Welcome to Wildlife Water School!

 

Before:

We are excited to have you! Before attending, please ensure:

• Intake Form: Complete it for anyone getting in the water, including parents who will be in a swimsuit.

• Pricing Plan: It is recommended that you purchase a pricing plan to pay for your lessons as it is most cost effective. For directions & policies please refer to "sign up directions & calendar" page. 

• Booking Online: Secure your lessons online for a specific date and time. You can use your pricing plan or pay for each lesson separately. Either way, you need to book each lesson one by one on book online.

• You will get a confirmation email after you book each lesson, but there won't be any additional emails sent, so please refer to this page for instructions.

• Packing: Bring the following:

  • Swimsuit

  • Towel

  • Goggles (ages 3 & up)

  • Change of clothes

  • Swim diaper (for young children & anyone who uses them)

  • Any necessary medical devices

Locations:

• East Allegheny Junior/Senior High School Pool:

  • Address: 1150 Jacks Run Road, North Versailles Township, PA 15137

  • Park in the lot next to the school.

  • Wildlife is here only from 4:00-6:30 PM on Sundays.

  • We follow a strict schedule and must lock up immediately following the last lesson.

• Greensburg YMCA Pool:

  • Address: 101 S Maple Ave, Greensburg, PA 15601

  • Free parking available on Sundays.

  • Wildlife is here only from 12:30-2:30 PM on Sundays.

  • We follow a strict schedule and must clean up immediately following the last lesson.

Arrival:

• Arrive 10-15 minutes early on the first day.

• If your child is eager, arrive right on time for safety.

Checking In:

• East Allegheny: Go to the front entrance and find door 2; someone will let you in. If no one is there, call (724) 708-8133.

• Greensburg YMCA: Go to the front entrance and inform the desk you are here for Wildlife; they will direct you to the pool area. The pool is located downstairs, but there is an elevator and stairs.

Changing Rooms:

• East Allegheny: Men's changing rooms are on the far left inside the pool area; women's are on the far right. An accessible bathroom is available in the hallway down from the pool office.

• Greensburg YMCA: Men's changing rooms are left of the stairs; women's are down the upper pool hallway. Family/ADA accessible rooms are further down the pool hallway.

Changing Room Guidelines:

Change privately or in accessible areas if children are of the opposite gender. Contact Miss Vicky for any issues.

Important Announcements:

• Check the display for important information, updates, and your child's instructor.

  • East Allegheny: Announcements on display are in the pool office to the left. You walk through the pool office to enter the pool.

  • Greensburg YMCA: Announcements on display are in the upper pool area upon entry to the pools.

Lesson Procedure:

• After finding your instructor and reading the display, take a seat near the whiteboard labeled with the instructor's name after your child is in their swimsuit and ready.

• If you notice an error or the instructor is mistakenly late to take your child, bring your child to the instructor, whether in the pool or on deck, as soon as you notice.

• If you are unsure who your instructor is, please check our website under the "Who We Are" section for photos and information. While we strive to keep the website updated, there may be instances when the instructor's information is not current.

• Extra spectators are welcome, with at least one adult required on the pool deck with children. Keep voices low due to pool noise.

Pools & Seating:

• East Allegheny: has one main competitive swimming pool down the hall through the office door after you enter through door 2. Guests will sit in chairs on the pool deck located near the instructor's whiteboard.

• Greensburg YMCA: has two pools: a small/warm pool (to the left upon entering) and a large lap/big/main pool (directly in front when you walk in).

  • Guests in the small/warm pool will sit on chairs/benches on the pool deck near the assigned instructor's whiteboard. Please note that there is limited room, and it is warm in this space, so please be mindful when planning.

  • Guests in the main pool will sit on the bleachers. 1-2 guests are welcome on deck per child to assist/watch. One guest must sit on deck directly behind anyone under 5 in a double or group lesson.

Instructor Interaction:

• The instructor will approach you 1-2 minutes before or after the start time. If they are not there, please bring your child to them.

• Discuss the following information about your child with the instructor:

  • Name, age, medical information, swim level/skills, teaching preferences, fears, disabilities, allergies, and health concerns.

• Absolutely no asking questions to the lifeguard; they are there for safety concerns only. If you have a question, please ask Miss Vicky or a manager.​

Wildlife tailors each lesson and instructor to your preferences and values our flexibility. Please communicate your specific goals for your child to the instructor each day. If you’re new and unsure about what’s best, don’t worry—our instructors are trained to teach what works best for your child!

Parent/Me Classes:

• Support Person Requirements:

  • Ages 12+ can be support persons.

  • Each child in the Parent/Me class must have a support person in the water each lesson.

• Contract Signing for Support Person:

  • 18 & Over: Sign your own intake form.

  • Under 18: Legal guardian must sign the support person's form.

• Intake Form: 

  • Required for anyone for water entry. Complete before arriving. The top part is for parents to fill out for their child/children. There is a section for parents/guests to fill out for themselves if 18 or over.

• Guest Participation:

  • Guests of children not in Parent/Me classes may enter the water with instructor approval if they have completed the intake form, only to assist in the lessons—no swimming around. One guest per child is allowed in the water unless they have received prior approval.

Safety:

• If your child is 5 or under, please sit on the side of the pool during lessons to ensure safety.

• Feel free to discuss any concerns with the instructor during the lesson. They will return your child to you at the end.

• Always keep a close watch on your child, whether they are with an instructor or with you. Drowning can happen silently, and while we have numerous safety protocols in place, having an extra set of eyes is crucial for their safety AT ALL TIMES.

• If your child needs to use the restroom, the instructor will either bring them to you or raise their hand to signal you to come over and take them. Please make sure to observe the lessons at all times.

After Lessons:

• You are welcome to have a brief talk with the instructor after the lesson, keeping in mind our lessons are back-to-back with no buffer time in between.

• Wrap your child in a warm towel and head for a treat; we have a treasure chest full of candy and toys. If your child can't have something from the treasure chest, let Miss Vicky know so she can have something special for them.

• Changing rooms are available for post-class changes.

Questions/Concerns:

• For any final questions or concerns, contact Miss Vicky or a manager anytime at the pool. Your feedback helps us improve!

 

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