Press Release  DCR to Open Registration for Free Learn to Swim Lessons for Kids Across the State

Boston — As part of its ongoing work to ensure and promote water safety at state’s public beaches, pools and wading pools, the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) announced today that it will open registration for the first session of the agency’s Learn to Swim Program. Registration opens at 7 a.m. on Monday, June 17. The program offers free swimming lessons to children at DCR pools in communities across Massachusetts.  DCR also announced that it will expand lifeguard services, ahead of Father’s Day, to seven days a week and to 16 additional inland and coastal beaches.

“We are committed to creating a fun and safe environment for everyone visiting a DCR pool or beach seeking relief from the summer heat,” said DCR Commissioner Brian Arrigo. “Ensuring that everyone knows how to swim and that we have a full contingent of qualified lifeguards to work throughout the season are critical to promoting water safety and providing access to these important recreational spaces.” 

This year, the Learn to Swim program will provide 30-minute group swim lessons to children ages four through 12. The program will take place at 14 agency pools across the state during three two-week sessions in July and August. The lessons will run during the week, in the mornings before the agency-managed pools open to the public. DCR’s annual Learn to Swim classes are designed for beginner-level swimmers with a focus on water safety and learning basic swimming skills. Registration will close once classes at each facility are full. Registration is required and is on a first-come, first-serve basis. For a complete list of pools offering lessons, please visit the Learn to Swim website. The schedule for this year’s Learn to Swim program is:   

• Session 1: July 1, 2024 – July 12, 2024 (no lessons on July 4) (registration begins on Monday, June 17, 2024, at 7 a.m.)  
• Session 2: July 15, 2024 – July 26, 2024 (registration begins on Monday, July 1, 2024, at 7 a.m.)
• Session 3: July 29, 2024 – August 9, 2024 (registration begins on Monday, July 15, 2024, at 7 a.m.)

Additionally, the Lowell Police Department, in partnership with DCR, the Sean A. Collier Memorial Foundation, and the Lowell Recreation Department will be offering free swimming lessons at DCR’s Raymond Lord Memorial Swimming Pool to children from Lowell who are between the ages of 6-16. For more information on dates for that program, please contact lpdyouthservices@lowellma.gov.  

Beginning on Saturday, June 15, 2024, DCR will have lifeguards on duty seven days a week at 32 designated swimming areas across the state from approximately 10:15 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. The agency will also open one of two wading pools on Saturday, June 15, and 24 agency-managed pools and four spray decks on Saturday, June 22, 2024. On Memorial Day Weekend, DCR opened all 81 beaches. The agency also previously opened several spray decks early due to the heatwave in May, and they will remain open throughout the season. The remaining agency spray decks will open on June 22.

DCR is continuing to hire lifeguards at certain properties including Revere Beach, the Vietnam Veterans Pool in Chelsea, the Geisler Memorial Pool and the Lt. Colonel Edward J. Higgins Pool in Lawrence for the summer season. This year, the Healey-Driscoll Administration maintained the competitive hourly rate for pool and waterfront staff at between $22 and $27, depending on position and associated certifications. The agency also offered up to $1,250 in early sign-on and retention bonuses to lifeguards who continue to work for the department through the end of the season. To learn more about lifeguarding opportunities, please visit the agency’s lifeguarding webpage.

In addition to providing lifeguard services, DCR works to ensure water safety at state beaches and waterfronts by conducting regular water quality testing at all 81 designated swimming areas and has ropes and buoys in place at inland water areas to signify safe swimming areas. Visitors will also see safety signage at unguarded locations that can be translated into nine languages – including Spanish, Portuguese, Vietnamese, Haitian Creole, Traditional Chinese, Arabic, Cape Verdean Creole, Mandarin, and Russian – using a QR code, and life rings for the public to use at guarded and unguarded swimming areas in the event of an emergency.   

All DCR swimming pools have outdoor chair lifts to provide access to the water. Several pools also have ramps into the water or offer zero-depth entry and select pools and spray decks also have beach wheelchairs for use.  

DCR is also continuing to recruit for seasonal positions across the state. DCR manages state parks, forests, coastal and inland beaches, pools and campground facilities from the Berkshires to Cape Cod. Available positions include park rangers, park interpreters, supervisors, pool managers, drivers, coastal shore bird monitors, forestry assistants, buildings and ground maintenance workers, and office assistants. To learn more about DCR seasonal employment, please visit the agency’s  seasonal jobs webpage.   

###