When local parents look for Westwood swimming classes, they’re sure to come across South Beach—it’s where generation after generation of young explorers join the Hale family and become lifelong members of our adventurous community.
There’s just something about learning to swim in a pond that can’t quite be replicated in a pool. Maybe it’s the way a breeze moves across the water, or how the trees sway gently as kids float on their backs. Whether through Hale Summer Camps or our Family & Community Program, swimming at Hale isn’t just about mastering strokes—it’s about boosting confidence, becoming independent, and discovering the magic of the outdoors.
Our à la carte Swimming Lessons take place right at South Beach, nestled on the edge of Noanet Pond. Here, young swimmers trade the tiled walls and chlorine of a pool for fresh air, open skies, and the soft rhythm of waves lapping the shore. It’s a place where frogs might join your freestyle, and dragonflies skim the surface beside you. Learning to swim in a natural body of water offers kids a chance to adapt, explore, and thrive in a dynamic environment.
A pond’s water is real: It’s heated by the sun, replenished by the rain. There are no restrictive lane lines or fluorescent ceiling lights. It challenges swimmers to engage all their senses, to pay attention to the wind, the temperature, and the feeling of sand beneath their feet. It’s swimming with a side of life skills and invokes a bit of wonder.
Parents often say their kids return from Hale with more than stronger strokes—they come home a little braver, a little calmer, and a lot dirtier (in the best way). And while the classic neighborhood pool has its place, there’s something undeniably special about a swim that begins with a hike down a wooded trail and ends with laughter echoing across the pond.
Whether you’re watching your child take their first dive after a session in Hale Summer Camps or cheering them on during their first open-water swim in Hale’s Family & Community Program, you’ll know they aren’t just swimming—they’re experiencing the joy of summer, the way it’s meant to be.
If you’d like to learn more about swimming, join us online May 7 for a Zoom session: Swimming Lessons 101.
