By JOYANNA LOVE/Senior Staff Writer

Would-be swimmers have the opportunity to learn the skills through a number of classes being offered by the YMCA of Chilton County at the Clanton City Pool this summer.

More experienced young swimmers can also get in on the action with a pre-team swim class.

The pool opens to the public on May 30, and will be open Tuesday to Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m. Lifeguards will be on duty.  Cost is $5 per person or free for YMCA members.

“Water safety is a big thing for any child, but with the lakes that are around here and all of the swimming options that people do have, I think it is really important to offer [swim classes], so you can get the safety aspect, if nothing else,” Tiffanee Edwards of the YMCA of Chilton County said.

Classes for children 3 years old and older will meet each Monday, Wednesday and Friday from May 31 to June 16 at 9 to 9:45 a.m. Another option would be Monday, Wednesday and Friday from June 19 to July 5 at 9 to 9:45 a.m.

Classes specifically for beginners ages 3 to 6 will be held June 6 to June 29 on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:30 to 9:15 a.m. with another class option being Saturdays from June 3 to July 8 at 9 to 9:45 a.m. Space is limited.

“Safety is going to be a big thing that we are going to cover, teaching the kids how to be safe around the water and to teach them what to do if something happens and they fall in as well as trying to teach them how to swim,” Edwards said.

Registration is required and can be completed at the YMCA on Ollie Avenue. Cash, check and credit/debit cards are accepted. Registration must be completed by the first day of class and payment is due at registration.

Cost for the classes is $50 for YMCA members and $80 for non-members.

A Water Babies class will be taught for children ages 1 to 3 and their parents. The classes will be held on Saturdays from June 3 to 24 from 9 to 9:45 a.m. Space is limited.

Edwards said the class is about “teaching the parents how to teach the children how to interact with them in the water.”

Cost is $40 for YMCA members, and $70 for non-YMCA members

Experienced swimmers, those who can swim 25 yards in a stretch and would be interested in joining a swim team, can attend the Pre-team Summer Swim Clinic.

“Twenty-five yards is one length of the city pool, for endurance reasons, I would like for them to already be able to do that,” Edwards said. “That is the shortest distance that a child will race.”

Edwards said she hopes to have at least 10 students, so that the Y can have a swim team next summer.

Cost is $120 for Y members and $150 for non-members. The class will meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays from June 6 to July 27

“We are actually going to teach them the technique for the proper strokes, then teach them how to race and the different skills that they would need,” Edwards said.

Students will learn three strokes: backstroke, breaststroke and freestyle.

Water aerobics open to all ages will be offered Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 8 a.m. starting June 5. This class is free for members and $5 per class for non-members. The class will be in the shallow end of the pool, so swimming will not be required.