The Aquatics Program encompasses and speaks to every aspect of the District’s Mission Statement offering fitness, recreation and general well-being to our patrons in a welcoming environment. Our Aquatics staff is a team of well trained professionals serving our local population as well as visitors to the area.
The Pool is open year round (with periodic maintenance closures), serving patrons of all ages and abilities, including infants, toddlers, elementary students, teens and adults of every age with a large percentage of older adults.
The Aquatics Program has three main components: fitness, recreation and education. We offer a variety of classes, lap swims and recreational swims. There is a strong emphasis on swim instruction and water safety. NCRD is proud to carry on the 90 year old tradition of teaching every child in our community how to swim as part of their basic education.
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Fall term start September 23, 2024
There are drop-in fees, membership fees and class fees. Refer to the information below for further detail.
Discover the benefits of becoming a member of the NCRD Fitness Center today! We offer individual options for using the facility on a daily drop-in basis, purchasing a 10-visit punch card, month, three-month pass or annual pass. Couple memberships are also available. Military and Veterans discounts are offered.
The NCRD Board of Directors passed Resolution 17-03 instituting a new fee schedule, effective July 1, 2017 to include In-District and Out-of-District rates. Our patrons who reside within the district’s boundaries pay property taxes to support NCRD programs in addition to paying user fees. See the district map here.
NCRD is pleased to provide scholarships to help provide access to programs and activities. Scholarship funding aids children to participate in sports and receive care while parents are working. Scholarship assistance is extended to individuals in need of rehabilitative therapy due to injury or illness. The scholarships are funded by generous donations and grants from individuals and organizations. Scholarships are administered through each department. To apply, inquire directly with the department of interest.
6:00am -
7:55am
Early Bird Lap Swim
Early Bird Lap Swim
Early Bird Lap Swim
Early Bird Lap Swim
Early Bird Lap Swim
8:00am -
8:45am
AM Aqua Fit Class
AM Aqua Fit Class
AM Aqua Fit Class
9:00am -
9:45am
Parent/Tot Swim Lesson
Parent/Tot Swim Lesson
Water Walking Class
Water Walking Class
Swim Education Programming
Water Walking Class
Water Walking Class
Water Walking Class
10:00am -
11:00am
Water Walking Class
11:00am -
12:00pm
12:00pm -
1:00pm
1:15pm -
2:30pm
2:45pm -
4:00pm
5:00pm -
6:00pm
Noon Lap Swim
Noon Lap Swim
Noon Lap Swim
Noon Lap Swim
Noon Lap Swim
Swim Education
Swim Education
Maintenance
Maintenance
Maintenance
Maintenance
After School Programing
Evening Lap Swim
Maintenance
6:00pm - 7:00pm
Evening Lap Swim
Evening Swim
(5:00pm - 6:00pm)
We have 4 lanes available for lap swimmers on a first come first served basis. We try to accommodate everyone so we share lanes at times.
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The pool is available for walking in the water and individual free exercise, perfect for building strength or doing rehabilitation. Our resistance equipment is available to use.
This is a recreational swim for patrons of all ages. Children 5 and under must be accompanied by an adult in the water. All youth must be able to demonstrate the ability to swim in order to be in the deep end of the pool.
This is a recreational swim just for families. All children 16 and under must be accompanied by an adult in the water.
Individuals and organizations can rent the pool for special activities such as training, parties and other special events.
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This is a special time to bring your babies and toddlers for their first exposure to the Pool environment. Children must be accompanied in the water by an adult. This class brings people together in a casual and comfortable atmosphere of fun and water-play designed to acquaint your child with swimming readiness skills. Teaching aids and water toys are provided.
We offer swim lessons to youth of all ages and abilities. All lessons are conducted in a nurturing and supportive environment with students grouped according to their ability. The groups are small allowing for lots of individual attention. The goals are to introduce fundamentals as the foundation, focus on stroke technique, promote water safety, inspire independence, and build endurance through accidental learning; with games, drills and fun.
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We offer swim instruction for all levels from the basics for non swimmers to polishing of strokes for the advanced swimmer. Individuals receive lots of one on one with the instructor. Whether you have always wanted to learn how to swim or you just want to improve your style you will benefit from this class.
Before attending your first class at NCRD, please submit a liability waiver form.
• Download waiver here
Please submit a TBCC registration form before attending classes:
• TBCC Registration Form
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SUN
MON
TUES
WED
THURS
FRI
SAT
Class Fee:
$
40
The main focus of this class is stretching to improve flexibility. The water’s buoyancy aids balance and stability. The water’s resistance adds a weight bearing component which increases strength and muscle tone. The warmth of the water allows soft tissues and muscles to stretch more comfortably making this a safe and enjoyable workout for all fitness levels.
SUN
MON
TUES
WED
THURS
FRI
SAT
Class Fee:
$
60
This class is for people with mobility issues including arthritis and back, knee, hip or other conditions that make exercise difficult. Participants will establish a water exercise routine designed to meet their individual needs. This class will increase flexibility, strength and stamina; build and tone muscles; improve circulatory and cardiovascular systems; and reduce stress and tension.
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SUN
MON
TUES
WED
THURS
FRI
SAT
Class Fee:
$
75
Conducted primarily in shallow water, AM Aqua-fit combined with strength, balance and core stability exercises increases mobility, builds muscle and improves overall quality of life. Participants regulate the intensity of their workouts by using the resistance of the water, making it effective for all fitness levels.
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MON
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WED
THURS
FRI
SAT
The Pool is used by staff as well as the community for training purposes. We offer annual Red Cross Lifeguard Certification classes to the public as well as training for our staff. We make the Pool available to the Sheriff’s Dept. and Nehalem Valley Fire and Rescue at no charge to train and practice their water rescue skills. Members of our local Dragon Boat team also use the Pool to do practice paddling sessions. Over the years we have done kayak skills classes as well as Scuba diving certifications. We have special seasonal teen swims. The school district reserves the Pool for recreational swims as a reward for the students for things such as making Honor Roll and perfect attendance. We also partner with the Youth Department and all the camps that are offered at NCRD and offer swimming every afternoon all summer as part of their programing.
The Swim Team is open to all students first grade through high school. In this introduction to competitive swimming students will learn advance techniques such as racing starts, flip turns, butterfly and more. They will have the opportunity to travel to other pools and compete in regional swim meets. However, competing is optional and the personal choice of each swimmer. Participation is also an opportunity to get a great work out, stay fit and improve skills.
An opportunity for healthy recreation and physical activity after school open to all students in 1st through 5th grade. Supervised water play that includes games and action packed activities that encourage and enhance physical fitness. The kids build strength and endurance while playing and having fun.
Status Clarification:
There has been a lot of conversation about the future status of the School Swim Program out in the community and on social media over the last month or so. NCRD has been inundated with questions from concerned parents and long-time community residents who have heard there are changes coming to the program.
We want everyone to know, it is not the end of the School Swim Program!
When school resumed in person this past year, after being remote the prior year due to the pandemic, there were some changes made to the swim program to meet COVID protocols. One major change was that instead of all students K-5 receiving weekly classes throughout the entire school year, we had grades 4/5 in the fall, 2/3 winter term, and K/1 in the spring. So, this gave the students 10-11 classes for the year as compared with the traditional 33-34 classes.
The School District has made the decision to continue with that abbreviated class schedule moving forward. They have put out a public statement explaining their reasons for this decision. If circumstances change in the future, NCRD would welcome the opportunity to restore the traditional year-long swim education classes for all students.
NCRD continues to be dedicated to its mission, and to carrying on the original mission of the school district, when the school board voted unanimously in 1929 to build the Pool, to teach every child in the community how to swim.
The School Swim Program is the cornerstone of NCRD. Preserving this program was one of the main reasons for the formation of the recreation district. Today we are proud to carry on the 90 year old tradition, which began in 1930 to teach every child in the community how to swim as part of their basic education.
Weekly lessons are administered in a safe and nurturing environment throughout the school year. Two hundred students grades K - 5, including Basic Skills students get the benefit of these classes each year. Students are grouped according to their ability insuring they all learn to swim and are well educated in water safety. The program instills the significance of swimming as a lifetime skill and healthy recreational activity.
The success of the program is represented in the student’s swim ability after 6 years of participation. They are self-confident, physically fit, skilled swimmers, and knowledgeable about water safety. These are vital skills that could save lives in our coastal community surrounded by water and water related activities.
With continued education, training and learning to RESPECT the water, preventing drowning is within reach!
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The NCRD Pool-a-thon fundraiser is held annually with all proceeds going to help support the Nehalem Elementary School Swim & Water Safety Awareness Program. For the past 30 years this has been a successful kid powered, community supported event.
Students who volunteer to participate seek out sponsors who pledge dollars for each lap they swim. They attend the event accompanied by enthusiastic family members who count their laps and cheer them on. This event also gives the students an opportunity to showcase their skills for families and friends. It encourages student ownership of the program and demonstrates civic involvement at the grade school level.
After the event the students collect their pledges and are rewarded with a Pool party to celebrate their efforts. Each year the Pool-a-thon’s overwhelming success demonstrates the support of our coastal community and validates the significance of the School Swim & Water Safety Program.
NCRD is the home of New Discoveries Preschool. We provide weekly swim lessons in a fun and safe environment as part of their program. Students are introduced to water safety and foundational swimming concepts. The classes motivate the kids to want to take the next step in water exploration. Age appropriate skills allow the students to experience success in an on-going basis.
Our Pool is located on the south side of the building in the basement of what used to be the old school.
It is 75 ft. (25 yds.) long & 30 feet wide with 4 lanes.
It ranges in depth from 3 ft. at the shallow end to 8 ft. at the deep end. We have a small wading pool, which is 30 ft. x 5 ft. and a foot deep.
We maintain an average temperature of 86* serving patrons of all ages and abilities with an emphasis on education, fitness and rehabilitation.
The Pool was built in 1930 as part of an addition to the original school building, built in 1920. On December 13, 1929 a group of committed citizens presented a petition to the School Board requesting that they build a Pool. It was common knowledge that two local boys had drown in a river that year and the community came together and wanted to teach all their children how to swim to save others from drowning. The board members voted that evening to construct the Pool and that was how the School Swim Program began. Even though it was during the Great Depression the Pool was thought to be a necessary in our coastal community surrounded by water. Since that time all the students in the community have had swim classes as part of their basic education. In1995 the Pool lost it’s funding and was scheduled to close that summer. By that time the Pool was used by people of all ages for fitness and recreation. Once again the community came together and worked to save the Pool for the community and insure that all the children would continue to learn how to swim as part of their basic education. A group of committed citizens started a grassroots organization that supported the Pool by fundraising for 2 years while they did the groundwork to get the motion on the ballot that created the North County Recreation District. Today NCRD Aquatics offers a wide range of programs and we are very proud to be able to carry on the tradition and preserve the legacy of teaching every child in the community how to swim.
Sue continues her mission of teaching and providing swim lessons to the kids of our community for the last 35 years! She was an active participant in the creation of the North County Recreation District in 1997. Sue has been a Red Cross certified lifeguard, and Water Safety & Swim Lesson Instructor (WSI) for 30 years. The last 26 years, she has been School Swim Program Manager & Lead Instructor. Her devotion to the Nehalem Elementary School Swim Program was recognized by the Tillamook County Futures Council, who in 2012 awarded her the Strategic Vision Award in the Youth & Education Category. Sue specializes in adaptive swim instruction, Aqua tots, Red Cross, and YMCA learn to swim programs. She works hard to conduct all swim lessons in a nurturing and enthusiastic environment with every student’s safety and progress in mind. Being a dedicated life long water enthusiast, Sue shares her innovative programming with patrons of all ages. From being educated in the Total Immersion Program to creating and developing the comprehensive School Swim Programs, which encompass swim skills, stroke technique, water safety, health, fitness, and drowning prevention skills. One of Sue’s proudest accomplishments has been conducting the annual Pool-A-Thon Fundraiser for the last 30 years. This fundraiser has been instrumental in securing funds to help support Nehalem’s School Swim Program. Overall, Sue is thankful that she has been able to combine her passion for water sports with her love of teaching and kids for the last 30 years.
Growing up Willie, also known as August by some, played sports year-round through high school. After high school, he went to Southwestern Community College, Coos Bay, and participated in a year of Track and Field. Being born and raised in Nehalem, Willie went through the swim program at the elementary school, and in 2015 took his first Lifeguard certification to work for the NCRD pool. Since then, he has acquired his Group Exercise Instructor Certification to continue his fitness journey. Willie instructs with a welcoming stride and with a great show of enthusiasm.
Growing up Willie, also known as August by some, played sports year-round through high school. After high school, he went to Southwestern Community College, Coos Bay, and participated in a year of Track and Field. Being born and raised in Nehalem, Willie went through the swim program at the elementary school, and in 2015 took his first Lifeguard certification to work for the NCRD pool. Since then, he has acquired his Group Exercise Instructor Certification to continue his fitness journey. Willie instructs with a welcoming stride and with a great show of enthusiasm.
