Swim Lessons are Back!

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Hello BAC Swim Families! We are thrilled to be able to offer swim lessons again! Swim Lessons will start on October 6th.

Because of the ongoing pandemic, we do have some temporary modifications to our regular program. Hopefully, when Whatcom County moves to Phase 3, we can resume “normal” lessons again. At this time, we will only be able to offer Clownfish, Dolphin, Flounder, Jellyfish, Manatee, and Swim Team. It is important for our teachers to practice safe social distancing with the kids, and we don’t feel that we can deliver safe, effective swim instruction to Beluga classes given the conditions. However, we are excited to offer a parent/child class for those abilities. You can find more details below.

Lessons will be private or semi-private. We will keep similarly-abled siblings or close friends (upon request) together. Classes will be 20-minutes. The cost for a 4-week session is $96 for one child or $156 for two children. (MEMBERS $86/$136) Your child will receive tailor-made instruction, which is an ideal way to progress in their swimming abilities. Classes will be Tuesdays and Thursdays starting at 3:00 pm. TImes will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis, but may be subject to change slightly due to pool spacing and staff availability. Our parent/child classes will be offered Saturday mornings. Swim Team will run from 5:20-6:20 pm and will be limited to 5 swimmers. If there is enough interest, we may add another time.

We will offer an Angelfish class on Saturday mornings, and 2 parent-led Beluga classes, depending on the demand. In these classes, parents will be in the water with their child and an instructor will be on the side teaching the class. These classes will also be limited.

Please wear a mask when you are in the building. Masks are not required in the pool.

Please bring your own towel. There are none available at the Club at this time.

Restrooms will be available for bathroom use and hand washing.

The hot tub will be closed.

We ask you to limit to one adult bringing the swimmers. We understand that siblings may need to come, but we urge you to try to limit the number of people coming when possible.

We will also provide a disinfectant and ask that you clean your seating area before use.

Teachers will wear face shields. While chlorine is known to kill COVID and other viruses, we feel this will add an extra layer of protection for both our instructors and your swimmers. Teachers will rely heavily on verbal instruction and visual demonstration to teach skills.

We will be checking the temperatures of anybody who enters the building and ask you to sign in at each lesson.

We also have an updated waiver. We will have hard copies available on the first day of lessons but can email a copy to you upon request.

If you are unable to attend a given day, please email or call so we can adjust staffing accordingly.

Most important: nobody should come to the pool sick or with symptoms! Do not come if you or anyone with you can answer yes to any of these questions:

Do you have a fever or have you felt hot or feverish recently (14 – 21 days)?

  • Are you having shortness of breath or other difficulties breathing?
  • Do you have a cough?
  • Have you experienced a recent loss of taste or smell?
  • Are you experiencing any other flu-like symptoms, such as gastrointestinal upset, headache, and/or fatigue?
  • Have you been in contact with any confirmed COVID-19 positive patients?

Private lessons during other times are available, depending on our instructors’ availability. The cost of private lessons outside of our scheduled swim lessons hours is $30 per 30-minute lesson.

You can call the front desk at 360-676-1800 to sign-up. Payment is due upon registration. If you have any questions, please feel free to email aquatics@bellinghamathleticclub.com.  We are looking forward to getting back up and running!

BAC 2 School!

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We are trying to step up and help those parents who are struggling to manage school-age children and the remote learning that is taking place across the county.  We are calling our program BAC 2 School.  It will include supervised homework, class sessions, recess, and PE.  We hope to start this program Wednesday, September 9th.  We are hoping to be very nimble in responding to kids’ and parents’ needs.

Here are the logistics of the BAC 2 School program:

Monday-Friday, 8:00am-3:00pm

Pricing for Full Day:

Member: $40
Sibling: $35

Non-Member: $50
Sibling: $45

Pay by the hour (2-hour minimum stay):

Member: $8 per hour
2 hours: $16
3 hours: $24
4 hours: $32
5+ hours: $40

Non-Member: $10 per hour
2 hours: $20
3 hours: $30
4 hours: $40
5+ hours: $50

*Child has to be on Family or Single Parent membership to qualify for member pricing*

Mask Policy:
Kids will be required to wear their masks any time they are walking around the facility and cannot social distance. They will not be required to wear their masks while sitting down at their desk, exercising, or eating.

Food Policy:
Kids will bring their own lunch and snacks.

Labor Day Hours

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Labor Day – Monday, September 7th, 2020

Cordata 7:00 am – 1:00 pm, closing at 1:00 pm for the rest of the day.
Downtown will be closed.
Back to regular limited hours on Tuesday, September 8th.

Group Supervised Learning

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Exciting news! We are going to offer group supervised learning for school-aged children. Our plan is for 4-hour blocks: including recess, homework facilitation, Zoom class-work supervision, and PE. We know parents are struggling to help their children be successful in the “virtual learning” environment while trying to work and take care of their daily tasks. We can be flexible, so let us know what you need. We will set up socially distant classrooms; have an instructor for a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 5 students, grouped by grade and Zoom class times. We have WiFi available, plus all classroom supplies that might be required. We are working on a fee structure and lining up instructors.

If you are interested, please contact us ASAP so we can set everything up. We are thrilled to be able to offer an option for our member parents and kids!

Note: Employees must wear masks at all times. The kids will only wear masks if they cannot social distance and when they walk through the club. Masks will not be required if they are sitting at a table doing schoolwork or Zooming. They will not be required to wear masks during exercise or while they eat.

BAC is still awaiting the move to Phase 3 for Whatcom County. The COVID numbers have been coming down so we are hopeful that will happen soon. Traffic in the club has been steady and improving, we have not had a problem with crowding in either facility. Reminder: Water aerobics and group ex classes are available in person and online, call to enroll. We so appreciate all the members who are using the club, we love seeing everyone!

Thanks so much for your support. Cathy

Mandatory Masks

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We have had some members worried about the non-wearing of masks during vigorous exercise. One of the suggestions was to have mask mandatory times at the club; so we are going to try this at the Downtown club. Monday through Friday from 10 am – Noon masks will be required the entire time you are in the club. We’ll see how this goes. For those who are immune-compromised or in a high-risk group, this will provide some added assurance. As always your feedback is much appreciated.

Otherwise, keep in mind our policy as of June 26th: Governor Inslee has mandated masks be worn in all indoor and outdoor public spaces. We are a private club, and we are checking temperatures and health status before every member’s club use. Please wear masks while moving about the club, with the exception of during intense exercise. Be sure to use the placards during cardio machine use to enforce social distancing, feel free to block out as many machines as necessary to ensure adequate space for your exercise session.

Member Update

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Dear Members,

There have been concerns with the Governor’s statements yesterday, that there has been a change to our status as far as the guidance under Phase 2 for operations here at the club.  Not to worry, we are in full compliance with the guidelines with how we reopened and continue to operate both clubs, continuing to screen each member and staff as they enter the facility and limiting access.  But we have had some members worried about the non-wearing of masks during vigorous exercise.  One of the suggestions was to have mask mandatory times at the club; so we are going to try this at the Downtown club- Monday through Friday from 10 am-Noon, masks will be required the entire time you are in the club.  We’ll see how this goes, for those who are immune-compromised or in a high-risk group this will provide some added assurance.  As always your feedback is much appreciated.

More Water Exercise Classes

We are adding some more Aqua fitness classes available with 3-day advanced reservations starting Monday, August 3rd.  Jill will be teaching Mondays and Wednesdays 6:00 pm and Fridays 8:30 am and 9:30 am.  This will double our capacity for the very popular classes.  Thank you, Jill! 

Don’t forget our online and live group exercise schedule, we are working hard to respond to the suggestions of our membership, look for yoga with Michal to be added soon.

Some Good News

I wanted to share some positive news regarding the COVID19 virus.  Whatcom County through their drive-through testing sites released some interesting data: They tested just under 1900 Whatcom County residents, with only 1% of the tests coming back positive.  Only 1%!  That is encouraging; with the statewide number which has also continued its downward trend is sitting at about 5.4% now.   Also looking at data from the Washington Department of Health COVID 19 Dashboard gives us some more good news; as the number of cases has indeed gone up – the hospitalization rate is half of what it was in April, and the death rate continues to go down even as the number of cases increases.  I encourage everyone to go to the website and take a look at the epidemiological curves; it helps put things into perspective.  I can’t help but be heartened, what can I say; I’m a glass half full type of gal!

 Respectfully, Cathy

New Downtown Hours

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Our downtown location hours will change effective Monday, July 13th. We shifted the morning hours to Monday-Friday 6am-12pm, 12-3pm break, 3-7pm. The Saturday hours will remain the same (7am-1pm). Cordata hours will stay the same and closed Sundays.

Protein – The Master Building Block

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Most people know protein as an important component for muscle growth, but it is necessary for much more than that. Protein is kind of like the master building block for the body and supports many vital functions including the immune system, digestion, blood sugar regulation, and more.
When choosing sources of animal protein, it’s important to opt for grass-fed and pasture-raised as often as possible. Why? Well, for one, animals raised in those environments have access to more complete and natural diets. Maybe you’ve noticed on egg cartons the words “vegetarian fed” or seen the difference in eggs produced by vegetarian vs grass-fed chickens. The vegetarian eggs are pale yellow and mild in flavor in comparison to the natural eggs which are vibrant orange and taste wonderful. Part of the reason for this is that chickens are omnivores and meant to consume bugs in addition to grasses, etc. Animals given a full spectrum of nutrients provide more nutrition to us!
Here are some of protein’s roles:
• increases satiety
• building blocks of enzymes, neurotransmitters, hormones, etc.
• building blocks of muscles, organs, skin, etc.

Appropriate sources of protein include:
• beans and legumes
• eggs from pasture-raised chickens
• nitrate-/nitrite-free meat from grass-fed or pasture-raised animals
• sprouted grains
• seeds like quinoa
• full-fat yogurt/cottage cheese

Getting Out and Coming Home

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Congratulations! Our community’s commitment to staying-at-home has been tough and successful. Authorities believe that we’re through the initial spread of COVID-19. Thank you for your dedication.
As businesses and services begin to re-open, there will be more opportunities for germs to spread. Staying attentive to the guidelines while we’re out and about will be a challenge, but essential. I’ve got some ideas to help keep you and your home safe.
Keep it clean:
• Handwashing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds and drying off with a clean towel is the best defense to the spread of all transferable germs. Washing as soon as you get home is the best preventative measure—stop germs at the door.
• Have a nice smelling soap to keep washing a pleasant task. Avoid dry and cracking skin by following up with a favorite hand cream.
• Cloth masks need to be washed regularly – daily if worn for over 6 hours.
• Disposable paper surgical masks are intended for one-time use.
• It’s best to have a couple of cloth masks in wash rotation.
• Wash hands before putting on and taking off masks. Try that nice smelling soap mentioned earlier.
• Keep hands off of the face to stay safe.
• Allergies are abundant this time of year causing runny noses and watery eyes. If needed, use a tissue, throw it away and wash hands.
• Try to keep allergens out of the house with regular cleaning.
• Clean your phone and phone case. Check with the manufacturer for their recommendation for approved cleaning methods.
• Clean regularly touched surfaces. Door knobs, refrigerator doors, keys, seatbelts, and steering wheels are places that are touched regularly and should be cleaned routinely.
• Houseplants help to clean indoor air. They’ve been proven to boost moods, reduce stress, fatigue, sore throats, and colds.

Thankfully the weather has been nice and we’ve been able to get outdoors. Most people seem to be adhering to the health authorities’ regulations that will keep the spread of this terrible virus to a minimum. It’s wonderful to know that someday soon we’ll be able to get back to the gym.
Take care, stay safe, and healthy.
Susie Landsem
Aging in Place by Design
Susie is a consultant for Aging in Place. Contact her if you have questions about adding safety and comfort solutions to your home.

Racquetball and Handball News

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by Wanda Collins, Racquetball Advisory Staff

If you are a racquetball or handball player, you are probably missing your time on the court…and the exercise. These sports provide a big anaerobic workout disguised as a game. You don’t even notice how hard your body works as you play. A person burns 600-800 calories in an hour on the court playing singles. As we ease into opening the club, the courts will be available for individual use, but not yet for two or more people. It will be a great time to drill and bring back those skills that you haven’t used in months. Spending time drilling on the court, in the weight room, and on a cardio piece will make you ready to go when we CAN play again. Stepping on the court to play a game without preparing will be frustrating and could lead to injuries.

To help facilitate court usage, we will block our court use for half-hour intervals. Most of you won’t be on the court much longer than a half-hour to drill. If you find that you can work at it for an hour, just reserve two half-hour time blocks. Contact the front desk beginning June 5 to reserve your time, and go for it!

I will be posting a racquetball drill sheet each week on court windows for your use if you need help organizing your time to get a maximum benefit. I will also be available for private racquetball lessons.