American Red Cross swim lessons are offered throughout the summer at both Salt City Splash Aquatic Center and Buhler Pool. Sessions include eight lessons over a two-week period and focus on water safety, feeling comfortable and confident in the water, swim skills, and stroke development. Lessons are taught by qualified instructors and include small teacher-student ratios for maximum instruction.

Salt City Splash offers three sessions of morning and evening lessons that include: Parent-Child, Preschool, and Levels 1-6. Buhler Pool offers two sessions, with one morning session and one evening session. Lessons include: Parent-Child and Levels 1-6.

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Hutch Rec provides opportunities for American Red Cross Lifeguard and Water Safety Instructor training for individuals as young as 15 years old. Students who successfully pass these courses have the opportunity to be hired at our facilities and receive reimbursement for the cost of the class.

For younger tweens and teens (11-14 year olds), the Junior Lifeguarding class is the perfect opportunity to learn skills necessary to become a lifeguard and also shadow lifeguards during their pool shifts. Junior Lifeguarding is offered each summer at Salt City Splash.

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For more information on aquatic certification opportunities in our community, contact Ted Nelson, superintendent of aquatics, at tnelson@hutchrec.com.

Our water fitness classes include a great workout using the benefits of buoyancy and resistance. Classes vary each summer and have included water aerobics, land and water boot camp, Stand Up Paddleboarding (SUP), SUP yoga, aqua running, and more.

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Our recreation swim team is open to youth ages 5-15 years old in June and July. Participants will further develop their strokes and train for swim team competitions, which are held on the weekends with our community partners.

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Families with children 7 and younger, as well as adults 50 and older, will enjoy this exclusive time each Saturday at 11 a.m. in June and July.

Participants simply pay regular admission fees or use their season pool passes and can enjoy 90 minutes of quieter swim time before the pool opens to the public at 12:30 p.m.

Throughout the summer, Salt City Splash will stay open late on Fridays and Saturdays for special Twilight Swim times. Follow Salt City Splash on social media for date announcements.

Salt City Splash Aquatic Center is Hutchinson’s exclusive water park and is located in Carey Park. The Splash opens the Saturday before Memorial Day and is open daily (weather-permitting) through mid-August from 12:30-6:30 p.m.

Visit the Splash facility page below for detailed facility features and amenities.

Salt City Splash Facility Page 

The City of Hutchinson operates three splash pads, which open in mid-May and close in late September. Splash pads are open daily from 9 a.m. until 10 p.m. and have nearby restroom facilities.

Splash pads are not swimming pools and are ideal for families with young children 7 and younger. They are free to the public.

Splash pad locations include:

• Avenue A Splash Pad: 13 W. Avenue A
• Fairgrounds Splash Pad: 2101 N. Severance
• Rice Park Splash Pad: 2112 N. Hendricks