The summer aquatics program offered by the city of Ceres kicked off on Monday, June 16 at the Ceres High School pool with 241 enrolled in swim lessons.

A team of Red Cross certified staff members is offering classes at the Ceres High School pool to teach youngsters six months and up how to swim.

Session I swim lessons run from Monday, June 17 to Thursday, June 22, and Session II runs Monday, July 10 to Thursday, July 20, while Session III is held Monday, July 24 to Thursday, August 3. All lessons run 30 minutes.

Cost is $50 per session and includes eight classes. Preregistration is required.

Lessons are for those six months of age and up. Lessons are staged on different levels based on swimming ability.

Parent & Me classes create an optimal and ideal environment for swimmers under three years old. The emphasis of the class is having fun in the water while focusing on water comfort, games, and relaxing in a water environment. Parents participate and are encouraged to challenge their child’s skills and level of support in the water. This class also focuses on developing a strong skill set in a more goal-oriented environment to help students smoothly transition from being independent in the water to moving safely in the water.

The Preschool sessions are for children aged 3 to 5 years, and emphasize preparing first time or tentative swimmers for group lessons. The goal is for swimmers to gain independence and confidence in and around the water. Instructors will work with swimmers on being comfortable in the water, blowing bubbles, getting their face wet, moving independently in the water, how to safely enter and exit the water, submerging head fully underwater and floating for safety and more.

The Level 1 class is for those five years and up. Swimmers are taught how to progressively move away from the pool’s edge and independently stay on the surface by applying basic swimming fundamentals. Freestyle skills are taught along with flutter kick while floating on the stomach and back. Swimmers will benefit from the small group dynamics led by a caring, competent instructor. Swimmers remain in Level 1 until they can properly demonstrate the general fundamentals of freestyle and backstroke. It is anticipated that children will remain at this level for multiple sessions, as the skills to be mastered are quite broad and varied.

Level II session is for those five years and up and designed to refine the freestyle and backstroke skills learned in Level 1. Side kicking and side breathing are introduced and refined as stroke mastery continues. Elementary backstroke kick and drills will be introduced based on the ability and progressions of the swimmer as well as dives. Swimmers will work toward swimming half of a lap in freestyle and backstroke.

Levels 3-5 hone swimming skills and become better divers and learning breast- and back-strokes.

Level III is for those aged six and older, and designed to enhance and tighten previously learned skills as well as demonstrating proper technique. Swimmers will lay the foundation for more progressive swim strokes. These advanced lessons focus on refining three of the four strokes. Proper breaststroke technique, streamlining with dolphin kick, and new dives will also be introduced.

Level 4 is designed for swimmers at least seven years of age to graduate to Level 5 with the skills to freestyle, backstroke, elementary backstroke, and breaststroke two lengths of the pool, demonstrate three dives, and tread water for two minutes. Swimmers will also be introduced to butterfly strokes, circle swimming, and retrieving objects from 12 feet of water.

The Level 5 class, the most competitive level, is aimed at swimmers aged 7 and older who can freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke for two lengths of the pool, and swim butterfly for one length of the pool. Swimmers will learn more competitive skills such as underwater pull downs, relay starts, and block dive entry.

Adult swim lessons are also offered for those 13 and older and meet at the following times: June 17 to 27 from 3:10 to 3:40 p.m. and another session that runs 6:40 p.m. to 7:10 p.m. Sessions for July 8-18 and July 22 to Aug. 1 follow those same meeting times.

Pre-registration is required. Register online at www.ci.ceres.ca.us, in person at 2701 Fourth Street, or by calling Recreation Coordinator Crystel Aguilar at 538-5682 for more information.

Open swim sessions

The city’s Open Swim program allows the public to cool off in the pool on specific Fridays and Saturdays from June 16 through August 5 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. The cost is $1 per children and $2 per adult. Children 12 and younger must be supervised by an adult. Participants may only wear swimming suits in the pool. Flotation devices are not allowed, however Coast Guard approved life jackets are. Concessions (excluding sodas) will be available.

TID is sponsoring a free family swim event om Friday, June 30 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Family Aquatic Night

The city will host an Aquatic Family Night at the pool on Saturday, Aug. 5 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Cost is $10 per family (up to five persons and $3 per additional person). The event includes two hours of recreational swimming, a hot dog, bag of chips and bottle of water for each person. Registration is recommended for food planning purposes but not required. A limited number of drop-ins will be allowed. Call (209)538-5628 to register.

Youth culinary classes

The city is offering a host of youth fitness classes.

Junior cooking classes will be offered as follows:

• July 11 – Breakfast.

• July 18 – Appetizers.

• July 25 – Back to School lunches.

Culinary classes are for those aged 6 to 13 and run 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. or 10:30 a.m. to 12 noon. Cost is $15 per class. To reserve a spot call (209) 538-5628.

Youth fitness classes

Football camp and soccer Camp have already been held.

Basketball camp for those aged 5 to 13 will be held the week of July 10-13 at the Ceres High School gym. The 5- to 8-year-olds meet 5:30 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. while the 9- to 13-year-olds meet 7 p.m. to 8:15 p.m.

Cost is $50 per child.

Adult Summer classes

Adults 18 years of age and older are invited to participate in summer classes at the Ceres Community Center.

The Get-Fit Ceres class is offered Mondays and Thursdays from 5:30 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. The cost is $15 or $10 for those aged 55 and older.

Adult zumba sessions are held Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. Cost is the same as Get-Fit.

The Aqua Combo class for adults will run from July 10 to August 3 on Mondays and Thursdays from 12:15 p.m. to 1 a.m. Cost is $60.

The Aqua Fit class will run its Session 2 from July 10 to August 3 on Mondays and Wednesdays from 12:15 p.m. to 1 p.m. Cost is $40.

Arts & crafts for kids

The Ceres Recreation Division also offers various arts and crafts classes as well.

A Pottery Painting & More class will be offered for kids aged 5 to 17, on Saturday, July 22 from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. to create a 12-ounce mug project. Registration costs $10 and students will have to bring $12 cash to pay the instructor for material.

 Specialty craft classes for those aged 6 to 13 will also be offered.

On Saturday, July 8 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., kids can make a candle. And on Saturday, July 29 students will be making a back-to-school craft.

Cost for each class is $20 per student.

Senior lunches

While not limited to the summer, senior citizens (60 and older and spouse of any age) are invited to enjoy lunch and company with others Mondays through Thursdays at the Ceres Community Center. Participants can show up early at 11 a.m. to socialize but meals are served from 12 noon to 1 p.m.

Seniors are encouraged to reserve a spot at least a day before by calling (209) 558-8698.

Seniors aged 55 and older are also encouraged to enjoy bingo games on the third Friday of each month from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Ceres Community Center.

Seniors are also invited to play Loteria from 11 a.m. to 12 noon on the third Friday of each month.

The Senior Lounge is offered Mondays through Thursdays at the Community Center from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and on Fridays 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The city’s complete offering of recreational programs may be viewed online at www.ci.ceres.ca.us and clicking on the Recreation button and then going to the Activity Guide.

Pre-registration is required for classes. Register online at www.ci.ceres.ca.us, in person at 2701 Fourth Street, or by calling Recreation Coordinator Crystel Aguilar at 538-5682 for more information.