Swimming lessons to be offered at Offutt

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. James M. Hodgman
  • 55th Wing Public Affairs
OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. --  Summer is rapidly approaching and with the onset of warmer weather many people may take part in a variety of activities to cool off from swimming in a local pool to white-water rafting.

For members of the Offutt community wishing to take part in such activities, but can't swim, help is on the way.

The 55th Force Support Squadron's Outdoor Recreation Department offers swimming lessons for people ranging in age from infants as young as six months to adults, from June 7 to Aug. 20 at the base pool (adjacent to the community center) and the Capehart Pool.

The lessons are offered in two-week sessions, and each session costs $35 per person and runs anywhere from 30 - 45 minutes depending on the ages of the participants.

Dylan Covalt, an aquatics coordinator with the 55th FSS, works as a lifeguard the Capehart and base pool and recommends people learn to swim here.

"Our instructor to student ratio is no more than 8-to-1 while (at) many other places (it) can be as high as 12-to-1," Mr. Covalt said. "This means we can provide more one-on-one attention and focus on the needs of each (student) more."

That time spent with individual students, Mr. Covalt added, helps them learn how to swim more quickly and provides a much safer environment.

Patrons who learn to swim here will do so under the watchful eye of highly trained lifeguards. Currently, the 55th FSS has 26 lifeguards, all of whom have completed a 24-hour training course and attend bi-monthly training.

Lifeguard training is primarily focused on emergency response and overcoming the challenges associated with patron safety at Offutt's pools, according to Don Parks, Outdoor Recreation program manager.

Mr. Parks said he and his team take great pride in their ability to provide services to the Offutt community in a secure environment.

"We are extremely proud to provide safe aquatics facilities for our customers," Mr. Parks said. "Our team takes (its) job and our patron's safety very seriously."

Mr. Covalt has been swimming since he was four and has been a certified lifeguard since he was 15. He said he's looking forward to teaching members of Team Offutt how to swim and shared his first teaching experience, helping his grandmother learn to swim despite her fear of the water.

"I got her in the pool and took about a week to get her to stand in the water when it was past her shoulders," Mr. Covalt said. "It took another week to get her to put her face in the water and the rest of the summer (to teach) her to swim."

His efforts paid off, as his grandmother now swims and does water aerobics between four and five times a week, Mr. Covalt said.

The most rewarding thing for him, he added, is teaching adults who've been fearful of swimming their whole lives just like his grandmother.

"Helping them overcome that fear is amazing," he said.

He said he also enjoys sharing his love of swimming.

"I love swimming and teaching others to swim; anytime I can share that joy with someone else, that's great, that's why I do it," he said.

"Whether you're eight or 80, you can still get in a pool and swim some laps or perform water aerobics, it's something you can do your entire life, and (swimming) is great exercise," Mr. Covalt said.

Each session taught at a base pool will take students through six levels of ability. The first three levels focus on getting swimmers comfortable with the water and requires students to perform various movements like a front and back float for three seconds, blowing bubbles through the nose and mouth with the eyes under water for three seconds, and treading water for 30 seconds. Levels three through six focus on more advanced swimming techniques such as treading water for up to five minutes and swimming using the backstroke for 100 yards.

In 2009, Offutt's pools accommodated more than 50,000 patrons with an average of about 1,800 a month during the summer months.

The base and Capehart Pools are open from Memorial Day until Labor Day while the Offutt Field House pool is open year round. Family Pool passes will be available for purchase for $75, along with individual pool passes for $50 at both pools May 29. Pool passes for Airmen living in Offutt's dormitories are free.

For Offutt's 2010 swimming lessons schedule, click here. For more information about swim lessons or to sign up, call the Outdoor Recreation Department at 294-2108.