Kipling Swimming Pool wrapped up for the season with various events held throughout the past week even though the weather wasn’t the most enticing.
The pool had a Junior Lifeguard Club that was free of charge which ran for an hour every day Monday through Friday.
The youngsters who attended learned what being a lifeguard was all about.
They would get some education from the Pool Manager on life saving, practice some skills involved, for instance throwing out an assist for a ‘drowning’ victim.
They also learned how to do water tests to test for the chemicals in the pool.
They learned of signs to watch for whether a swimmer is in distress or not. They learned a variety of skills needed to become a lifeguard.
“After a week of learning about lifeguarding, two of the young individuals definitely advanced their interest in wanting to be a lifeguard,” says Susan Hengen, Leisure Services Manager, of her observation throughout the week. “It gave them that little push they needed to finish out their swimming lessons over the next few years and then to take their training.”
On the last day the pool was opened, they had their wrap up or season finale.
“We had a Build a Boat contest and once they were finished the building, we had a race,” explains Hengen.
Out of a variety of everyday materials the nine kids participating had a half an hour to construct their own boat and then a race was held to see whose boat would stay afloat and make it to the finish line first. They had to find a way to race their boats without touching them.
“So there was some good problem solving,” says Hengen.
The staff also organized a ‘Splash for Cash’ event for the kids. Lifeguards tossed coins in the pool with the kids getting their chance to dive in and keep whatever cash they found. Now that’s a win-win day.
“We also did some relay races,” says Hengen “and a diving board contest.”
And that wrapped up the swimming for the 2021 season.
Hengen gives an overall summary of the Kipling Swimming Pool as follows:
“We definitely had a noticeable increase in swimming lesson registrations. We ran four sessions that all ended up being quite full. One of which was absolutely packed! Our public swimming hours were quite often very busy. Possibly due to the hot weather.”
“We did have a record number of private pool rentals this year,” says Hengen.
“People seem to be enjoying a hot summer and enjoying this time spent at the pool.”
People seem to be enjoying having the COVID restrictions lifted.
Excluding the COVID year, Hengen says by looking at the attendance, this was one of the pool’s busiest years.
“Compared to the past five years, our swimming lessons registrations were definitely the highest this year,” explains Hengen. “We had a high percentage of out-of-town people.”
“We had a lot of newcomers to lessons this year.”
“People were pleased with the service they got here,” says Hengen and adds “hopefully they’ll be back again next year!”
The lifeguards have all gone back to school or moving on to a career.
“It was a successful year,” says Hengen as she sums up the summer.
