Memorial Day marks the unofficial beginning of summer, and with summer comes thoughts of hot days and swimming pools. And right on schedule, the Shelby Aquatics Center is set to open on Memorial Day Weekend, Saturday, May 28, 2016 - Monday, May 30, 2016. The center will also be open during the weekend of June 4th before beginning regular summer hours on Wednesday, June 8, 2016.
"We always have a very good turnout for Memorial Day weekend," says Aquatics Center Director Dee Greene. "The weather plays a big role in how many folks come out. If the weather has been warm, the water will be warm, but if it is cool, the water will be cool as well. Of course, the water temperature only matters to the adults; the kids don't notice it at all."
While the opening weekend will mostly be about dipping toes in the water for the first time this season, regular classes and activities will also begin soon afterwards. Among the many activities scheduled at the center during the summer months are one-on-one and group swim classes; water aerobics; family nights; swim club; and special swim times.
One new program at the center this year is the Mom-N-Tot Swim Lessons. These classes are for babies and toddlers ages 6 months - 3 years along with their parent. "We wanted to add this program to help babies and toddlers learn to adjust to the water environment, to get them used to being in the water and to help them develop safe water habits," says Greene. Mom-N-Tot classes will be offered on four different two-week sessions on Tuesday and Thursday evenings.
Another popular program at the center is the Family Swim times on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7:30-9:30 p.m. Three of these family nights will have special themes. Thursday, June 16, 2016 will be Beach/Luau Night. The first 50 participants will receive a Hawaiian lei, and beach balls are welcome on this night. Thursday, July 21, 2016, the theme will be "Christmas in July," co-sponsored by Chick-fil-A. Games and prizes will be featured on this night, and participants are encouraged to come and see the "cow in a swim suit." "Back to School Party" will be the final theme night of the summer on Thursday, August 18, 2016. Participants are encouraged to bring back-to-school items to donate and to be prepared to show their team spirit.
For more information about these and the many other activities scheduled at the Shelby Aquatics Center, visit www.cityofshelby.com/departments/parks-and-recreation, find Shelby City Parks on Facebook, or call the center at 704-484-6826.

By April Hoyle Shauf

Special to Shelby Shopper