Melody Pines has three large swimming areas bounded by special docks and ropes to allow for excellent supervision and instruction of our campers. Each area has its own raft for advanced swimmers, known as Rafters.
The Melody Pines Staff includes 30+ Red Cross certified waterfront lifeguards plus additional staff for instruction and supervision. These staff, under the supervision of our waterfront directors are responsible for daily swim instruction, safety, and waterfront supervision.
Children are given a swimming check on their first day of camp by the waterfront director and are then placed in swimming groups according to swimming ability. Swimming lessons are a mandatory daily activity for all campers. There are 11 swimming levels beginning with Level 1 beginner (getting comfortable in the water) and ending in Level 3 advanced (distance swimming and lifeguarding skills).
Extra help time is available on a daily basis for those campers who wish to receive additional swimming instruction and improve on specific skills. Campers can sign themselves up outside the office between 8am and 12pm daily.
Swimming is also provided daily during free choice time. Those who pass our “Rafter's Test” may choose to utilize the rafts or water trampoline during that time, or even learn to water-ski!
In order to become a Rafter, a camper must be proficient at the front crawl, back crawl, breast stroke, elementary backstroke, and sidestroke, and must be able to pass our distance swim.