Swim Program
Swimming is a skill we believe everyone should have, which is why we make it part of our core program. Wading into a pool, lake, or the ocean is one of life’s great joys, and it’s our goal to ensure every Fessenden camper leaves a safer, more confident swimmer than they came. Many parents of our campers have been overjoyed at the confidence and enjoyment their kids have experienced after learning to swim at Fessenden.
Red Cross Learn-to-Swim Program
Fessenden Day Camp is a proud provider of the Red Cross Learn-to-Swim program. Every Camper in our Day Camp Program receives one instructional swim per day as well as several open swim periods.
The Learn-to-Swim program, conducted by our Red Cross Trained instructors, gives children the opportunity to learn to swim in a safe environment. The program is designed to allow students to learn at their own pace and master skills at each level before attempting the next challenge. In fact, many of our campers progress one swim level and are well on their way to the next by the end of the summer. At the end of each week, campers receive a take home progress report which highlights the skills they have mastered as well as those they are still working to achieve in their class time.
A Day of Swimming
Campers are highly encouraged to participate in swim lessons. Open swim is optional and on theme days, some campers may choose to forgo their open swim period to participate in camp-wide activities.
On the first day of a camper’s time with us, they go through our ”show what you know” skill test to determine their appropriate free swim location and instructional swim level. Safety is our number one priority and we follow a strict level progression to assure all campers are in an area of the pool where they can confidently play and be safe.
4 year old campers:
Our 4 year old campers receive one swim lesson per day. They also have open swim Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
Full Day Campers:
Our full day campers participate in one instructional swim lesson and one open swim period daily.
Half Day Campers:
Campers in the Half Day program participate in instructional swim daily.
Teen Trippers:
Teen Trip Campers have the opportunity to swim on their “in camp” days.
Specialty Camps:
Campers in the June Sports Camps, Final Five Week Camps, and all Plus Camps (i.e. Makerspace, Tennis, STEM, etc.) do not receive instructional swim lessons.
They do have a daily open swim period.
Two Outdoor Swimming Pools
Swim lessons and free swim periods take place in our two outdoor pools. Our small pool has a shallow side that is 3-feet-deep across and only goes up to 4.5 feet. Campers in the lower camp and entering first grade utilize this pool for both open and instructional swim. Those campers entering second grade have open swim in the small pool and instructional swim in the big pool. Our big pool has a 3.5-foot teaching area, and a maximum depth of 9 feet, which is great for more experienced swimmers to swim, jump and dive. The big pool is heated. Both pools are in the sun all day and do not take long to warm up.
Our Swim Staff
All of our swim staff are Red Cross Certified in Lifeguarding and CPR/AED/First Aid. Many of our staff are also Water Safety Instructor Certified. We hire swim staff based on their knowledge of swimming mechanics as well as their passion and experience working with children. Many of our swim staff works as lifeguards/swim staff year round at other facilities in the local area, and a number of our staff have been part of swim teams during their high school or collegiate careers.
Our Swim Program in Action
Meet our Aquatics Director
Alex Dilworth Aquatics Director 3 Years at Fessenden
2025 will be Alex’s first year as Aquatics Director and third summer working at Fessenden Summer Camps. For the past two summers he worked as a lifeguard and Head Lifeguard at our pools. Alex just completed his bachelor’s degree in the Lynch School of Education and Human Development at Boston College. When he’s not at Fessenden, Alex is a teaching assistant at Oak Hill Middle School in Newton. He will be coaching baseball there in the spring and has a passion for coaching basketball at higher levels in the future.
