Kilpatrick Athletic Center launches SwimAmerica Lessons

04:19PM / Saturday, September 07, 2024Print Story | Email Story

GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — The Kilpatrick Athletic Center (KAC) has partnered with SwimAmerica to launch a series of Fall 2024 swimming lessons to the community.

SwimAmerica, a national learn-to-swim program designed to teach new swimmers endurance and technique, works with coaches and athletic trainers to offer lessons to their communities, including community members beginning their training at the age of three.

"Our goal in SwimAmerica is to teach water safety skills and excellent swimming technique. Every child that participates in our program will come out of it with more knowledge and skills to be safe in the water," said Assistant Aquatics Director John Vitell. "The Kilpatrick Athletic Center is proud to have been offering swim lessons for 26 years — since its opening."

The Kilpatrick houses an eight-lane, 25 yard pool with a minimal level of chlorinated, locally-sourced spring water, which leaves the water soft and without chemical smell or taste, while also making it safe to swim in.

The Kilpatrick will launch lessons for young swimmers hoping to kick the school year off with a splash beginning Tuesday, September 10th. Pre-School learners - ages three and four - will begin Tuesdays, Sept. 10 to Oct. 29, 5:15 - 5:45 p.m; Parent and Infant (seven months to three years old) lessons begin Tuesdays, Sept. 10 to Oct. 29, 4 - 4:30 p.m.

School-age lessons for ages 5 to 13 will begin Tuesdays and Thursdays, Sept. 10 and 12 through Oct. 29 and 31, and will be broken into separate groups: Stations 1-5 will have class from 4:30 p.m and 4:40 - 5:10 p.m. Stations 6-10 will attend from 5:20 - 6:00 p.m. If this is your child's first time in our program, please register them for a stations 1-5 time slot, where the first class will be an evaluation.

Programs consist of seven lessons. Lessons will pause the week of October 1st and 3rd and resume the following week. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to John Vitell at jvitell@simons-rock.edu

Learn more about the Kilpatrick Athletic Center here: https://simons-rock.edu/student-life/campus-experience/kilpatrick-athletic-center/index.php

Tags: bard college, swimming,

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Elevated Mercury Level Found in Center Pond Fish

11:41AM / Friday, December 19, 2025

BECKET, Mass. — The state Department of Public Health has issued an advisory after a mercury-contaminated fish was found in Center Pond.

According to a letter sent to the local Board of Health from the Division of Environmental Toxicology, Hazard Assessment and Prevention, elevated levels of mercury were measured in the sample taken from the pond.

The concentration in the fish exceeded DPH's action level of 0.5 milligrams per kilogram, or parts per million.

"This indicates that daily consumption of fish from the waterbody may pose a health concern. Therefore, DPH has issued a FCA for Center Pond recommending that sensitive populations should not eat chain pickerel and all other people should limit consumption of chain pickerel to 2 meals/month," the letter states.

The letter specifically points to chain pickerel, but the 60-acre pond also has largemouth and smallmouth bass and yellow perch.

The "sensitive populations" include children younger than 12, those who are nursing, pregnant, or who may become pregnant.

The Toxicology Division recommends reducing intake of "large, predatory fish" or fish that feed on the bottoms of waterbodies, such as largemouth bass and carp. More information on safely eating fish can be found here.

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