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BAC Welcomes New Aquatics Director!

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Lindsay WilliamsMy name is Lindsay Williams and I am the new Aquatics Director at BAC! I am a native of Whatcom County, growing up in Ferndale. I graduated from Western Washington University with a degree in Communication. Some of you may be familiar with my mom, Jill Robertson, who has taught water aerobics at the club most of my life. I hear she is a staple around here, especially with her costumes.

I started working as a lifeguard in the summers at the Bellingham Golf and Country Club in 1997 when I was in high school. Eventually, I began teaching swim lessons and have grown to love helping children get over their fear of water and become competent swimmers. While working other jobs when I was newly married, I found ways to continue to teach lessons. In 2009, I became the Assistant Aquatics Director at the Country Club. Since then, every summer I trained their staff, organized over 2,000 swimmers into classes, and help run a hugely successful and popular swim lesson program.

My husband, Brett, and I are getting ready to celebrate 16 years of marriage this fall. We have 3 children: Jack is 10, Maelle is almost 7, and Carys is 3 1/2. We often wonder what we did for entertainment before we had kids as they are constantly making us laugh. We love playing games together, watching movies, going for walks (especially to Starbucks!), and just spending time together. We also enjoy rooting on our beloved Seahawks and were just able to attend our first UW football game as a family.

All three of our kids have been in and around the water their entire lives. Because of this, they are all-natural swimmers and very confident in the water. Our youngest actually passed the swim test this summer—swimming across the shallow end and back without touching the bottom. Our oldest has one of the most beautiful breaststrokes I have ever seen. And my sweet middle girl has made friends with every swimmer, instructor, and lifeguard at the pool. I really love being a mom and taking pride and joy in my children. Although, they do occasionally drive me crazy.

My biggest encouragement for families with young children is to expose them to water at an early age. Not only playing and splashing in the bath but also finding ways to get in a pool with them. It’s so much easier when they’re young and haven’t quite formed their own opinions. But, if you or your child haven’t spent much time around water, it is never too late to learn. I’ve had the opportunity to teach all ages of beginners, even adults, and it’s admirable and encouraging. I enjoy building trust with my students and pushing them to their full potential while being gentle and firm. There’s a lot of fun to be had in and around the water! I’m looking forward to building on my experiences here at BAC!

Meet Carly!

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Carly Miller - Bellingham Athletic ClubCarly Miller originates from Vancouver, WA and at the early age of 18 she moved to Bellingham. In August of 2013, she was hired as a part of the Kids Club staff. Over the course of 3 years, she worked in different departments and became an integral part of the BAC. After a 3-year hiatus from the club, she is now back serving as our Member Services Director and Front Desk Supervisor.

Outside of the club, Carly stays active by running, hiking and boxing. Carly likes to explore what the Pacific Northwest has to offer, new restaurants and is always up to learn something new. A good book or TV show and spending time with friends round out her personal time.

Downtown Maintenance Closure

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Please note, the Downtown Club will be closed September 27-29 for our annual maintenance and cleaning shutdown. We will reopen on Monday, September 30 at 5:00 AM. The Cordata Club will be open for your use:
Friday 5:30 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Saturday & Sunday 7:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.

BAC Downtown hours will transition off of the Summer schedule following the Downtown Shutdown.

Birthday at Mt. Everest Base Camp

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Each of us chooses to celebrate our birthdays in different ways. Of course, certain birthdays are considered milestone birthdays, sweet 16, nifty 50, and so on. With the coming of each of these milestones, some of us may choose to do something extraordinary. Something that may be on our bucket list.

For two BAC members, they decided to celebrate their 70th birthdays with an extraordinary adventure, going halfway around the world to Nepal and trekking to Mt. Everest base camp (17,600 ft)! Lynn and Jean Dayton made the commitment of going to Mt. Everest this past spring for the adventure of a lifetime!

The preparation for this adventure began last year. Lynn and Jean have been members at BAC on and off for over 30 years. The past five years they both have been participating in group classes as well as doing a little strength training but they both knew that they were going to have to do a bit more in preparation for their Mt. Everest adventure. To assist them in their training they enlisted the help of BAC Director of Fitness, Mike Locke, and with his guidance underwent a regiment of strength training and interval training on the treadmill. They also utilized their neighborhood trails and did day hikes with packs on Chuckanut. To assist them with testing their cold weather gear for Everest, Lynn and Jean visited Bellingham Cold Storage and their refrigeration units which are kept at a chilly -24 degrees F! Brrrh!!

Lynn and Jean’s Everest base camp adventure began on April 19th with their flight into Kathmandu, Nepal (4000 ft). After two days of rest, they took a helicopter flight from Kathmandu to the village of Lukla (9300 ft). From there they hiked to the village of Monjo for their first night’s stay.

One of the keys to such a trek is acclimatizing to the altitude—climb high, sleep low! For 3 days Lynn and Jean did acclimatizing hikes in Namche Bazaar (11,200 ft). Namche Bazaar gave them their first real view of Everest. This type of trip is quite a production, 6 yaks carried the team’s gear under the direction of 6 Sherpas and the owners of the trekking company. Lynn and Jean came away with an appreciation for the Sherpa people, who they describe as a friendly, helpful and fun-loving people although the children are a bit camera shy.

With the 6 Sherpas, 2 owners, 6 yaks, and 13 clients, the group made their way across suspension bridges spanning the many tributaries to the Dudh Kosi. It was during this trek to Tengbouche (12,800 ft) that they saw some of the most majestic views of the Khumbu regions peaks (Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, and Ama Dablam). On May 2nd, Lynn and Jean successfully reached their destination, Everest Base Camp (17,600 ft) where they spent one night in their tent.

Lynn said, ”Visiting Nepal, the Himalayas, and Mt. Everest was never on my ‘Bucket List’. It hit me though, as I stood viewing the region and mountains that had been such an influence to me, that they were the inspiration to my 50+ years of mountain climbing. I started climbing just 4 years after Jim Whittaker became the first American (and 10th person) to summit Mt. Everest. So I had a teary moment or two just thinking about that. I never dreamed that I would be there especially at 70 years of age!”

“Reflecting on the trip“, said Jean, “Nepal was beautiful and the Himalayas were breathtaking. The people were very friendly and welcoming. Our trekking company made things easy for us. The Sherpas and guides took very good care of all of us. Everything was ‘Top Notch’ considering where we were and what we were there to accomplish.”

“When Lynn first came to me with this dream of his, I thought he had ‘LOST HIS MIND’”, said Jean. “Lynn and I are active but not nearly as active in our backpacking/alpine treks as we were pre-retirement. Retirement and traveling have changed our activities somewhat. We do more trail hikes and not always with packs. Both Lynn and I still get to the club, but for me, exercising in the water is much easier on my back. Mike helped us build a strong core, incorporating body weight and resistance exercises which got us prepared!! Thanks, Mike, for helping us achieve Everest Base Camp (cold and beautiful).”

What’s next? Jean says she is still thinking about it, however, she thinks it is her turn to pick and she will carefully consider her options!

Congratulations to both Lynn and Jean! We are glad BAC could help in your success!!

What keeps you movin’?

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We want to know what keeps you active and moving in the summer! Do you like to hike every weekend? Participate in races? Travel to different parts of the country or around the world? Tell us your story! You can send your story and a picture at memberservices@ bellinghamathleticclub.com

Life Jacket Safety

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How to properly fit and use a life jacket

by Brittany McIntosh, Aquatics Director

Did you know that in Whatcom County alone, there are 26 lakes, 21 rivers, and 2 bays? That adds up to quite a few opportunities for swimming, fishing, boating, and hiking. Since we are so active around water this time of year, it’s a good idea to refresh your knowledge on boating safety. Check out our tips below and enjoy all the beauty the Northwest has to offer this July!

Always wear a life jacket

In Washington State, all children under the age of 12 are required by law to wear a life jacket while on board a vessel. However, it’s recommended by the US Coast Guard that everyone on board wear a life jacket – even if you’re a great swimmer! For tips on fitting a life jacket, take a look at our handy infographic.

Know or learn how to swim

Everyone on board should know some basic survival skills. The more comfortable you are in the water, the better your chance of survival should an accident occur. We offer group and private lessons for both adults and children on Tuesdays and Thursdays in the morning, afternoon, and evening. Ask at the front desk for scheduling or visit our website at www.bellinghamathleticclub.com for more details.

Let someone know where you’re going

If you don’t have a Float Plan, let someone who’s staying ashore know where you’re going and when you’ll be back. Write out all relevant location information including phone numbers, a description of the boat and all communication equipment on board, and an accurate location of the destination and home ports.

Assign at least one adult to supervise all children

As we always tell parents in our Angelfish classes, once you teach your child to love the water it acts as a magnet, drawing them close. You won’t be able to keep them away, so make sure they’re supervised in their play!

Carry extra supplies and safety equipment

This could include extra food and water supplies, life jackets, a cell phone, blankets, and a well-stocked first aid kit. Additionally, make sure passengers know where these supplies are located and how to use them.

Avoid alcohol

While we all want to have fun in the sun, boats are not the place for alcohol. It can affect balance, judgment and reaction speed – three things you will definitely need out on the water. More than half of all boating accidents in the US involve alcohol – don’t be a statistic! Leave the party on the shore and stay safe on your vessel.

Be wary of heat exhaustion

Wear lots of sunscreen, and bring extra water bottles. It’s also important to remember that sunscreen does wash off, so always reapply after a dip. Hats and sunglasses are always a big help, especially if you’ve got kids on board.