LAKEPORT, Calif. – Lakeport's Westshore Pool opened for the summer season on Monday, and with the pool's opening comes the opportunity for children to learn to be safe in the water.
The city of Lakeport, which runs the pool in the summer, is planning to begin swimming lessons on June 8, according to Public Works Superintendent Doug Grider.
The lessons will be offered throughout the summer pool season, which ends Aug. 1, Grider said.
Last year, the pool was not open for the public swim due to soils testing to ensure the facility's ground stability, as Lake County News has reported.
Over the past several years the city has hosted the swimming lessons, which Grider said have been very popular.
However, this year the signups have been slower than usual. “In past years we've been completely filled and booked by now,” said Grider, who noted that many classes still have hardly any enrollees.
The swimming lessons offered at the pool have been cited by city officials and council members alike as a service they feel is critical to a community like Lake County, which has the state's largest natural freshwater lake.
Grider said the swimming lessons are held in two-week courses, and run four days per week.
In the beginners class, which over the years has been the most popular, sessions run a half-hour each, while in the advanced beginner class, sessions are an hour long, Grider said. Class size is limited to eight children.
The cost is $60 per child, with the city requiring that participating children be 3 years or older and toilet trained.
Lessons are held rain or shine, and the city does not offer discounts for multiple children.
Grider said the fees charged for the lessons don't come close to covering the pool expenses. Rather, the goal is to offer affordable lessons as a community service to make sure children have the skills they need in the water.
The city has its lifeguards and swimming instructors ready to go, although Grider said they are always looking for certified lifeguards, and anyone with the necessary certifications who is interested can come in and be considered for addition to the lifeguard roster.
To register your child for swimming lessons, pick up the forms at Lakeport City Hall, 225 Park St.; go to www.cityoflakeport.com and complete the appropriate application, and mail your payment and application to City of Lakeport, 591 Martin St., Lakeport, CA 95453; email your request to Reana Hoaglen at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ; or call 707-263-3578 and request an application.
The summer swimming lesson schedule is below.
Session one: June 8-18
Advanced beginner: 9:15-10:15 a.m.
Beginner: 10:30-11 a.m.
Beginner: 11:15-11:45 a.m.
Session two: June 22-July 2
Advanced beginner: 9:15-10:15 a.m.
Beginner: 10:30-11 a.m.
Beginner: 11:15-11:45 a.m.
Session three: July 6-16
Advanced beginner: 9:15-10:15 a.m.
Beginner: 10:30-11 a.m.
Beginner: 11:15-11:45 a.m.
Session four: July 20-30
Advanced beginner: 9:15-10:15 a.m.
Beginner: 10:30-11 a.m.
Beginner: 11:15-11:45 a.m.
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
City of Lakeport opens Westshore Pool; seasonal swimming lessons begin June 8
- Elizabeth Larson
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