Kids Club
Bellingham Athletic Club childcare offers 2-hours per day in the Kids Club. While members are using the BAC facility, we provide care for children 6 weeks to 9 years old.
The BAC Kids Club is based on a concern for the developmental needs of each child. We are committed to nurturing individual growth of the whole child – physical, social, emotional, and intellectual. Every effort is made to keep parents informed about what happens at Kids Club concerning their child and we appreciate receiving information about the child’s activities and progress while at home. The stronger the communication between home and center, the better the experience for both the child and the parent.
For additional information on Kids Programs contact memberservices@bellinghamathleticclub.com or call 360-676-1800.
Junior Orientation
Your child should get some exercise too! This orientation is free and available to any members between the ages of 9 and 15. Your child will learn the rules of BAC, the proper way to use the cardio equipment, and a mini racquetball lesson. This program will enable your child to use approved equipment except the weight room. Call for an appointment.
Birthday Parties
Schedule your child’s next birthday party at BAC! We take care of everything from scheduling activities to setting up and cleaning up! Your child can pick the activities (anything from party games to dodgeball!). Starting cost is $200 for members and $240 for non-members. Price includes up to 10 kids and 6 adults. $8 per additional child and $8 per additional adult.
For additional information on birthday parties, see the flyer or contact socialmedia@bellinghamathleticclub.com
Junior Racquetball
BAC offers the best in junior racquetball with lessons for all ability levels between the ages of 8 to 12. We emphasize fun and good sportsmanship as well as skill improvement. Classes for beginner, intermediate, and advanced players.
Swim Lessons/Swim Team
BAC offers swim lessons for children 6 months old and up! We also offer swim team for kids who are “aquatically advanced.” Enroll your child and give them the skills to be water safe for a lifetime of aquatic enjoyment.
Kids Club Hours
Monday: 8:30AM-12:00PM & 4:00PM-7:30PM
Tuesday: 8:30AM-12:00PM & 4:00PM-7:30PM
Wednesday: 8:30AM-12:00PM & 4:00PM-7:30PM
Thursday: 8:30AM-12:00PM & 4:00PM-7:30PM
Friday: 8:30AM-12:00PM
Saturday 8:30AM-12:00PM
Sunday – CLOSED
Who We Are
Bellingham Athletic Club childcare offers 2 hours per day in the Kids Club. While members are using the BAC facility, we provide care for children 6 weeks to 9 years old. Each Kids Club staff member has been chosen very carefully. All have experience or education working with young children. Washington State Patrol background checks are required for all staff and references are carefully checked. All Kids Club personnel are CPR certified.
Philosophy
The BAC Kids Club is based on a concern for the developmental needs of each child. We are committed to nurturing individual growth of the whole child – physical, social, emotional, and intellectual. Every effort is made to keep parents informed about what happens at Kids Club concerning their child and we appreciate receiving information about the child’s activities and progress while at home. The stronger the communication between home and center, the better experience for both the child and the parent. We also encourage all parents to look into some of our other youth programs. It is our priority to provide the widest range of activities for all age levels.
Check-In
Upon arrival, sign your child in; enter the time and where you will be at the club. Your child must be included on your membership. The same person who dropped them off, unless indicated otherwise, must pick up children. Parents must remain on the premises while your child is in Kids Club. If an emergency should occur, we need to be able to locate you. Kids Club is intended and equipped for short-term care only, with a maximum length stay limited to two hours.
Leaving Your Child
If your child experiences separation anxiety, we recommend you first come in for a short session to become acquainted with the staff and the new environment. We know it is difficult parting from your child when she/he is experiencing separation anxiety. If you maintain a positive attitude and give your child a quick hug and a kiss, it projects to the child a good sense of security. Staying when your child starts to fuss or leaving several times and then returning only makes the parting more difficult and confusing for your child and reinforces that behavior. We will let you know if your child continues to cry.
Reservations
To properly staff at the Kids Club, reservations for ALL children are required and must be made at least 24 hours in advance. You can also request an ongoing weekly reservation if you are planning to come consistently.
Diapers
Please label diaper bags with the child’s name or we will do so for you. Provide diapers and wipes for your child. Due to the short period of time children are in Kids Club, we will only change poopie diapers. Please change your child prior to arriving at Kids Club. Be sure to let us know if your child is potty training or has any special needs. We will do our best to help out.
Health & Safety
Absolutely no sick children will be accepted for the protection of other children and the staff. Children will not be permitted if any of the following symptoms are present: Deep thick cough, coughing or sneezing along with green or yellow nose discharge, sore throat, red runny eyes (possibly Conjunctivitis), Diarrhea, unhealed Chickenpox lesions, undiagnosed rash or Lice. If your child has been sent home or stays home from school due to illness, they cannot be accepted into Kids Club. If your child becomes ill while in our care, you will be contacted and expected to pick up the child as soon as possible.
Kids Club Policies
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Parents are required to fill out all necessary forms prior to the child's first visit.
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Parents must remain on the premises while their child is in Kids Club.
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Parents must sign children into Kids Club upon arrival and sign them out upon leaving.
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Parents must accompany their child(ren) to and from Kids Club.
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Unsupervised play in this area is Prohibited - an attendant must be present in Kids Club for members to be there.
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Children must be at least 6 weeks old to attend Kids Club.
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Children can get their Junior Orientation at the age of 9. Kids with Junior Orientation may be asked to leave Kids Club if it is too busy.
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All Children must have a reservation to attend Kids Club. Reservations must be made at least 24 hours in advance. A child without a reservation can be denied if it is too busy. No-show for a reservation will have a $5 charge.
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There is a 2-hour time limit per day for any child in Kids Club. A late fee of $5 per child will be charged to the parent's account for every 15 min past the 2-hour limit. (If the child is here for 2.5 hours - $10 will be charged).
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If the child is present past closing, there will be a $15 charge, per child, for each 15-minute increment they are still here. (If the child is here for 16 min past closing, the parent will be charged $30).
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Healthy kids only in Kids Club. If the child shows signs of illness, the parent will be asked to pick them up from the facility.
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No food or drink in Kids Club due to allergies (bottles for infants and water bottles are okay).
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NO weapons or objects that could cause injury to any child will be allowed in Kids Club.
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Children should be respectful of the space, equipment and others. If they cannot be safe, the parent will be expected to pick them up from Kids Club.
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We use positive guidance and redirection as behavior management tools. We will also provide a "safe space for a child that needs some time alone to regroup before rejoining the others.
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No electronics allowed in Kids Club.
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Please use your best judgment when bringing items from home. Children will be expected to share toys brought from home. We are not responsible for any lost or broken items that are brought from home.
Junior Usage
- A junior is any member 15 and younger.
- Juniors 8 and under must be checked into the Kids Club while their parents are working out. A parent may bring their junior to the gym during open gym time or to the pool during family swim time. Juniors 6 and under must pass a swim test to use the pool without a parent in the pool with them during family swim time.
- Children 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult on the premises.
- Juniors must change in the family locker rooms located off the pool.
Junior Orientation
Juniors between the ages of 9 to 15 years must complete several orientation sessions during their quest to become an independent member of BAC. During the initial orientation juniors will receive a laminated card which they must wear when using the club. Juniors and their parents are required to sign a usage agreement and behavior contract. Juniors are taken through and introduced to each part of BAC and its rules and regulations. They will also learn how to use their Junior Orientation (JO) Card.
Once the JO Card has been issued more orientation sessions need to be completed. Each child must attend one session each of Cardio and Racquetball. After completion in each area the child will get their JO Card marked which indicates the child can use that area without staff supervision. For the Weights area, each child 14 years and older must complete a specialized weight program and be able to demonstrate responsibility and knowledge of the weight area to be able to use the fitness floor without staff supervision.
The goal of this program is to create a safe and enjoyable exercise environment for all our members. If you have any questions, please contact BAC at 360-676-1800.
Family Swim Time
We are having family swim by reservation on Saturdays 10:00am-11:00am. Call to reserve your lane! Parents are required to stay in the pool area.
Winter Swim Lessons
Please note that our pool can remain open under the latest guidelines, so we are still running swim lessons.
November 3rd-24th
$84 +tax non-member – $52.50 per additional child
$75 +tax member – $50 per additional child
SWIM TEAM: $61.50/$51.50
December 1st-17th
$84 +tax non-member – $52.50 per additional child
$75 +tax member – $50 per additional child
SWIM TEAM: $61.50/$51.50
NOW TAKING REGISTRATIONS. PLEASE EMAIL US AT aquatics@bellinghamathleticclub.com OR CALL THE FRONT DESK AT 360-676-1800 TO SIGN UP.
FUTURE SESSIONS: January 5th-28th & February 2nd-25th
We are offering BELUGA group classes! No parent needed in the water! However, the Saturday morning parent/child class is still available if there is interest.
Limit of 4 kids in a class. Siblings can be kept together upon request as long as they’re similarly-abled. Classes are 30 minutes.
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. If there is only one child in a class, we may ask to adjust times OR charge an additional $15.
Swim Team will run from 5:30-6:30 pm, and will be limited to 5 swimmers. If there is enough interest, we may add another lane to allow for more participants.
We will offer an Angelfish class on Saturday mornings, and a parent-led Beluga class, 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.
Private lessons during other times are available, depending on our instructors’ availability. The cost of private lessons outside of our scheduled swim lessons hours are $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 me: aquatics@bellinghamathleticclub.com.
COVID precautions/protocols
Please wear a mask when you are in the building. Masks are not required in the pool.
Restrooms will be available for bathroom use and hand washing only. 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.
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.
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.
o Do you have a fever or have you felt hot or feverish recently (14 – 21 days)?
o Are you having shortness of breath or other difficulties breathing?
o Do you have a cough?
o Have you experienced a recent loss of taste or smell?
o Are you experiencing any other flu-like symptoms, such as gastrointestinal upset, headache and /or fatigue?
o Have you been in contact with any confirmed COVID-19 positive patients?
Swim Lessons are Back!
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!
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.
Group Supervised Learning
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