by Jean Rogers

HUNTERSVILLE – SwimMAC (Mecklenburg Aquatic Center) Swim School is a unique enterprise as a part of the SwimMAC Carolina family.

At times, it resembles the United Nations with an interesting blend of cultures from around the world. Currently, we have staff from Korea, Poland, Mexico and, even, some Charlotte natives, and previously, we’ve had staff from South Africa and Costa Rica. And the list goes on.

Our students are no less diverse with a wide range of ages. If success can be measured by retention, then we are successful. They just keep coming back as students and even instructors. In some cases, entire families have participated in our programs, which we offer at Huntersville Family Fitness & Aquatics, Charlotte Latin and Queens University.

Our program focuses on safety and the four competitive strokes. Emphasizing proper technique, the students develop quality strokes with legal, competitive habits, which provide the basics for success for those who participate in Junior Swim League or compete year-round with a team.

Many students have also returned to Swim School as instructors. Even parents of students, seeing the enthusiasm of our program, have come on board to teach. We make learning fun but at the same time insist on core disciplines that will help each student develop to whatever level they aspire. At a minimum, we want everyone to have the basic skills that will serve them for a lifetime of fun and safety in the water.

SwimMAC Carolina is recognized as a Swim America program, which uses specific goals at each level. As a child accomplishes these particular skills, they move to the next level. We offer swim classes year-round for children, private lessons for adults and children and many other programs. We focus on teaching good technique with staff members who really like children and enjoy the sport. Many members of our staff return from college to teach part-time, and quite a few of our instructors have years with our program.

Check out www.swimmaccarolina.org, and have some fun in the water this year!

Registration for new students starts May 25. For more information and to register, call 704-846-5335, ext. 3109, in Huntersville, 704-846-5335, ext. 2104, for the Charlotte Latin program and 704-846-5335, ext. 2125, for the program at Queens.

Summer schedule

The summer class schedule at  Huntersville Family Fitness & Aquatics’ warm-water pool and the Birkdale Fitness Center is:

• June 13 to 23.

• June 27 to July 7, with no classes on July 4 and 5.

• July 11 to 21.

• July 25 to Aug. 4.

The summer swim class schedule at Charlotte Latin is:

• June 13 to 23, Monday to Thursday, for eight days.

• June 27 to 30 and July 5 to 7, Monday to Thursday, for seven days.

• July 11 to 21, Monday to Thursday, for eight days.

• July 25 to Aug. 4, Monday through Thursday, for eight days.

Morning classes held at the Providence Pointe pool, 15440 Prescott Hill Ave., Charlotte, off Old Lancaster Highway are 9:10-9:40, 9:50-10:20, 10:30-11 and 11:10-11:40.

Afternoon classes held at the Charlotte Latin pool, 9850 Providence Road, in south Charlotte are: 1:10-1:40, 1:50-2:20, 2:30-3, 3:10-3:40, 3:50-4:20, 4:30-5.

Saturday classes are also available starting June 18th. Call 704-846-5335, ext. 2109, to register.

– Jean Rogers is the director of the Swim MAC Swim School.