Aquatics for all ages: EmBe offers new reasons for a visit to the pool

This paid piece is sponsored by EmBe.

Whether you’ve got a little one learning to swim, a future lifeguard in the family or want to work water into your workout routine, there’s an aquatics option at EmBe waiting for you.

The six-lane, 25-yard pool inside EmBe’s downtown Sioux Falls location at 300 W. 11th St. serves a range of ages and abilities.

“We offer programming for everyone,” wellness director Ryan Fischer said. “We just did a huge remodel of our locker rooms, so everything is brand new, and we’re excited to be working on new offerings coming soon.”

Learn to swim

Swim lessons are one of the first reasons families discover the EmBe pool – and with good reason.

Using the American Red Cross Swimming and Water Safety program, EmBe swim lessons combine the best in swim instruction, emphasizing drowning prevention and water safety with professional Red Cross and CPR-certified aquatics instructors.

“We stay very busy with swim lessons, beginning as young as 6 months, and including public, private and semiprivate options,” Fischer said.

Lessons fill up fast, so click here to get connected with upcoming opportunities. 

Junior Lifeguard Camp/lifeguard training

As kids advance and age out of swim lessons, Junior Lifeguard Camp can be a great fit. It’s designed for age 11 through 14 in a camp-style format that blends fun with learning.

“They get to see what a lifeguard does, do some rescue practice, hang out with the lifeguards, and the goal is by the time they’re 15 they’re considering becoming a lifeguard,” Fischer said.

The camp runs June 13-16. Click here to learn more. 

And for those considering becoming a lifeguard, EmBe is the place to go for training.

“We have training all year, including through the first couple weeks in June, so you can still sign up if you’re deciding what you’d like to do for summer,” Fischer said.

“There’s an online portion you can do remotely and an in-person training from 5 to 10 p.m. on Friday and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, and then they test.”

Click here to learn more and begin training. 

Recreational swim league

For kids who are advancing in swimming and want to stay connected to the sport, EmBe offers a recreational swim league.

“It’s a good way to stay in the sport without being on a competitive team or exploring it to determine if you would like to continue on to a competitive team,” Fischer said. “We write workouts, do stroke work to stay in shape and have a team-building atmosphere.”

The league is open to age 6 through 18. Click here to learn more. 

Open swim, water workouts

No matter what else is going on in the pool, EmBe leaves space open for lap swimming.

“I’ve never heard people complain about not being able to get a lap lane,” Fischer said. “And we have quite a few people who live and work downtown and come in to do a water fitness class or lap swim.”

Classes include shallow and deep water aerobics and aqua aerobics. EmBe also offers kickboards, fins and barbells to add to your workout.

Memberships include access to classes available for individuals, couples, families, students and seniors. Click here to learn more. 

There also are options for day passes and monthly memberships.

Rent the pool

Looking for a unique spot for your next birthday party, church or youth group outing or even a neighborhood fun day? You can rent space at the EmBe pool for your event.

“With parties, we can provide a room for your activities, you can rent the pool for up to three hours with a lifeguard on duty, and we charge according to the size of the group,” Fischer said.

“We know people constantly are discovering all we offer in aquatics. It’s crazy how many people come in for child care and don’t even realize we have a pool, so we definitely encourage those of all ages to come check it out.”

What’s next

EmBe also is working on adding even more options in aquatics. Watch later this year for new information on corporate memberships that will allow employers to offer swimming time as a benefit to employees.

“We’re looking at working with businesses to customize this offering, whether they want to include individual memberships, offer family passes or find a different way to make this a benefit for employees,” Fischer said.

“We’re also working on more special events, including some around holidays and school breaks, to give kids and families new reasons to visit the pool.”

To view the full pool calendar, click here.