Aquatics
The outdoor public pool in Forest Park will be open Friday, May 24 through Sunday, August 11, 2019! The Forest Park Outdoor Swimming Pool offers a wide variety of cool summer activities such as aqua fitness, swimming lessons, open swim, lap, swim, and rental of the facility for private use.
Expanded Tropical Tuesdays! Tropical Tuesdays are dates where the public can swim into the evening! Tropical Tuesdays are a little different this year as we are offering Teen Nights and Public Swim Nights! Public Swim nights are June 4, June 25, July 9, and July 30. Teen Nights are new this season and are for those 13-18 years olds ONLY. 18 year olds must be 2019 high school graduates or those entering their senior year of high school. Teen Nights are June 11, July 2, and July 16. No outside food or drink is allowed on Tropical Tuesdays. Punch Cards are not allowed for use on Tropical Tuesdays.
Also new in 2019, Lap Swim has been changed to Adult Swim! We now offer Adult Swim from 6:00 – 7:00 p.m.! Adult Swim is limited to those 18 years and older and participants must not be in high school. There will be no Adult Swim on Memorial Day or the 4th of July! Private Swimming Lessons and Aqua Zumba will take place at the same time as Adult Swim.
Join us on Fridays for FRIDAY FUN DAY! Each Friday will have a special theme! 2019 themes include Favorite Sports Team Day, Superhero Day, Olympic Day, Cowboy Day, Pirate Day, America Day, Christmas in July, Shark Day, Star Wars Day, and Back to School Bash! Join us each Friday for special music, decorations, costumes and more!
Join us for Hope House Sundays this season where you will receive $1 off admission with a non-perishable food donation to Hope House!
The best part about 2019 is our new FREE SWIM DAY on Saturday, June 22, 2019! Everyone may swim for free with a non-perishable food donation to Hope House!
2019 Rule Changes: No outside food or drinks will be allowed inside the Forest Park Swimming Pool EXCEPT for sealed bottled water in a plastic container. Coolers, cups, water in glass bottles, etc. may not be brought inside the pool. Sports balls (tennis, baseball, football, etc.) are no longer allowed at the Forest Park Swimming Pool. Balls may not be thrown from the deck at the pool. Any rules not covered are left to the discretion of the ORC Recreation Manager and may be amended, on an as needed basis, during the swimming pool season.
2019 Rain Check Procedure: Patrons who have been at the swimming pool for 30 minutes or less are entitled to a rain check should weather or other act close the Forest Park Swimming Pool. Rain checks will only be given once approved by the ORC Recreation Manager. The ORC, Forest Park Swimming Pool, and its staff are not responsible for lost or stolen rain checks. No refunds will be given and rain checks will not be reissued.
Jump right into our aqua classes and build cardiovascular fitness and strength. Just like swimming, our water aerobics classes are easy on your joints, yet challenging enough to help you reach new levels of fitness. Because of their low-impact format, water aerobics classes are suitable for every age and fitness level, from beginning exercisers through elite athletes. Participants may bring and use their own water shoes and gloves.
ORC Aqua Fitness Registration Form
- Aqua Fitness Registration Form
ORC Aqua Fitness Schedule
- Aqua Fitness Schedule
TextCaster Text Alerts
The ORC utilizes TextCaster to send out important information regarding aquatics including weather cancellations, registration deadlines, and more! To sign up, please click here!
Have your party at the pool! The Forest Park Outdoor Swimming Pool is available for your party whether it be a birthday party, corporate outing, or a family reunion! The pool is available for rent 7 days a week during our operating season from 7:00 – 8:30 p.m.
ORC Pool Party Rental Form & Policies
TextCaster Text Alerts
The ORC utilizes TextCaster to send out important information regarding aquatics including weather cancellations, registration deadlines, and more! To sign up, please click here!
Group swimming lessons are available for those 6 months and up! Group lessons are taught in a class setting with class sizes ranging from 5-10 participants. Courses are designed to teach children the fundamentals of swimming in a fun and patient environment. A progressive level format is used to build on skills learned in the previous class level. Parents should enroll children in the level for which they have adequate skills. Class descriptions for group lessons can be found below.
ORC Group Lessons Registration Form
- Private Lessons Registration Form
ORC Group Lessons Schedule
Group Lessons Class Dates
- Session 1: June 3-June 13, 2019
- Session 2: June 17 -June 27, 2019
- Session 3: July 8 – July 18, 2019
Group Lessons Class Descriptions
Parent & Babies (6-18 months) / Parents & Toddlers (2-4 year olds): These classes are designed to familiarize children with the water. The goal is not to teach the child to swim but rather to acclimate him/her to the water. This is an interactive parent-child class, therefore, parents are expected to be in the water with their child at all times. Parents do not need to know how to swim, but should be comfortable in the water. Class sessions focus on underwater exploration, having fun in the water through games/songs, & learning elementary skills including bubble blowing and assisted front & back floating.
Step 1 – Level 6 – Students must pass or test out of the previous level before enrolling in the next level.
Step 1 – Beginning Water Exploration (Ages 4 & up): Geared toward children ages 4 & up that are ready to start learning basic water skills without parental assistance. Focus is on water exploration, having fun in the water through games/songs, & learning elementary skills such as safe water entry & exiting, bobbing, floating on front & back, & introductory arm & leg motions.
Level 1 – Intro to Water Skills (Ages 5 & up): Designed for children ages 5 & up that are able to learn without constant one-on-one instructor attention. Emphasis on water exploration, water safety, & learning elementary skills such as floating & kicking on the front & back, alternating & simultaneous arm action, & changing directions/positions in the water.
Level 2A – Fundamental Aquatic Skills A: Students combine arm & leg actions for front crawl & back crawl, & learn gliding, flutter kick with finning, other basic stroke skills, & safety skills.
Level 2B – Fundamental Aquatic Skills B: Continue to learn & build on basic stroke skills. Emphasis on front crawl & back crawl without support & smoother, more rhythmic stroke patterns. Combine stroke skills for the elementary backstroke, & learn safety skills.
Level 3A – Stroke Development A: Students build on aquatic skills presented in Level 2B. Primary focus on rotary breathing for the front crawl. Emphasis on additional stroke development skills. Guided practice in the back crawl & elementary backstroke. Introduction to basic arm & leg actions for breaststroke. Exploration in deep water.
Level 3B – Stroke Development B: Continue to build on & develop stroke skills presented in Level 3A: refine the front crawl with rotary breathing, back crawl, & elementary backstroke while also learning the breaststroke. Students will be taught the basics of treading water, introduced to the basics of diving from the side of the pool & diving boards, & learn various safety & rescue skills.
Level 4 – Stroke Improvement: Students develop confidence & competency in stroke, safety & rescue skills taught in previous levels. They will learn the basics of the sidestroke, various turns, sustained treading of water, and rescue breathing.
Level 5A – Stroke Refinement A: Coordinate & refine key strokes along with an intense focus on the butterfly, open turns, & feet first surface dives.
Level 5B – Stroke Refinement B: Students develop stamina & endurance while refining keystrokes, turns, & dives.
Level 6 – Swimming & Skill Proficiency: Perfect strokes to swim with ease, efficiency, power, & smoothness over greater distances. Level 6 is designed with options for advanced courses such as personal water safety, lifeguard readiness, & fundamentals of diving.
Private swimming lessons are available for those 5 years old and up who have passed Step 1! These individualized lessons are designed to teach children the fundamentals of swimming in a fun and patient environment. A progressive level format is used to build on skills learned in the previous class level. Parents should enroll children in the level for which they have adequate skills. Class descriptions for group lessons can be found below. Please note that Step 1 is not offered for Private Lessons.
ORC Privates Lessons Registration Form
- Private Lessons Registration Form
ORC Private Lessons Schedule
- Private Lessons Schedule – 2019
Private Lessons Class Descriptions
Level 1 – 6 – Students must pass or test out of the previous level before enrolling in the next level.
Level 1 – Intro to Water Skills (Ages 5 & up): Designed for children ages 5 & up that are able to learn without constant one-on-one instructor attention. Emphasis on water exploration, water safety, & learning elementary skills such as floating & kicking on the front & back, alternating & simultaneous arm action, & changing directions/positions in the water.
Level 2A – Fundamental Aquatic Skills A: Students combine arm & leg actions for front crawl & back crawl, & learn gliding, flutter kick with finning, other basic stroke skills, & safety skills.
Level 2B – Fundamental Aquatic Skills B: Continue to learn & build on basic stroke skills. Emphasis on front crawl & back crawl without support & smoother, more rhythmic stroke patterns. Combine stroke skills for the elementary backstroke, & learn safety skills.
Level 3A – Stroke Development A: Students build on aquatic skills presented in Level 2B. Primary focus on rotary breathing for the front crawl. Emphasis on additional stroke development skills. Guided practice in the back crawl & elementary backstroke. Introduction to basic arm & leg actions for breaststroke. Exploration in deep water.
Level 3B – Stroke Development B: Continue to build on & develop stroke skills presented in Level 3A: refine the front crawl with rotary breathing, back crawl, & elementary backstroke while also learning the breaststroke. Students will be taught the basics of treading water, introduced to the basics of diving from the side of the pool & diving boards, & learn various safety & rescue skills.
Level 4 – Stroke Improvement: Students develop confidence & competency in stroke, safety & rescue skills taught in previous levels. They will learn the basics of the sidestroke, various turns, sustained treading of water, and rescue breathing.
Level 5A – Stroke Refinement A: Coordinate & refine key strokes along with an intense focus on the butterfly, open turns, & feet first surface dives.
Level 5B – Stroke Refinement B: Students develop stamina & endurance while refining keystrokes, turns, & dives.
Level 6 – Swimming & Skill Proficiency: Perfect strokes to swim with ease, efficiency, power, & smoothness over greater distances. Level 6 is designed with options for advanced courses such as personal water safety, lifeguard readiness, & fundamentals of diving.
TextCaster text Alerts
The ORC utilizes TextCaster to send out important information regarding aquatics including weather cancellations, registration deadlines, and more! To sign up, please click here!
For more information, please contact the ORC office at 785-242-1939 or e-mail our Recreation Manager at programs@orcottawaks.org.
Part of the KC Tri Club 2018 Midwest Youth Triathlon series, and to benefit Childhood Cancer Camps, get ready for your child to have a great day participating in the 2nd annual Ottawa Optimist Iron Kids Triathlon for triathletes ages 3 to 17 on July 27, 2019 at 7 am! We will have 5 different distances, depending on your child’s age, in a safe and organized event that will match your child’s experience and ability to a course that will ensure everyone crosses the finish line and has a great time!. The race is the 3rd, and final leg, of the 2018 KC Tri Club Midwest Youth Triathlon Series and points will be awarded. Each leg of the triathlon series is optional, but we encourage trying all three. For more information contact us at midwestironkid@gmail.com and register online at www.midwestironkid.com.