Fort Kent Pool Department's Summer Activities

The summer is here and once again the Fort Kent Recreation and Parks Department is open. This year staff is split into two sections to best serve the community: the pool staff and the recreational staff.

The pool, which opened on Saturday, June 16 for general swim, is prepared for a busy summer with many excited children. Regular pool hours are Monday through Sunday from 1:00-4:00pm, and Monday through Friday from 6:30-8:00pm. Registration is "In-person" only, and can be done at any time while the pool is open. The cost for residents is $3/ person for a daily session or $5/person for a lifetime pass. Non-residents can also obtain passes. This is a great deal so do not miss out. It will run throughout the summer until (Friday, August 3). For those interested in swimming lessons, they began on Monday, June 25, and run through Friday, August 3. Seven different levels of classes are offered to focus on each child's select needs. They are Introduction to Water Skills, Fundamentals Aquatic Skills, Stroke Development, Stroke Improvement, Stroke Refinement, Lifeguard Readiness Personal Water Safety, and Fitness Swimmer and Fundamentals of Diving. Children can also join the swim team. The cost for each is $15 for residents and $25 for non-residents. It's not too late to sign up: swimmers can register throughout the summer at any of the Fort Kent Recreation and Parks Department's facilities. Do it soon, though, so you don't miss out on any fun.

One of the highlights of the season for the Fort Kent Pool Department is the swim team. They travel around the county to compete. Competitions are on Wednesdays, but that is not all the team does. They practice rigorously throughout the season on every day of the week. To compete at the highest levels they have to stay in shape, and the coaches make sure that is the case.

The team has struggled with attendance, however, due to a lack of mutual transportation.

The coach said, "The season has been kind of underscored from the drop in participation this year due to the lack of a bus."

Fortunately, many of the swimmers and their families' did not let that stop them.

The coach said, "The season has kept going through the parents participation and driving and stuff."

It has helped, because the season has been great and the swimmers have performed well. Best of all the coach is impressed with each and every swimmer.

"There all awesome - there all awesome kids," he said.