Welcome to the 2014 Swim Lesson Season!  The Bolton Parks and Recreation Commission looks forward to a great year and hopes to see all the kids down at the beach this summer. 

Below please find useful information on the 2014 Swim Lessons. If you have any questions or comments, please contact: parks@townofbolton.com.

Start Date and Times 

The start date for swim lessons commence the Monday after the 4^th of July.  By doing so, we will not risk interfering with delayed school years due to snow cancellations.  It will also aid parents in planning their summer activities and vacations since the start date will be consistent year after year.  This year we also offer classes in late afternoon to accommodate the schedules of our working parents.

The duration of the swim lessons are from 9:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. for the early classes and 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. for the late classes.  We have also added two instructors this year so we can offer additional Preschool Aquatics lessons, which are always our most popular classes.  Please note, that regardless of your session time, there will always be lifeguards on duty during swim lessons.  Additionally, we have again enlisted the help of our lifeguards during swim lessons to provide another level of safety as well as to provide our students with the attention they need to develop their swimming skills.

Meet Our 2014 Learn to Swim Instructor

The Bolton Parks and Recreation Commission is pleased to welcome back Linda Herbison as our 2014 Learn to Swim Instructor.  A long time and trusted lifeguard at the Town Beach, Linda stepped into the role of beach manager and swim instructor for the 2013 season and have we received nothing but rave reviews!  She has worked with the Parks and Recreation Commission to expand our program and offer new levels and varied scheduling to meet the different needs of our community.  We are excited to bring this enriched program to the children and parents this summer and look forward to your feedback.

During the school year, Linda can be found teaching high school business at Monty Tech. Before becoming a high school teacher, Linda taught computer science at Mt. Wachusett Community College and worked with computers at IBM, Procter & Gamble, and Wang Labs.  Linda lives in Bolton with her husband B.J. and their 3 sons Robert, Joshua, and Ken.

Linda will be at the registration night so make sure you get a chance to say hello!  She will also provide guidance for parents on selecting the appropriate level for their child or children.

Red Cross Learn to Swim Program

The swim lessons offered by the Bolton Parks and Recreation Commission are based on the Red Cross Learn to Swim Program, which teaches aquatic and safety skills in a logical progression.  The objective is to teach children how to swim and to be safe in, on or around the water.  For more information on the levels offered during the summer swim lesson program, click here for information on each level.  The levels offered include:

Click here for a larger view of the schedule

*The age range is a general guide to help parents determine the appropriate level for their child, but the Town Swim Instructor has the right to make level change based on skill.  

The Instructor will be at the registration to help guide your level choice for your child or children. Please note that the age minimum for the Preschool Aquatics program 4 years old, exclusive of the Parent & Child Aquatics level, and the age minimum for the Learn to Swim program is 6 years old, exclusive of the Preschool Aquatics level.

Sessions

The Bolton Parks and Recreation Commission offers two sessions, each running for two-weeks (M-F).  If there is demand, the Parks and Recreation Commission will add a third session. The 2014 Swim Lesson Session dates are as follows:

Session	Start	End
One	July 7	July 18
Two	July 21	August 1

Registration

•  Registration will take place on Tuesday, March 25, 2014 from 6:30 p.m.– 7:30 p.m. at The Bolton Public Library, program room. 
• Registration is on a first-come, first-serve basis.
• A registration form and waiver must be completed for each child.  Forms are available online or at the Town Hall.  
• Payment is due at the time of registration and checks are to be made payable to:  The Town of Bolton. 
• Town Beach parking permits will be FREE* to all Bolton residents.
  
• You must be a Bolton resident to register for the Learn to Swim program.
  

If you are unable to attend the registration, please contact the town secretary, Linda Day, to learn of open sessions/levels after registration night (starting Monday, March 31, 2014).

* You will received up to two free permits per household. Additional permits can be purchased at registration night for $5.00 each. Permits will be available at the Bolton Town Hall starting Monday, March 31, 2014.

Refund Policy

It is the policy of the Bolton Parks and Recreation Commission to offer refunds to those families that choose not to participate in a sport for which they have registered their child. If you request a refund because your child chooses or cannot participate in a sport for which they are registered, the Bolton Parks and Recreation Refund Policy is as follows:

• A full refund for the swim lesson registration fee is given if requested before Monday, June 4, 2014.
• There will be NO REFUND after Tuesday, June 5, 2014.

If you request a refund because your child cannot participate in the swim lessons due to injury, please request a refund through Bolton Parks and Recreation Commission, noting that the refund is being requested due to injury and a full refund will be arranged.

Refunds will only be processed through an e-mail refund request to the Parks and Recreation Commission at: parks@townofbolton.com and the Town Secretary at: secretary@townofbolton.com. The date of your e-mail will determine if you qualify for a refund.

To expedite your refund, please provide the following information in your e-mail:

• Parent Name
• Child's Name
• Proof of Injury
• Home Address
• E-Mail Address
• Phone Number
• Session/Level

Things to Know

• A parent or guardian must be present during their child’s entire swim lesson.
• Although the beach is open to the public during swim lessons, parents are asked to please keep other children from disrupting active sessions.
• Parents please do not distract the instructor during an active lesson.  While your child is in lessons, please do not stand at the shoreline and call out to him or her.  This is distracting for the instructor as well as for the other students.
• Please ensure that you arrive at least five (5) minutes prior to your child’s scheduled swim lesson.  This will ensure that all classes start promptly and that your child does not miss important session recaps that are integral to his/her training.
• If you have any comments, questions or issues that are not of an urgent nature, please contact parks@townofbolton.  Do not interrupt swim lesson to address your comments, questions or issues with the swim instructor during lessons. 

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