Dear Ambler Area YMCA Outdoor Pool Center Member, Welcome to the Outdoor Pool Center at the Ambler Area YMCA! We are looking forward to another great summer of fun in the sun. We have added several new pool toys, umbrellas, chairs and tables for your fun in the sun pleasure! The ODPC will open on Saturday, May 27 th at 11 a.m. Please read this packet thoroughly, as it contains information about Outdoor Pool Center policies and procedures, including the Guest Policy, Rules and Regulations and Swim Test procedures. To ensure proper entry into the pool, you will need to bring your YMCA membership card. Your membership to our indoor facility must remain active through the end of August. Please enter the ODPC through the breezeway at the left end of the building. Access will not be permitted from inside the facility. Restrooms and changing facilities (Men s, Women s and Family) will be available at the ODPC. All swimmers must wear appropriate swim attire while in the pool. No street clothing will be permitted in the pool or splash pad. Guest Policy The YMCA provides guest passes as a benefit to members. ODPC members are entitled to unlimited guest passes per summer and may bring up to four guests per day. Please register your guests at the Welcome Center in the main facility prior to entering the ODPC. Each guest must present valid photo identification upon entry. A supervising adult must accompany all guests under the age of 18 and remain on the premises for the duration of their visit. Guest fees are $10 per person. Children under the age of two are free. Please refer to the Guest Policy in this packet for further information. Outdoor Pool Center Hours Weekends May 27 through September 3 11 am-8 pm Weekdays May 30 through June 9 3 pm-8 pm Weekdays June 12 through September 1 11 am-8 pm Holidays May 29, July 4 & September 4 11 am-8 pm ***Special Events may occasionally share our Outdoor Pool. ***Please note that guests are not permitted on holidays. Please refer to the Guest Policy in this packet for further information. We know that you will enjoy your summer at the Ambler Area YMCA Outdoor Pool Center! If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Aquatics Department. Erica Pfaff Karen Bruno Senior Program Director Senior Program Director 215-628-9950 ext. 1576 215-628-9950 ext. 1541 epfaff@philaymca.org kbruno@philaymca.org
Guest Policy Ambler Y Outdoor Pool Center (ODPC) Members are entitled to unlimited guest passes per membership unit during the summer. The following guidelines will be followed: Guests are only permitted while accompanying an ODPC Member. The cost for each guest is $10 per person. Children under the age of two (2) are free. ODPC Members must be 18 years or older to bring a guest. Children 7 years of age and younger must be accompanied by an adult 18 years of age or older while at pool. Total ratio of children 7 years of age and younger to the adult may not exceed 4:1. ODPC Members may bring a maximum of four (4) individuals per membership unit per day. Guests are not permitted on Memorial Day, 4 th of July or Labor Day. Babysitters/Nannies are welcome! Sitters/Nannies can either purchase an individual membership for the summer ($175) or pay the $10 guest fee at each visit. Guests are not permitted to use our Kid Zone, Family Active Center or Y Zone. All guests are required to wear a guest wristband. All guests 16 years of age and under are required to take a swim test. Guests can be turned away at any time due to capacity limitations. Guest Check-in Procedure: Guests must be checked in at the Welcome Center in the main facility. ODPC Member and Guest must both be present at time of check-in. Guests over the age of 18 must provide a state issued ID (Driver s License, ID card). Guest fees of $10 per person will be paid at the Welcome Center in the main facility. Receipt showing fees paid will be taken to the ODPC check-in area for admittance to ODPC. Any guest who leaves the ODPC and wishes to return the same day must have their hand stamped upon exit.
Supervision, Wrist Band, Water Slide and Other Policies The Ambler Area YMCA is committed to providing a safe aquatic environment for all participants. This requires the cooperation of the staff and members to assure that all children are properly supervised during each visit to the pool. The Lifeguards are responsible for scanning the pool and working to prevent aquatic incidents from occurring. Parents are responsible for supervising their children and following the rules established by the YMCA to maintain a safe environment. The following supervision is required by parents: Children 6 years of age and younger must have an adult (18 years of age or older) in the water at all times, no matter the child s swimming ability. No exceptions. The supervising adult must be a YMCA member and in appropriate swimming attire. Children 7-11 years of age require an adult (18 years of age or older) on deck. If the child cannot pass the shallow water swim test, no matter his/her age, the supervising adult must be in the water with the child. Ratio of a child 7 years of age and younger to an adult may not exceed 4 to 1. ODPC Members 12 years of age and older are permitted to use the ODPC without adult supervision. Members and guests of any age may be swim tested at the discretion of the lifeguard. Members under the age of 18 are NOT permitted to sign in guests. These rules are for the safety of our swimmers and must be followed at all times. Swim Test Policies All children, members or guests, age 16 and under are required to be swim tested. Participants of any age may be swim tested at the discretion of the lifeguards. Any child under the age of 12, regardless of swimming ability, must be accompanied by an adult. Shallow Water Swim Test (Orange Band) Swimmer must be able to maneuver from a vertical position to a horizontal position on either their front or back, swim 10 yards on front or back, and then return to a vertical position. Deep Water Swim Test (Green Band) Swimmer must be able to swim a half of a length on their front into deep water, tread for 1 minute, swim the remainder of the length, exit the pool without assistance, and jump into the deep end. Swimmer may not rest or stop during the test. If the participant cannot complete all aspects of the test, the test is failed. Children who cannot pass the shallow water test will be required to wear a Personal Floatation Device (PFD), remain in the shallow end of the pool and be supervised in water by an adult within arm s reach. Non-swimmers ages 13-16 years must wear a red wrist band and remain in the shallow end of the pool, no deeper than armpit depth. Children who pass the shallow water test will be required to wear an orange wrist band and stay in the shallow end of the pool. All children under the age of 7 must be accompanied in water by an adult within arm s reach. Children who pass the deep water test will be required to wear a green wrist band and are permitted to swim anywhere in the pool. Children may also use the waterslides, so long as they meet the minimum height requirements.
You can help prevent child drownings by having your child wear the right Personal Floatation Device (PFD) and teaching them to use it properly. A PFD is not a substitute for adult supervision; NEVER leave a child unattended in or near the water. Water Slides In order to ride the Red speed slide, children must be 51 inches tall and have earned a Green wristband. In order to ride the Blue corkscrew slide, children must be 44 inches tall and have earned a Green wristband. NO EXCEPTIONS to the height or wristband rules will be made. Riders should lay flat on their back with legs crossed, and obey all lifeguard instructions. Violators of the slide rules may lose slide privileges. Schedule Typically spray features in the Splash Pad will run continuously throughout all operating hours. The water slides will run from 2-8 p.m. Weekdays from May 31 st June 10 th in which the ODPC is open from 3-8 p.m., the water slides will not run. Schedules are subject to change. Please refer to posted schedules in the facility and online at www.philaymca.org/branches/ambler. Other Information Lockers will be available in the changing rooms; please bring your own combination or keyoperated padlock for security. Small token-operated lockers for valuable items will be available at no cost. The shallow end of the pool ranges from zero-depth to 3 feet deep. The deep end of the pool is 4 ½ feet deep. No rafts, inner tubes or other inflatable pool toys are permitted at the ODPC. Only U.S. Coast Guard approved lifejackets and other floatation devices will be permitted. Tables, chairs and shade umbrellas will be available. Chairs are first-come, first-served. Please be courteous to other members and do not reserve chairs for individuals who have not yet arrived at the ODPC. Members are also encouraged to bring personal coolers, beach chairs and umbrellas.
Please: Philadelphia Freedom Valley YMCA Swim only when a lifeguard is on duty and follow all lifeguards directions. Wear clean, appropriate swimwear. Take a soap shower including hair before entering the pool. Walk slowly at all times. Be considerate of others. Use appropriate language. Use only U.S. Coast Guard approved lifejackets and swimming aids. Clear the pool immediately when an emergency signal is given. Follow the outlined policy of supervision of children and swim testing (see further information in this packet). Do not bring glass/breakable containers into the pool area and locker rooms. Do not bring intoxicating beverages. Persons under the influence of such are not permitted on the property. Do not use the pool if you have any communicable disease, rashes, severe sun burn or open sores, or go swimming when you have diarrhea. Do not chew gum or smoke in pool area. Do not hang on lane markers or life lines, unless an emergency exists. Do not rough house, dunk, push or throw others. Do not use lifejackets or floatation devices unless a parent is in the water within arms reach. Do not wear disposable diapers in the pool; children must have disposable swimming diapers ( Little Swimmers swimming diapers are recommended). Do not dive in the pool. No dives, back dives or flips off the side of the pool are permitted. Emergency Signals: 2 short whistle blasts: look at lifeguard(s). 1 long whistle blast: clear the pool immediately.
Pool Closing Procedures Thunder/Lightning Policies & Procedures All indoor as well as outdoor pools must be cleared and closed during a thunderstorm. All patrons are to leave the pool area/deck immediately. All swimming activities are to remain suspended until thirty minutes after thunder or lightning were last observed. Once thirty minutes has passed and no additional thunder or lightning has been observed, all swimming activities shall resume. If thunderstorms are in the area at 7 p.m. the pool will be closed for the remainder of the evening. Fecal and Vomit Policy It is the policy of Philadelphia Freedom Valley YMCAs to clear the pool when any incident of fecal or vomit contamination occurs. To avoid such occurrences please schedule regular bathroom breaks for your children throughout the day. Please do not swim when you or your children have diarrhea. Children in diapers must wear a disposable swimming diaper or rubber pants. Changing of children s diapers is NOT permitted on the pool deck. Changing stations are provided in changing rooms. CHANGE DIAPERS OFTEN! If such contamination occurs: All swimmers will be required to exit the pool and the pool will be closed. Water chemistry will be tested by lifeguards and fecal matter/vomit will be removed. Members will be allowed to re-enter the pools 30 minutes after its removal when the chlorine is at proper levels. If the feces is liquid and particulate, or lifeguards are informed that the person who had the fecal accident has had diarrhea in the last two weeks, then the lifeguards will initiate the following procedure: All swimmers will be required to exit the pool and pool deck and the pool will be closed. Pool must be closed for a minimum of 12 hours. Blood Policy Coming in contact with blood in pool water is unlikely to spread illness. Germs found in blood, such as the Hepatitis B virus or HIV, do not survive long when diluted into properly chlorinated water. Closing the pool for small amounts of blood is not necessary. If it is a large amount the pools will be evacuated and procedures for fecal matter will be followed.
Code of Conduct The Ambler Area YMCA is committed to promoting and providing a safe and healthy environment for all pool staff, members and their guests. In order to assure safety and comfort for all, staff, pool members and their guests are expected to act appropriately at all times. While at the outdoor pool, individuals are expected to act maturely, behave responsibly and respect the rights and dignity of others through Healthy Living, Social Responsibility and Youth Development. The Ambler Area YMCA Code of Conduct is not limited to the rules of the pool. The Code of Conduct includes any other inappropriate behavior including but not limited to: Hazing, bullying, harassment or intimidation by words, gestures, body language or any other type of menacing behavior Verbally abusive behavior, including angry or vulgar language, swearing, shouting or name-calling Physical contact with another person in an angry, aggressive or threatening way Theft or behavior that results in the destruction or loss of property Inappropriate use of cameras, including cell phone cameras, while on pool property (i.e. camera use is prohibited in Changing Rooms) Smoking the Ambler Area YMCA is a smoke-free facility The use of squirt guns, overactive ball throwing and any other rough housing Members and guests are encouraged to take responsibility for their personal comfort and safety by asking any person whose behavior threatens their comfort to refrain from such behavior. However, depending on the nature of the offending behavior, a member can report any problems to the manager on duty. Pool members should not hesitate to notify a staff member should a problem arise. The Aquatics Director shall investigate all reported incidents of inappropriate behavior. Depending on the severity of the violation, the Aquatics Director shall enforce a sanction ranging from time spent out of the pool, to sending the offending individual home for the day, to the revocation of the individual s membership. The YMCA s mission is to put Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind and body for all.