Aquatics

The ORC wants you!  The ORC is always looking for interested individuals who want to lifeguard!  Lifeguarding is not just a job for the young!  We encourage any one of any age to apply to be a lifeguard!  Join us this summer and make a difference safeguarding the lives of our community at the pool!

               

Position Summary:

Responsibilities include but are not limited to enforcing Ottawa Pool policies and procedures, which ensure efficient and effective operation of the pool facility. Duties involve all swimming pool operations, including first aid, rotations, janitorial duties, limited pool maintenance including, pool cleaning, cleaning of bathrooms & concession stand area, swim lessons, water aerobics and all other duties as necessary or required. This is a position requiring weekend and holiday work.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Must be available nights, weekends, and holidays.
• Performs related tasks as required.
• Must have ability to handle complaints or concerns from patrons and staff in a professional and tactful manner.
• Continuously scan the pool (every 10 seconds) checking for safe conditions.
• Must maintain high level of alertness at all times.
• Will be required to complete 4 hours of in-service training a month.
• Position may require environment changes (outdoor to indoor, humid environments).
• Will be required to participate in ongoing training that will be held during operational hours (operational manikin drops, pool safety checks, CPR checks).
• Enforce all posted rules and any other rules that are required to ensure the safety of all participants.
• Must constantly watch the pool and have a rescue tube, whistle, and supplemental oxygen barrier mask ready and available at all times, actively scanning 10 x 10. Lifeguard is not to do secondary duties in place of scanning their zone of protection.
• Make sure that the pool deck is free of clutter and perform all maintenance duties assigned by Assistant Pool Manager or Pool Manager.
• Fill out all accident and incident reports completely and turn into the Assistant Pool Manager.
• Responsible for opening and closing procedures.
• Responsible for maintaining the continuity of lap swim and moving participants accordingly.
• Must be able to be a team player with all staff.
• Must notify appropriate staff of any unsafe conditions, needed repairs, complaints, accidents, or injuries immediately.

The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment.

Education and Experience:             

• Must be 16 years of age and no prior experience is necessary.

Starguard Elite Lifeguard Competency Performance Evaluation

• Scanning and Victim Recognition & Proactive Rotation
• Recognition and Response; Distressed Swimmer
• Basic Life Support, Choking Adult/Child
• Basic Life Support, Choking Infant
• First Aid, Sudden Illness
• First Aid, Severe Bleeding & Shock
• First Aid, Musculoskeletal Injury
• Suspected Spinal Injury – Land
• Suspected Spinal Injury – Water
• Basic Life Support, Adult Sudden Cardiac Arrest
• Recognition and Response – Unresponsive Drowning Protocol

Starguard Elite Lifeguard Certification Requirements

• Course length is approximately 23 hours.
  • 7 hours online
  • 16 hours in person
• Candidates must pass a water skills screening to validate swimming ability and endurance at a level that is appropriate.
  • Swim 50 yards without stopping
  • Swim 50 yards with a rescue tube across the chest
  • Tread water, without hands, for one minute.
  • Retrieve a 10 lb. object from the bottom of the swimming pool (Forest Park Swimming Pool depth is 11′). Object must be retrieved from the 11′ depth.
  • Students must demonstrate knowledge by passing a written exam with an 80%.

Certifications: 

• Starguard Elite Lifeguard Training

Click HERE for a job application and apply to join our team of Lifeguards!

• Open Swim
  • Sunday – Saturday: 1:00 – 6:00 pm
    
    • 2 YEARS & UNDER: FREE WITH ANY PAID ADMISSION
    • 3 – 11 YEARS OLD: $2.00
    • 12 – 59 YEARS OLD: $3.00
    • 60 YEARS +: $2.00
• Adult Swim
• Sunday – Saturday: 6:00 – 7:00 pm: $2.00
• Holidays, Discount Days – $1 off regular admission
  • Monday, May 25: 12:00 – 6:00 pm
  • Saturday, July 4: 12:00 – 6:00 pm
• Hope House Sunday
  • $1/off regular admission with canned food item
• Swim Pass Cards
  • Swim Pass Cards can be purchased at the Goppert Building. There is no expiration date on the cards.  Cards are not limited to individual or family use.  They can be used by anyone within a group in the same age category.  The ORC is not responsible for lost or stolen cards.  
    • CHILDREN & SENIORS (AGES 3 – 11, 60+)
      • $45 FOR A 30 PUNCH PASS CARD (30 PASSES @ $1.50 = $45)
      • $90 FOR A 90 PUNCH PASS CARD (90 PASSES @ $1.00 = $90)
    • YOUTH & ADULTS (AGES 12 – 59)
      • $75 FOR A 30 PUNCH PASS CARD (30 PASSES @ $2.50 = $75)
      • $180 FOR A 90 PUNCH PASS CARD (90 PASSES @2.00 = $180)

 

The following links are the Forest Park Swimming Pool rules and policies.  This is not an all encompassing list!  Lifeguards are to obeyed at all times.  Rules may be modified during the season at the discretion of the ORC and the ORC Recreation Manager.  Please note, unruly behavior and fighting is strictly prohibited.

• Swimming Pool Rules
• Daycare & Group Policies

 

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 Wednesday – Sunday, June 1 – August 8 from 7:00 – 8:30 p.m.  

• 25 PEOPLE OR FEWER: $125
• 26 – 50 PEOPLE: $150
• 51 – 75 PEOPLE: $175
• 76 – 100 PEOPLE: $200
• 101 – 125 PEOPLE: $250
• 126 – 150 PEOPLE: $275
• 151 + PEOPLE: $325

ORC Pool Party Rental Form & Policies​

Request your reservation online by clicking HERE. Please note, this does not guarantee your reservation.  Our staff will be in contact with you to finalize your reservation or provide you with alternative reservation dates.  Payment is required in order to hold your reservation.

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.  Group Lessons are Monday – Thursday with 8 lessons schedules and 6 guaranteed.  Lessons will be made up when/if possible in the event of weather cancellation.

ORC Group Lessons Schedule

Group Lessons Class Dates

• Session 1: June 8-June 18, 2020
• Session 2: June 22 -July 2, 2020
• Session 3: July 6 – July 16, 2020

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!  There are NO exceptions to this policy! 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.  Private Lessons are Monday – Wednesday with six lessons in total.

Private Lessons Class Dates

• Session 1: June 8-June 17, 2020
• Session 2: June 22 -July 1, 2020
• Session 3: July 6 – July 15, 2020
• Session 4: July 20 – July 29, 2020 (NEW THIS SEASON!)

ORC Private Lessons Schedule

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.