It may still be February, but the Perry Parks and Recreation Department is starting to gear up for their summer swimming activities, beginning with getting people properly trained.

Aquatics Director Kami Kirchner says they are offering classes in the coming months for people to become lifeguards, as well as water safety instructors for swim lessons. The latter will have two sessions, the first in March and the second in May. Kirchner emphasizes that there needs to be at least six people for each water safety instructor class, and registration is required two weeks before the session. The lifeguard courses will be offered in April and June for anyone new to the job. For those who have already taken the course, there is a review class this Saturday, running throughout the day.

Kirchner adds, each of these courses is an investment opportunity, which will pay dividends quickly. “So the really nice thing about the classes is if you take them through us at the rec center and then you work for us, with your lifeguarding after six months of employment we give you that money back. So you’re investing in yourself, but you’re also getting that money back because you’re investing in us as a facility. And then with the water safety instructor, we refund that money after three full sessions of taught swim lessons. So you could teach an entire summer of swim lessons, and as long as you don’t miss any of the sessions you get your almost $200 back.”

The lifeguard classes cost $120 for McCreary Center members and $140 for non-members, while the water safety instructor courses are $165 and $175, respectively. Saturday’s review class costs $62 for members and $70 for non-members. To register for any of them, stop in or call the McCreary Community Building at 515-465-5621. To hear more from Kirchner, click the link below to listen to the Perry Fareway Let’s Talk Dallas County program with her.

https://www.raccoonvalleyradio.com/2020/02/19/lets-talk-dallas-county-2-19-2020-kami-kirchner/