
Lessons for area preschoolers, ages 3 to 5, and beginners, ages 6 to 12, will be held at the YMCA’s indoor pool at 2500 Wakefield Pines Drive. The YMCA will host two sessions of swim lessons for Wake Forest-area preschoolers and beginners starting later this month.
Wake Forest staff and YMCA officials worked out the arrangement after the town learned it would be unable to offer swim lessons or open Holding Park Pool this year because of structural problems in the pool walls.
“This partnership with the YMCA is a wonderful example of what makes Wake Forest great,” Wake Forest Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources Director Ruben Wall said. “Over the past few years we have provided space at Holding Park Pool for the YMCA’s Swim for Life Program and Camp High Hopes. Now, (Kerr Family YMCA Director) Walt Reynolds and his staff are helping us by scheduling additional sessions of swim lessons for us at their facility. We sincerely appreciate their efforts and will continue to pursue opportunities to work together for the betterment of our community.”
For preschoolers, Session One swim lessons will be offered July 18 through Aug. 3, while Session Two classes are Aug. 8 to Aug. 24. Classes will meet on Mondays and Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 9:35 a.m. Lessons will be provided by a single instructor to groups with a maximum of four participants per class.
Swim lessons for beginners are scheduled July 19 through Aug. 4 (Session One) and Aug. 9 through Aug, 25 (Session Two). Classes will meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:45 a.m. to 9:35 a.m. Swim lessons will be provided by a single instructor to groups with a maximum of six participants per class.
Online registration for Session One classes began Monday, July 11, at 8 a.m. and will continue until 5 p.m. Thursday, July 14, or until all slots are filled. Online registration for Session Two classes began July 11 and continues until Thursday, Aug. 4, or until all slots are filled.
To register online, visit http://wakeforestnc.recdesk.com/recdeskportal/. Payments can be made with debit card, MasterCard, and Visa. A limited number of slots is available in each session. Swim lesson registration will be accepted on a first-come, first serve basis. A participant’s eligibility is determined by his or her age on Aug. 1, 2016. The cost is $35 for those living within the town limits and $70 for non-Wake Forest residents.
Anyone wishing to register who does not have internet access is invited to sign up using the kiosks in the lobby of the Wake Forest Town Hall at 301 Brooks Street during weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
For more information, contact Wake Forest Athletics Superintendent Edward Austin at 919-435-9562 or eaustin@wakeforestnc.gov.
Another option for swim lessons is the YMCA at Knightdale Station in Knightdale, which is offering two sessions of swim lessons in August for preschoolers and youth.
Swim lessons for preschoolers are scheduled Aug. 1 through Aug. 17 on Mondays and Wednesdays and Aug. 2 through Aug. 18 on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Both sessions meet from 5:45 p.m. to 6:20 p.m. Lessons are provided by a single instructor to groups with a maximum of four participants per class. The cost is $61.
Youth classes are offered Aug. 1 through Aug. 17 on Mondays and Wednesdays and Aug. 2 through Aug. 18 on Tuesdays and Thursdays. These sessions meet from 6:30 to 7:20 p.m. Swim lessons are provided by a single instructor to groups with a maximum of six participants per class. The cost is $64.
The YMCA at Knightdale Station is located at 494 Knightdale Station Run. For more information, visit www.ymcatriangle.org/ymca-knightdale-station.
