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City of Austin: Aquatics
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
2 reviews for City of Austin: Aquatics
I've always been totally paranoid that one of my kids will drown, so I wanted to start them in swimming classes as soon as they were old enough. Lucky for me, there is the City of Austin Aquatics program.
The classes run all summer in two week sessions of 8 classes, and are held at city pools all over town. There are about a dozen levels of classes, and kids must be in the right age range for a class to participate. Each class level has a cute animal name (Starfish, Frog, Turtle, etc.) and if by the end of the class, your kid demonstrates all the skills required for the class, he or she will get a certificate and an iron-on patch with the animal on it as a reward. Very motivating. I sew the patches on my kids' beach towels - they love that.
Every session we've signed up for so far has had a different instructor, and so far all the instructors have been teenagers or early 20s types. I've been pleasantly surprised that every single one has been quite mature, good with kids, and engaged - no bored "I'm just trying to make some money to pay for an iPod" attitude. I am truly impressed with how much my kids learn at each session. I plan to continue enrolling my kids through all of the remaining sessions over the next few summers. The ultimate goal - having the kids be such proficient swimmers that I can actually relax when I take my kids to the pool.
Cost is $50 per session, which is a huge bargain and is, I believe, way cheaper than any of the private swim schools in town (e.g., Emler's). Registration usually starts each year on April 1 - sign up early to get the sessions you want. Only minor annoyance is that you cannot register on-line or by phone - you have to mail a form in with a check or credit card number, and wait a few weeks for a mailed confirmation back.
I love living in Austin, and the City of Austin Aquatics program, along with all the great neighborhood pools, in one of the best reasons to live here.
One last thought - if your kid doesn't master all the skills required for the class, he or she will not get the patch. The instructors are pretty strict about it. I think that good - teaches kids they really have to earn something to get the reward. So don't be a jerk parent and argue with instructors who don't give patches to kids who haven't earned it.
Schedules and much more info at the website listed above.
Whatever your skill level or age, Austin Aquatics is able to service your swimming needs, from learning to swim to mastering your strokes.
Although most programs seemed geared towards young people, there are several leveled programs open to adults.
I took a stroke class at Deep Eddy, which, to my surprise, is spring-fed just like Barton Springs, COLD just like Barton Springs, but shaped like a regular pool.
Instruction was straightforward, my night class was 7 sessions for 50 bucks, and we were encouraged to practice after the session (before Deep Eddy closed at 9 PM).
Since it is a public pool, we did have to keep yelling at the kids to get out of the way, but they eventually got it and the instructor wore our asses out.
Recommend. Bring goggles, towel and kick board.
TIP: park under the Mopac bridge at the Hike and Bike trail...there's a guy who plays the sax at night, and as the sun starts to dip down, rowers zipping below, runners and walkers whizzing by...good energy.