AQUATICS
The Cary Street Gym aquatic center has features for both lap swimming and leisure. Get your laps in with our 25-yard activity pool, relax with your friends in the leisure pool, or recover after your day in the spa. We also offer a variety of programming including swimming classes, safety certifications, stand-up paddleboard yoga, and log rolling activities.
LESSONS
VCU RecWell is a proud provider of Red Cross swimming & water safety programs. All of our swimming classes and lessons are taught by certified Water Safety Instructors, who are skilled and knowledgeable in swimming techniques and teaching styles. We offer multiple options to meet a variety of ages, skill levels, and scheduling needs.
Adult Swim Lessons
Designed for older teens and adults, our Adult Swim classes are available for all skill levels, ranging from the true beginner to the fitness swimmer. Whether you are completely new to the pool or training to improve your endurance, our instructors can help you develop the skills to make swimming part of your wellness routine.
CERTIFICATIONS
Aquatic Certifications
Our American Red Cross aquatic certification programs meet national and industry standards for lifeguards and instructors. Whether you’re looking for your first lifeguard job or hoping to teach others about water safety, we’ve got you covered. We also offer recertification training for current lifeguards and instructors.
First Aid, CPR, and AED Training
Learn how to save a life with our Red Cross first aid, CPR, and AED training courses. These classes will teach you how to provide life-saving care until emergency medical personnel arrive, as well as care for common injuries and illnesses. If you’re already trained in CPR and want to pay it forward, we offer instructor certifications as well!
AQUATIC PROGRAMS
Log rolling
Test your balance or challenge your friends with this fun, unique workout! Do you have what it takes to stay on top, or will you make a splash? No swimming experience is required, and we’ll help you get started. Log rolling is offered on select Fridays during the fall and spring semesters.
Kayak Roll Clinics
Join us at the Cary Street Gym Aquatic Center where you will have an opportunity to learn and practice how to roll a kayak when flipped upside down! Roll clinics are a great way to build confidence in your paddling in a controlled environment. Gear will be provided.
Group Exercise
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
We maintain an online pool schedule that is updated weekly with programs and reservations. This is the best place to check for detailed information about specific space closures. In the event of emergency closures due to mechanical issues or inclement weather, we try to update this document as soon as possible and will also send push notifications via the VCU RecWell app.
Pre-class instructions for certification classes are typically sent 1 week before the start of the class. If your class is less than 7 days away and you have not received the eLearning instructions, please check your spam/junk folder and reach out to aquatics@vcu.edu if you do not find them.
Private swimming lessons operate on a waitlist. You can join the waitlist by visiting our web portal. If you are registering your child, you will need to create a profile for them by clicking the “+ Add Family Member” button on your profile. We will reach out to you to complete an intake survey and then contact our instructor team to see who is available. Once we have an instructor available, we will contact you with instructions to complete your payment, and then you will be connected with your instructor to begin scheduling your lessons.
Employment Opportunities
If you’re passionate about water safety, we’d love to hear from you! Available positions can be found on Handshake. All positions require the applicable American Red Cross certification prior to beginning employment. For information about obtaining required certification(s), please click here or contact aquatics@vcu.edu.
