JMU 4 Kids Pools:

  • The Italian American Community Center Pool (Eagle Point Day Campers and Eagle Point Sports Campers)

The pool our campers swim at holds a permit through the Albany County Department of Health. The pool is inspected prior to the start of camp, and again during the camp season. If your child will be attending Day Camp at Eagle Point, or Sports Camp at Eagle Point they will need a bathing suit, towel, and extra clothing to change into after swim

water activities for All campers:

While we wish we were able to offer daily swimming to all our campers, that is not always a possibility. We will; however, have inflatable water slides and various other water games and activities available for all campers at all of our four locations.

Camps That Swim Daily:

  • Eagle Point Day Camp – Italian American Community Center Pool 
  • Eagle Point Sports Camp – Italian American Community Center Pool

Camps That Do Not Swim:

Campers attending these camps will have the opportunity for water play and water based activities so please send a bathing suit, towel, and change of clothes!

  • Day Camp @ Catholic Central
  • Sports & Fitness
  • Performing Arts
  • Laser Quest
  • Ninja Xtreme

General Swimming Information:

  •  We do not offer swim lessons – swim time is strictly recreational. 
  • Prior to being allowed in the deep end each camper needs to pass a swim test. Taking the swim test is voluntary. Our youngest campers do not take the swim test and are kept in the shallow end. Specific swim test information is detailed below.  
  • The Italian American Community Center pool has an Aquatics Director, a Progressive Swimming Instructor who is certified to assess swimming ability, and lifeguards.
  • JMU 4 Kids has puddle jumpers available for campers who need a floatation device. 
  • You can send your child with a personal floatation device – please clearly label it with their name! Flotation devices will be put on by counselors prior to campers entering the pool deck.
  • During swim time our counselors are positioned around the pool (or in the water) and are an extra set of eyes for our lifeguards. They are also responsible for enforcing the pool rules (no running on pool deck, no horseplay, no excessive splashing, no diving, etc.)
  • We use the, “buddy check” system during each swim time. Each camper is paired up with another camper in their group of the same swimming ability. Halfway through the swimming period (approx. 10-15 minutes after the start of swim) our Lifeguards will call for a buddy check. Every camper needs to exit the pool with their swimming buddy and wait on the pool deck while attendance is taken. 
  • Counselors keep track of each camper who has gotten out of the pool, or has left the pool area.

Reasons Daily Swim Could be Cancelled:

  • Thunder and/or lightening – from the moment our staff or lifeguards hear thunder or see lightening all campers need to exit the pool. There needs to be a period of 30 minutes without thunder or lightening before campers are allowed back in the pool. If thunder or lightening occur during the 30 minute window the time starts over at 0. This rule is to ensure the safety of everyone, and could cause some or all of our groups to miss their swimming period.
  • Heavy rain w/o thunder or lightening – Campers are able to swim when it is lightly raining; however, as soon as the rain makes it so our lifeguards cannot clearly see the bottom of the pool all campers need to exit. Letting campers back into the pool is at the discretion of our pool staff.
  • Pool malfunction – The pump and filtration system of each pool works to ensure the water is safe to swim in. Anytime there is a malfunction of one or both of those systems the pool chemistry can change and make the water no longer safe to swim in. This rarely happens. 
  • Bodily Fluids in pool – When bodily fluids are present in the pool all swimmers must exit. The area needs to be thoroughly cleaned, and the pool water needs to be, “shocked” with additional chlorine. Campers are not allowed back into the pool until the chlorine level is again safe for swimming. 

Eagle Point Elementary Swimming Information: 

Campers attending Day Camp or Sports Camp at Eagle Point Elementary swim at the Italian American Community Center’s (IACC) outdoor pool. Campers are transported to the pool on a school bus chartered through Durham. Counselors accompany all campers on the bus and during swim time. Day Campers and Sports Campers swim during the first half of the day. Dropping your camper off wearing their swimsuit under their clothes makes the transition to the pool much smoother. It also helps the bus stay on schedule so all campers can have the maximum amount of time in the pool as possible. Please remember to pack undergarments for your child to change into after swimming

Eagle Point Elementary Swim Test 

  • Enter water feet first
  • Swim width of pool down and back using freestyle – camper must use good form; not using the rope or touching the bottom
  • Tread water for 30 seconds
  • Float on back for 30 seconds
  • Rotate 360 degrees (taking approx. 15 seconds) and orient to the exit. 
  • Exit pool

Taking the swim test is not mandatory. Campers who pass the swim test are given a neon green wrist band and are considered, “swimmers.” They are able to swim in water deeper than chest deep.

Our Progressive Swimming Instructor (PSI) at the Italian American Community Center assesses swimming ability each Monday prior to each group’s swim time. Once a camper passes the swim test they do not need to be tested again. Campers who do not pass the swim test will be able to retest at the discretion of our PSI.