Bring the whole family to enjoy the water slide, interactive water play equipment, and more in the family pool. Zero-depth entry makes it perfect for all ages.
Dive into wellness in our 4-lane lap pool.
Splash around with peace of mind knowing a certified lifeguard is always on duty.
Swim Lessons
The YMCA is committed to helping kids, adults, and families become strong, confident swimmers. YMCA Swim Lessons are specifically tailored to the child’s age, swimming ability, level of physical development, and confidence in the water. The participants will advance in the program as they become more skilled in the water.
Lifeguard Certification
Lifeguard training at the YMCA teaches the skills necessary to respond to an emergency in an aquatic environment. The course will teach you lifeguarding skills, CPR, and AED use with skills in basic first aid.
Group Exercise
Work up a sweat in the water with Water Aerobics classes that are free with your YMCA membership.
POOL RULES & GUIDELINES
General Guidelines
Lifejackets
YMCA Lifejackets are allowed in small pool and shallow end of lap pool only (Dec 2017).
Age Requirements
Ages birth-5: Parent must be in water within close proximity
Age 6: Parent must be in the pool area (can be in different pool or sitting on edge)
Age 7-9: Parent must be in the building
Wrist Band Rules / Swim Test
All swimmers, ages 13 and under, must take a swim test to swim in the deep end.
Swim test: Jump in from side and totally submerge, come back to surface, swim to red-line and back on their belly (front crawl or “human stroke/dog-paddle”) to receive a yellow wrist-band. (FYI on crowded days, I give 14-16 year old a yellow wristband as well just to be consistent that you need a yellow wristband to be in deep end).
No swim test is required if a child chooses to use only the family pool/waterslide, or shallow end of lap pool.
(added Jan. 2018) We reserve the right to swim test anyone over age 13 if we feel they cannot swim in deep end. We reserve the right to take away wrist bands if swimmer looks fatigued or has become a drowning risk.
Entering the pool
Diving allowed off far wall in the deep end (9ft-area) only.
No back dives, spins or flips from the edge.
The Following Actions are PROHIBITED in the YMCA Aquatic Center
- Dunking
- Rough Play
- Running
- Wrestling
- Adults throwing children
- Breath holding or underwater lap swimming
- Sitting or hanging on lap lines
- Swimming across occupied lap lanes
Toys and Equipment
Patrons are not allowed to bring toys.
Goggles and masks must be made of tempered or safety glass.
Kickboards and fins are for swim lessons and lap swimmers only (A lap swimmer is defined as a person whose PRIMARY purpose is to swim laps and will be swimming at least 400 yards during their training session).
Pool weights and noodles are for water aerobics and therapy/exercise only.
Food & Beverages
Food and beverages are not allowed in the aquatic center, except water in plastic bottles/water bottles.
Minnesota Department of Health Rules
- Persons with or suspected of having a communicable disease shall not use pool.
- A cleansing shower with soap is required before entering pool.
- Spitting, spouting water from mouth, or blowing nose is prohibited.
- Domestic animals are not permitted in pool or locker rooms.
Show CARING by encouraging others.
Be HONEST with yourself about your swimming abilities.
Show RESPECT for everyone at the YMCA. Name-calling or inappropriate language is not allowed.
Display RESPONSIBILITY by following the pool rules.
As a reminder, the lifeguard is always in charge. It is the primary responsibility of the lifeguard to scan the pool area, deal with emergency situations and enforce rules for your safety. Please support the guards by supervising the children in your party.
Water Slide Guidelines
- Height requirement is 42 inches to go down solo. Children under 42 inches must be accompanied by an adult (18 or older) and wear a life jacket. Children over 42 inches have the option of wearing a lifejacket and going down slide with or without an adult.
- No Head First Sliding. Must go down feet first on back or sitting.
- No swinging body on top of slide to pick up speed.
- No running, standing, kneeling, rotating, tumbling, or stopping on the flume.
- No Diving from the flume
- Only one person at a Time. Forming “chains” is prohibited.
- A child may go down with adult (18 or older) but must wear lifejacket
- Keep both hands and feet inside the flume at all times.
- No one is allowed to wear goggles on the slide
- Leave the slide “pool” promptly after entering
CAUTION: The waterslide causes strong currents. Advise small/weak swimmers to exit slide pool by “riding the current” to the yellow pole. Also advise swimmers in the small pool that the current will sweep small/weak children into the deep under the slide.
Follow the instructions of the slide attendant. The next person may start to slide only after the previous person AT A MINIMUM has passed the last curve (Adopted 4/18)
In case of emergency, the turn off switch is a red button you push in at the top of the slide on the wall.
Swim Attire
Swimsuits only
- Appropriate swimming attire must be worn in water at all times.
- Basketball shorts are not allowed
- No cotton or denim (not only does it clog our filters, it weighs the swimmer down)
- We do allow non-cotton cover-ups for modesty
- See display on wall for what is considered “appropriate swimwear”
Diapers
- Children who wear diapers must wear diapers designed for swimming, commonly referred to as “little swimmers”.
- There is a dispenser in the family locker room
- When torn, diapers release a gel into pool which clogs our filters
- Diapers absorb water and become extremely heavy which can impair a child's mobility