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Never Miss a Chance to Do the Most Good

Please enter your name, email and zip code below to sign up!

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Never Miss a Chance to Do the Most Good

Please enter your name, email and zip code below to sign up!

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Aquatics Center

The indoor Aquatics Center at the Kroc Center is unique
to the Mississippi Gulf Coast and is among our most popular features.

(228) 374-9129
Aquatics Coordinator: [email protected]

Aquatics at the Kroc

The Salvation Army Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center indoor aquatic facility is designed to provide fun for all ages.  In addition to the recreation pool and lap pool, our indoor aquatic facility offers a fun water play area with a water slide for the whole family that encourages multi-generational interaction.

The recreation pool is a zero-depth entry pool and children will enjoy attractions such as the Splashpads, and vertical sprays in designated areas.  The lap pool is used for swim classes, aqua aerobics classes, and more. The recreation pool also offers a family water slide with a catch pool. Our aquatics department is complete with American Red Cross Certified lifeguards and trained swim lesson instructors, who are dedicated to providing quality safe family enjoyment.

Kroc Pool Hours

Monday-Friday | 6 AM – 7:30 PM

Saturday | 7 AM – 5:30 PM

Sunday: CLOSED

Swim Lessons

The Kroc Center offers a variety of swim lessons for ages 1+ and skill levels provided as group and private sessions. All lessons are non-refundable, we do not offer make-up lessons for group lessons so please plan accordingly.  Due to the amount of traffic, swim lessons will be on hold during the summer season (June-August).

Water Fitness

Enjoy all the benefits of a land workout without the impact on your joints while improving cardiovascular fitness, muscular strength, and flexibility. Expect to get a great workout! No matter where you start you will finish strong!

NOTICE: Swim Lessons are taking a summer break in June and July. 

Welcome to Swim Lessons at the Kroc

Learning to swim is an important skill that children will keep with them for life. We offer classes for children as young as 12 months. With never more than five people per class, our intimate swim instruction provides a great environment for children learning to swim. At your child’s first swim class, we will assess their swimming proficiency and provide lessons for their specific skill level. To advance from one level to the next participants must demonstrate the exit skills required and have Aquatics Coordinator approval.

All lessons are based on instructor availability. Group lessons must have at least three participants or the group class will be rescheduled. We do not offer makeup lessons for any missed classes. We strictly enforce our cancellation policy. No cancellations are allowed within 7 days of the start of a new session. During Swim Lesson times parents are invited to sit in the viewing area, just outside the pool on the other side of the glass.

Things to bring for your swim lesson:

  • Swimsuit
  • Change of clothes
  • Goggles
  • Towel

Beginner Swim

Group Lesson Pricing: $70 for members; $90 for potential members

Parent & Child - (Age: 6 months - 2 years) 

Parent and Child Aquatics introduces basic skills you learn to safely work with your child in the water, including how to appropriately support and hold your child in the water and how to prepare and encourage your child to participate fully and try the skills. In addition, you are introduced to several water safety topics. Your child receives an introduction to basic skills that lay a foundation for learning to swim. Parent and Child Aquatics is not designed to teach children to become good swimmers or even to survive in the water on their own.

Pre-school Aquatics Level 1-2 (Age: 3-5 years) 

In Preschool Aquatics Level 1-2, your child is introduced to basic skills. These skills lay the foundation for developing water competency in addition, your child starts to develop positive attitudes and safe practices around the water. Certain milestones are necessary for completing Pre-school Aquatics Level 1-2 including independent water entry, assisted gliding on front at least 2 body lengths, floating on back for 15 seconds, and Swimming using combined arm and leg actions on front for 3 body lengths. Once all Level 1-2 skills are achieved and the exit skills assessment is completed, your child receives a completion card and he or she is ready to move on to Level 3-4.

Pre-school Aquatics Level 3-4 (Ages 3 - 5 years)

 In Preschool Aquatics Level 3-4, your child is continuing skills and laying the foundation for stroke development. In addition, your child should continue safe practices around the water. Certain milestones are necessary for completing Pre-school Aquatics Level 3-4 including Treading or floating position for 15 seconds, swimming independently with combined arm and leg actions. All Preschool Level 3-4 skills are performed independently.

Intermediate/Advanced Swim

Beginner - Level 1-2 (Ages 6 -12 years) 

Introduction to Water Skills, your child is introduced to basic skills as the foundation for future skills and the development of water competency. Certain milestones are necessary for successful completion of Levels 1-2 including independent water entry, traveling independently 5 yards, opening eyes underwater and retrieving submerged objects, then exiting the water safely. Once all Level 1-2 skills are achieved and the exit skills assessment is completed, your child receives a completion card and he or she is ready to move on to Level 3-4.

Intermediate - Level 3-4 (Ages 6-12 years) 

In learning to swim levels 3-4, our swim instructors will introduce new swimming and water safety skills and build on stroke development. Your child learns to swim the front crawl and elementary backstroke at rudimentary levels, is introduced to the scissors and dolphin kicks, learns survival flotation, and increases the duration of treading. Certain milestones are necessary for successful completion including Flutter Kick, Breaststroke, and Dolphin Kick.

Private Lessons

Private Lessons  

Private lessons are offered for students who prefer a one-on-one experience. These lessons can be scheduled at the convenience of the instructor. The package includes 1 half-hour sessions twice a week for 4 weeks. Saturday Private lessons are an hour-long lesson for 4 weeks.

Private Swim Lesson Package includes 8 half-hour sessions.
Fees: $120 for members / $160 for potential members

Private lessons are by appointment only.

  • Must shower off before entering the pool
  • Parent’s must remain within arm’s reach of children, ages 5 and under, regardless of swim ability
  • Children 2 and under must wear a swim diaper and plastic pant covering
  • Only swim attire is allowed in the pool. NO COTTON. All swim trunks must have a liner. Street clothes, thong suits, speedos, revealing bathing suits, and bathing suites with metal ornaments or exposed zippers are not allowed. 
  • No food or glass in the Aquatic area
  • All participants must meet height requirement (48”) to use the water slide
  • Only one person is allowed on the slide at a time. All participants must slide on their bottom with feet first
  • No running, climbing or ruff-housing
  • All participants must rinse off prior to enter the pool
  • Entrance to the Aquatic Center is permitted only when a lifeguard is on duty
  • Cover ups or clothing are required in hallways and at the entrance of the facility. Locker rooms are available for changing (must bring your own lock).
  • Anyone with open sores or contagious sores is not permitted in the pool
  • Swim toys must be approved by lifeguards
  • These guidelines are in place to protect our members and guests. We thank you in advance for your cooperation and support as a participant.

*Monday–Friday from 10:00AM–Noon, the pool is especially busy during the summer months. Please be aware of this as we often fill to capacity very quickly.

SWIM PASS

Not A Member of The Salvation Army Kroc Center yet? We’d still love to have you visit! Non-members may have access to the pool area by purchasing a guest pass for a two-hour session. Children 2 years old & younger are free, but must wear a swim diaper and a plastic waterproof cover over the diaper. Additional sessions may be purchased to extend your time. We encourage you to purchase passes in advance due to the possibility of selling out. Purchases made via phone call are not available at this time. 

Swim Pass Cost: 

Swim Passes are $10 per person, children ages 2 and under are free.
Sessions are non-refundable and non-transferable unless the pool is closed by The Salvation Army Kroc Center.
No refunds. A swim credit may be given if you have 30 min or more left in your session time.
It is recommended you arrive 20 minutes before your scheduled session. 

PURCHASE A SWIM PASS

 

The following hours are for the Fall/ Winter. Hours will change in the Summer.

 MONDAY – FRIDAY 
10:00 am – 12:00 pm
12:30 pm – 2:30 pm
3:00 pm -5:00 pm
5:30 pm- 7:30 pm

 SATURDAY 
8:00 am – 10:00 am
10:30 am – 12:30 pm
1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
3:30 pm – 5:30 pm

 SUNDAY 
CLOSED
 

WATER FITNESS

Work cardio and strength with minimal impact on your joints. These in the water classes create a challenging and fun atmosphere. Shake up your routine, hit the water, and enjoy the variety.

  • Aqua Barre– Fun, body toning and strength building water inspired workout featuring noodles as the barre.
  • Aqua Power– Intensified water workout focusing on cardio and strength training.
  • Aqua Balance and Cardio-Water inspired workout class where exercises are performed in cycles with underwater weights.
  • Aqua Zumba-Aqua aerobics performed with an added Latin flavor.

Red Cross Shallow Water Lifeguarding Classes

You have either enrolled in an instructor-led or blended learning lifeguarding class. If you enrolled in a blended learning class, your instructor will provide directions to access and complete your online session.

At the beginning of the first in-person session, your instructor will verify your identity and age and conduct a prerequisite swimming skills evaluation. The prerequisite swimming skills evaluation will vary based on the lifeguarding certification course you are taking. It consists of swimming, treading water, and a timed swimming event.

 

Shallow Water

Successfully complete the two prerequisite swimming skills evaluations:

Prerequisite 1: Complete a swim-tread-swim sequence without stopping to rest:

  • Jump into the water and totally submerge, resurface then swim 50 yards using the front crawl, breaststroke or a combination of both. (Swimming on the back or side is not permitted. Swim goggles are allowed.)
  • Maintain position at the surface of the water for 2 minutes by treading water using only the legs, floating, or both.
  • Swim 50 yards using the front crawl, breaststroke or a combination of both.

Prerequisite 2: Complete a timed event within 50 seconds:

  • Starting in the water, swim 20 yards. (The face may be in or out of the water. Swim goggles are not allowed.)
  • Submerge to a depth of 4 - 7 feet to retrieve a 10-pound object.
  • Return to the surface and walk or swim 20 yards on the back to return to the starting point, holding the object at the surface with both hands and keeping the face out at or near the surface.
  • Exit the water without using a ladder or steps.

* If you are unable to successfully perform any of the prerequisite skills, you will not be eligible to enter the Lifeguarding class. Contact your instructor or training provider for further development and training opportunities to prepare for a future lifeguarding class

Become a Lifeguard

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