Return to home page

Learn more about Bayside
Learn how to become a member
Learn morea bout swim lessons
FAQ
Learn more about the swim team

 

     

Bellingham, Washington

Swimming Lessons
Frequently Asked Questions

Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about our swim lesson program.

Click a question to view the answer.

Where is the pool located?

Bayside Swimming Club is located at 502 Clarke Road in Bellingham, Washington. A map and directions to the pool are located on the Directions page.

How do I sign my child up for lessons?

Click the Register Now button on our website (available starting April 1).
You will be redirected to an online shopping cart.
Note that the cart can be sorted by session or learning level.

To register your child for a lesson:
  1. Choose the desired time in the appropriate Session and Learning Level.
  2. Enter your child's first name, last name, and age.
  3. Click Add to Cart.
Note that you can repeat this process to sign up for additional lessons. Just click Continue Shopping.

Once you have signed up for all of the lessons you desire, proceed to checkout.

During checkout, you will need to provide additional information and agree to our liability waiver.

You will also have the opportunity to create an account, log-in (if you already have an account), or complete your registration as a guest. We encourage you to create an account. Once you have an account, you will not have to enter all of your personal information the next time you register for additional lessons or swim team. We do not store your payment information and will not share your personal information with anyone.

You will then be able to review your cart one more time to make sure that everything is correct. When you are ready to check out, you will be redirected to PayPal and  must complete the checkout procedure using PayPal in order to complete your registration. You do not need a PayPal account.

Once you complete the checkout procedure, you will be redirected to a page confirming your registration. If you do not see this page, your registration was not successfully completed. In such situations, start again or contact the webmaster.

What learning level should my child be in?

You should register your child based on age and swimming ability. Click on the learning level links on the Swim Lesson page to see a description of a particular level. Once your child's class begins, the aquatics director can move your child to a more appropriate level if necessary.

Why are some classes on the Registration Form shown as full?

We keep our class sizes small so that each child gets the necessary attention of the instructor. The registration page shows the actual number of spaces remaining in each class. If a particular class is indicated as full, we cannot accept any additional children in that particular class at this time. But you should check back, because spaces often open up. The aquatics director may move a child to a different level or a parent may inform us of a late cancellation—thus opening spaces in a class that had previously been shown as full. Once a session has started, however, we no longer update class space availability online. In that case, you should go directly to the pool and talk with the aquatics director to see if there is room for your child in a particular class.

If a class is full, is there a wait list?

Unfortunately, the answer is NO. We do not offer a wait list for swimming lessons.

We recommend that you check the registration page frequently for spaces that open due to changes and cancellations.

Also, be sure to check back on the registration page. Spaces often open in previously full classes due to cancellations or students who are moved to a different level.

We cannot predict how many spaces, if any, will open, nor precisely when those spaces will appear on the registration form, so we recommend checking often and refreshing the page in your web browser. Any additional spaces that do become available are offered on a first-come first-served basis.

How do I pay the balance of my swim lesson fees?

When you first complete your registration, you will receive an email from PayPal confirming your purchase.

Since all lessons must be paid in full at the time of registration, you will not have a balance due unless a change fee has been added (in which case you can pay by clicking the link in the email message your receive after the requested change has been made).

Are lessons cancelled due to rain?

No. Lessons take place rain or shine (this is the Pacific Northwest, after all). The pool is a very comfortable 86-degrees and the kids hardly notice the rain. Parents on the pool deck watching their children during lessons are advised to bring umbrellas, however, because there may not be enough covered areas to accommodate everyone.

What happens during a lightning/thunder storm?

In the event of a lightning/thunderstorm that poses a safety risk, no one will be allowed in the pool until the danger has passed. If this impacts swim lessons, every effort will be made to enable your child to make up for the missed class time by attending class on another date or time. However, this will depend on space availability. Make-up classes are handled on a case-by-case basis. You must talk directly with the Aquatics Director to schedule the make-up lesson.

Are there lessons on the 4th of July?

Yes. If July 4th falls on a weekday, lessons will occur. Please keep this in mind when scheduling your child's lesson. If your child must miss class, it may be possible to schedule a make-up class. Please refer to the policy on make-up lessons elsewhere in this FAQ.

What happens if the pool is closed due to health concerns?

In the unlikely event that the pool is temporarily shut down for health reasons, no one will be allowed in the pool until the pool is once again cleared for use. If this impacts swim lessons, every effort will be made to enable your child to make up for the missed class time by attending class on another date or time. However, this will depend on space availability. Make-up classes are handled on a case-by-case basis. You must talk directly with the Aquatics Director to schedule the make-up lesson.

If lessons are cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, if the cancellation occurs before the first day of class, your entire fee will be refunded. If the cancellation occurs after the start of the session, your refund will be prorated. (See the Cancellation Policy for more details.)

I've already registered. Can I change my child's class to a different session or time?

Yes. We will do our best to try to accommodate changes as long as there is still space available in the desired class. To request a change, please send an email to the Swim Lesson Administrator or speak directly to the Aquatics Director at the pool during swim lessons. DO NOT LEAVE PHONE MESSAGES. Requests made to any other staff or left via voice message will not be honored.

Note, however, that changes require additional work on our part. For that reason, each change request made after June 1 for other than valid medical or emergency reasons will result in a $5 change fee. Changes cannot be made after 12-noon on the Friday before the start of a session.

Are fees refundable if my plans change?

If your child is unable to attend lessons for any reason and you wish to receive a refund, you must notify us of your desire to cancel ONLY by sending an email to the Swim Lesson Administrator or by speaking in-person to the Aquatics Director. DO NOT LEAVE PHONE MESSAGES. Requests made to any other staff or left via voice message will not be honored. For cancellations meeting these requirements, refunds will be based on the following:
  • If you notify us within 72 hours of your original registration, we will issue a full refund of the fees paid for each cancelled lesson.
  • If you notify us before 12-noon on the Friday prior to the first day of class, you can:
    • Change the lesson to a different session or time. Your full payment (including the $25 fee) will be applied to the new class. (Space in the desired class must be available online and you may be subject to a change fee.)
    • Cancel the lesson. We will issue a refund, less a $25 non-refundable fee.
  • If you notify us after 12-noon on the Friday prior to the first day of class, you forfeit all payments made for the class (except for valid medical/emergency reasons). For valid reasons, we may issue a refund prorated at $10 per day for the number of classes remaining in the session at the time we receive your cancellation request.
  • Note that if you need to change your plans for valid medical or emergency reasons, we will do our best to accommodate your particular situation.

    If your payment has not yet been transferred from PayPal, we will do our best to issue the refund within 48 hours via PayPal back to your original form of payment. If we can no longer issue a refund via PayPal, we will mail you a check (in which case, please allow several weeks for receipt of your refund).

Can I register my child for just one week (or split a 2-week class across two different sessions)?

No. We no longer offer 1-week partial sessions or the ability to split a 2-week class across multiple sessions. Our classes are designed to be taught for 10 days over a 2-week period.

Is it possible to do a drop-in lesson?

Maybe. It may be possible to simply drop-in and put your child into a lesson, but only if there is space available in the desired class. There is no way of knowing if space is available other than by showing up in person at the pool. The Aquatics Director will be able to assist you. Note that the cost for a drop-in class is $20 for a single 30-minute class for both members and non-members.

My child missed a class. Can I get a refund or schedule a make-up lesson?

There are no refunds for missed lessons. It may be possible to schedule a make-up lesson, but only if there is space available in the desired class. You will need to come to the pool and speak directly with the Aquatics Director.

Can my child take swim lessons at the same time as a friend's child?

Yes. Ideally, you and your friend should register your children for classes in the same session/time slot. While we will try to adjust registrations to accommodate these types of requests, we cannot do so if the desired class is already full. Also remember that changes will be subject to a $5 change fee.

Can I include my friend's children on my registration?

NO! Since we require a liability waiver from the parent or legal guardian at the time of registration, each family must complete its own individual registration. If you include other people's children on your registration, your registration may be subject to cancellation. Separate registrations and liability waivers must be completed for each family.

My parents are members of Bayside Swimming Club but my family is not. Can I get the member rate?

NO! You will have to pay the non-member rate. The only way you children can be registered at the member rate would be if your children were physically residing in your parent's home. Membership includes everyone residing in the member household. But membership DOES NOT extend to adult children of members and the children of those adult children unless they reside in the parent's home.

Don't see the answer here? Contact us via email and we'll do our best to answer specific questions.

    Website designed by David Cohn

 Updated:   01/12/2024

 

HOME | ABOUT | MEMBERSHIP | SWIM LESSONS | SWIM TEAM

copyright ©2004-2024, Bayside Swimming Club