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City gears up to kick off summer aquatics program
Swim lesson
During 2014 swim lessons, Kirpa Gill received instruction from Maureen Nelson. Lessons start June 15. - photo by JEFF BENZIGER/Courier file photo

The summer aquatics program offered by the city of Ceres will kick off on Monday, June 15 at the Ceres High School pool.

A team of Red Cross certified staff members will be offering classes at the Ceres High School pool to teach youngsters six months and up how to swim.

Session I swim lessons run from Monday, June 15 to Thursday, June 25, and Session II runs Monday, July 6 to Thursday, July 16, while Session III is held Monday, July 27 to Thursday, August 6.

Cost is $42 per session and includes eight classes. Preregistration is required.

Lessons are for those six months of age and up. Lessons are staged on different levels based on swimming ability. There is an infant and toddlers' class, pre-school class as well as Level I through Level V classes. Each class starts out with a five-minute safety lesson and 40 minutes of water instruction, except for the toddler class which is only 30 minutes long.

The pre-school and toddler class is basically about weaning students from their parents and making them more independent in the water. The goal of Level I is have students to float on their back without fear. Level II focuses on freestyle swimming across the pool. Levels 3-5 hone swimming skills and become better divers and learning breast- and back-strokes.

Pre-registration is required. Register online at www.ci.ceres.ca.us, in person at 2701 Fourth Street, or by calling Traci Farris at 538-5682 for more information.

The city is also offering an aquatics camp for children aged five to 12 years and older and Level I graduates. Children will explore through swim lessons, games, music, relays, and crafts. Session I runs 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 29 to July 2, and costs $90; while Session II runs July 20-24 and cost is $90. Both enrollment fees include a camp T-shirt.

Water polo camp will serve as an introduction to the sport of water polo for those aged 8 to 16. Participants will learn a variety of skills, including: passing and shooting drills, dribbling, treading water, field and body positioning, and introduction to game play. T-shirt and certificate included in price of camp.

Sessions will be held Mondays and Wednesdays, June 29 to July 22, from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Cost is $65 per person.

Pre-registration is required. Register online at www.ci.ceres.ca.us, in person at 2701 Fourth Street, or by calling Traci Farris at 538-5682 for more information.

The city's Junior Lifeguard Camp is designed for kids aged 11 to 15 years of age, and allows all participants to acquire hands-on experience in all areas of lifeguard skills. The camp is offered 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, June 30 to July 22. Cost is $65 and includes T-shirt and certificate.

Pre-registration is required for all the aquatics programs (except for open swim) at the Ceres Community Center, 2701 Fourth Street or online at www.ci.ceres.ca.us.

The city's Open Swim program allows the public to cool off in the pool on specific Fridays and Saturdays through the summer from 12 noon to 4 p.m. The cost is $2 per children and $2.50 per adult. Children 12 and younger must be supervised by an adult. All participants must wear swimming suits only in the pool. Flotation devices are not allowed, however Coast Guard approved life jackets are. The pool will be available for open swims on June 13, 14, 18, 19, 20, 21, 26, 27, 28; July 10, 12, 17, 18, 19, 24, 25, 26, 31 and August 1 and 2.

Pre-registration is required. Register online at www.ci.ceres.ca.us, in person at 2701 Fourth Street, or by calling Traci Farris at 538-5682 for more information.

A Water Aerobics program is being offered for those aged 16 and older and ideal for senior citizens who deal with arthritis. This program stretches and tones muscles using water resistance. Exercising in the water helps your body work harder but allows most aches and pains to be avoided due to the low impact nature of the aerobic activity. Sessions are offered 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from June 23 to July 16 at the CHS pool. The session package costs $35 but there is a 10 percent discount for seniors.