Summer’s Here And The Time Is Right For Swimming
It’s time for parents to search out that rite of summer: swimming lessons. Several places in the Valley offer lessons: pool or lake, small or large, costly or inexpensive. Parents who take the time to look can find lessons that are right for their child.
The two major providers, Spokane County Parks and Recreation and the YMCA, are offering lessons at their regular locations.
Using Valley Mission, Park Road and Terrace View pools, the county will start the first of four two-week sessions on June 20. That’s in order to accommodate the Fourth of July holiday, said parks and rec manager Wyn Birkenthal.
Most lessons are scheduled for the morning. Pool managers will schedule evening lessons if enough parents express interest, Birkenthal said. Beginning level lessons cost $20 per session; $25 for more advanced lessons.
To pre-register, pick up a brochure at any county library branch, or at the county parks office, N404 Havana. Or, go to any county pool to sign up, starting at 1 p.m. June 18. For more information, call 456-4730.
Admission to the pools for regular swimming is $1 for those 6 years and older. Kids 5 and under may swim free. Three public swim sessions are scheduled every weekday afternoon. Valley Mission pool will be open weekends, with sessions from 1 to 2:30 p.m. and from 2:45 to 4:15 p.m. The county also offers summer swim teams.
At Liberty Lake Park, lifeguards will be on duty starting Friday at 8 a.m. until a half hour before dusk.
Lessons at Liberty Lake will start July 8 and run for three two-week sessions. Rates are the same as other county lessons.
The YMCA lessons will be at the Valley Community Pool, at 17th and Bolivar. The Y offers five sessions, starting June 17. The first session runs three weeks; all others run two weeks. Rates for the first session are $60 for non-members, $42 for members; for other sessions $42 for non-members and $30 for members. Call the Valley Y at 927-1474, or visit the Y office in the Tidyman’s at Sprague and McDonald for more information.
Members of the Jackson family will give swim lessons again at 11722 E. Sixth, as they have for more than 30 years. A series of two-week sessions starts June 20, said Robbie Jackson. The second session has few openings left. The third session will start July 22. Robbie’s husband, Mick, will teach older children in afternoon lessons. Mick’s parents, Ron and Sal Jackson, will teacher younger swimmers in morning lessons. Cost is $40 a session. “And if the weather doesn’t cooperate,” Robbie said, “we’ll take the June 20 session and move it to Aug. 5.” Call 921-1198 for more information.
Sta-Fit Athletic Club, 14208 E. Sprague, offers lessons with varied schedules, said pool director Tina Gazaway.
The club also offers family swim time for members and non-members. Sta-Fit has an indoor pool. Call 926-1241 for more information.
Stroh’s Fitness at the Argonne Shopping Center is offering a three-week session of six lessons for $20. Lessons will run from 9 to 9:45 a.m., starting June 17 in the club’s indoor pool. Students must be between 5 and 13 years old and ready for intermediate lessons. For more information, call 926-6268.
Kathy Parsons teaches lessons in her private pool at Liberty Lake, with rates of $5 for a half hour. She’ll teach three weeks only, starting June 24. Call 927-7813.
, DataTimes