We wanted to take a moment to update you on some important changes we've made to our swimming lesson registration process. Over the past six months, we’ve been listening closely to your feedback, and worked diligently to enhance the experience for everyone in our community. We’re excited to share how our changes will benefit you and your family.
Why the Change?
We heard your concerns about the previous system where spots would fill up quickly, leaving many without a chance to register. This "first-come, first-served" approach often meant that families were registering for multiple programs or levels they didn’t need, which caused confusion, cancellations, and left many classes unfilled.
To provide a fairer, more accessible system for all, we introduced prerequisites for our swimming lessons in Fall 2024. We understand that this change may have created some challenges, particularly for those whose lessons wrapped up just after the registration date.
Our goal is to ensure that as many community members as possible have access to our programs, not just those who can register the fastest. By spreading out the registration process and ensuring everyone is signing up for the appropriate level, we’re creating a more equitable experience.
What’s Changed?
- Equity and Accessibility: We’ve heard from many of you that the registration system needed more balance, and we’ve worked to address this. Now, we’re focused on making sure that participants are in the right levels, ensuring safety, and reducing administrative burdens caused by over-registrations. This means fewer cancellations, more filled spots, and better experiences for all.
- More Program Options: We’re excited to announce a significant increase in the number of aquatics programs we offer. For Winter 2024, we had 669 programs available, and for 2025, that number has risen to 898 – a 34% increase in aquatics programs! This expansion gives you more opportunities to sign up and find the right class.
- New Cancellation Policy: Starting January 2025, we’ve introduced a cancellation fee so families are committed to the lessons they have signed up for. This will help ensure that available spots are being used effectively and that everyone has a fair chance at getting into the classes they need.
- Ongoing Registration Improvements: We are actively reviewing our lesson system and offerings to accommodate families who may experience lessons have ended after our registration date. We are committed to continuous improvement to support a balance of smooth lesson progression, as well as fair registration opportunities for all.
Tips for Easier Registration
To make your registration process even smoother, we encourage you to double check that your prerequisites are updated in our system after each lesson set. If you're looking to register before your lessons conclude, consider selecting a shorter program set. And remember, there are always other options like:
- Continuing with private lessons for personalized instruction
- Repeating the same level to reinforce learned skills
Participating in public swims to practice skills
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Looking Ahead
At the heart of these changes is our commitment to water safety and building strong swim-for-life skills in our community. We want everyone to have the opportunity to register for the right program, which sometimes means "leap-frogging" lessons to provide swim lesson opportunities to others who haven’t had a chance to register yet.
We’re committed to constantly improving our processes to make them easier to navigate and more accessible for all. Your feedback has been invaluable in helping us evolve, and we appreciate your continued support.
Thank you for being a part of our community. We look forward to seeing you at the pool!
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