Campus Life

Get in the swim this summer at UWF’s Aquatic Center

There are very few forms of exercise that provide cardiovascular benefits, are low-impact and build muscle and strength at the same time. Swimming, however, fulfills all these fitness needs, while also proving to be a much cooler summer alternative to many outdoor forms of exercise. Unfortunately, not everyone has a swimming pool at their disposal, but the University of West Florida can remedy that with one of the finest facilities in the area.

“The UWF Aquatic Center is the place on campus to have some good, clean fun and get away from the summer heat,” said Nancy Quina, assistant director of Recreation and Sports Services. “Staffed by UWF students, the center provides the university and Northwest Florida community an Olympic size swimming pool where participants can safely learn to swim, recreate or fitness swim.”

The Aquatic Center offers a number of programs for all age groups. Children and adults alike can partake in Saturday and weekday evening swim lessons. Summer morning classes are offered strictly for the kids. There are also young-beginner and parent/child classes available. Additionally, there are cardiopulmonary resuscitation and springboard diving courses, a stroke-clinic for middle-schoolers and “Shallow-Water Water Aerobics” to be offered in the fall. Reservations are required for classes. UWF is an American Red Cross authorized provider and class sizes are limited. For those seeking class credit, the Department of Health, Leisure and Exercise Science offers Lifeguard Training, Beginning Swimming and Water Aerobics at the center.

UWF’s pool is also available for individual swimming and less structured recreation, with an adult lap swim Monday through Thursday from 6 to 8:45 p.m., and recreational swim times from 1 to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 1 to 6:45 p.m. Friday through Sunday. There is also a Swim Club, which for a fee of $5 per month offers extra lap-swimming times on weekday mornings for members of the UWF community.

Quina said the Aquatic Center also tries to “offer students additional opportunities to enhance their college experience. Last year, the center started offering “Dive-In Movies” with the help of Cinemagic and UWF Outdoor Adventures, as well as a challenge biathlon the year before, both with an emphasis on fun and getting students to try something new. Look for more fun-filled events in the future.

Membership to the center is included in tuition for UWF students, with a discounted rate for immediate family. UWF faculty and staff can also enjoy membership at $40 per individual pass or $60 per family membership. The general public may purchase memberships as well at $60 per individual or $80 per family membership or may pay $3 per individual for each visit. Senior citizens may enjoy membership at faculty and staff rates.

The swimming pool is covered and heated year-round, complete with a one-meter and three-meter diving board and a hot-tub conveniently situated nearby.

For more information or to reserve class space, call Nancy Quina at (850) 474-2497 or (850) 474-2981 or visit uwf.edu/recreation/aquatics.

By Stacey Lewis, University Marketing Communications