Welcome to the Medford Boat Club Swim Program! Our program offers swimming in a lifeguarded area of Upper Mystic Lake, youth and adult swim lessons, toddler water classes and endurance swimming.
Here are some highlights of our program:
MBC Swim Rules – Safety is Our First Priority
The front swimming area is very deep (20+ feet) and the rules below ensure the water remains safe for all members and staff and it’s why all of our lifeguards are American Red Cross-certified. All Members and Guests must follow the Club Safety Rules, at all times. Children too young to understand these rules must be supervised at all times. Also, please be advised that THERE ARE NO LIFEGUARDS OR SWIM INSTRUCTORS ON DUTY AT THE BACK BEACH, parents must supervise children on the Back Beach Area.
The age restrictions in our rules have been determined through many years of experience on how to best maintain the safety of all members and staff. If you have an issue with a rule, please see the MBC Swim Chair or the manager on duty. We ask that you do not engage the lifeguard staff as it distracts from their core duties.
Lifeguard Responsibilities
Lifeguards are here for your safety and to enforce the rules of the club. Please be respectful. At any given time, our lifeguards are monitoring the swimming area, conducting swim lessons and administering swim tests so our staffing is designed to ensure everyone’s safety in a maximum capacity scenario as it can be hard to predict how busy or slow the water will be at any given time.
Basic Rules on the Dock:
- No Running
- Keep your hands to yourselves
- No flipping, spinning, jumping backwards, etc. (jump straight out)
- No swimming under any of the docks
- No jumping over other swimmers
- One person up the ladder at a time
Swim Test
- All children (both members and guests) under the age of 14 must pass a mandatory swim test in order to swim from the main dock (where lifeguards are stationed) to the swim platform.
- Children must pass the test every season.
- The test format is swimming freestyle from the swim dock to the sail dock and back (50 yards, then tread water for 30 seconds)
- Lifeguards will keep a record of who has passed the test, and once passed, your child can swim independently to the swim platform.
When do you hold swim tests?
We will hold swim tests daily, at 11 am, 1 pm, 3 pm and 5 pm.
What if my child does not pass the test?
If your child does not pass the test the first time, he/she can take the test again in one week’s time. An adult/parent is required to be in the water with any swimmer who has not passed the test and can take them out to the far dock – IT IS A ONE ADULT PER CHILD RATIO.
To whom should I speak if I have concerns?
If your child does not pass the test, please remember that we have their safety in mind. Feel free to email [email protected] with any questions or concerns.
Kayak & Paddleboard Test
All children (both members and guests) under the age of 14 who would like to use a kayak (unattended) must pass a slightly longer swim test.
Children under the age of 14 may use the kayaks in the designated area of the lake after passing the kayak/sail test.
What is it?
Swim four lengths in the lanes between the docks (two freestyle, two of any other stroke) plus two minutes of treading water.
What else?
All kayakers and paddleboarders must wear a properly fitted life vest. We encourage you to have a safety whistles attached to the life vests. Anyone using a kayak must adhere to the Kayak Protocol outlined in the house rules.
Is there a special kayak membership?
Yes, for a modest annual fee of $25, your entire family (all members under your family membership) can have access to the kayaks for the season. Please remember to sign up for your kayak membership on or after Opening Day.
Swim Lessons:
Who teaches lessons?
All lead instructors are Water Safety Certified by the American Red Cross.
How do I sign up?
Sign-ups are in person at MBC Opening Day on June 15, 2024 and access to your Amelia app is required. And remember that lessons are very popular, particularly at levels 1-3 and evening classes so sign-ups are first-come first-served basis.
When do lessons begin?
Classes should begin June 24th and go through August 8th. There are no lessons 4th of July week.
2024 Swim Schedule
Kids Swim Lessons (~4-14 years old)
Mon/Wed
Level 1: 10:00-10:50am
Level 2: 11:00-11:50am
Level 3: 1:00-1:50pm
Level 4: 2:00-2:50pm
Levels 5 and 6: 3:00-3:50pm
Levels 1 and 3: 5:00-5:50pm
Levels 2 and 4: 6:00-6:50pm
Levels 5 and 6: 7:00-7:50pm
Tues/Thurs
Level 3: 1:00-1:50pm
Level 4: 2:00-2:50pm
Levels 5 and 6: 3:00-3:50pm
Levels 1 and 3: 5:00-5:50pm
Levels 2 and 4: 6:00-6:50pm
Toddler Water Safety
T/Th 10:00-10:50am
T/Th 3:00-3:50pm
Adult Swim Lessons
T/Th 11:00-11:50am
T/TH 7:00-7:50pm
Noodles in the Swim Area
The noodle and flotation device rules at MBC are set first and foremost to keep all staff and members safe. Noodles and floatation devices can give a false sense of security for swimmers who are not yet ready to swim independently in the upper lake.
- Adults may have a noodle whenever they want
- Kids under the age of 16 are not allowed to use a noodle at any time
- Noodles are in the large, brown bin before the swim gate
- Please put all noodles back in the bin when you are done using them
- NO OTHER FLOTATION DEVICES ARE ALLOWED
MBC Endurance Swim Sun., Aug. 11
The MBC Endurance Swim, which is a distance lap swim between the main dock and the sail dock, will take place on Sunday August 11 at 1:00 pm.
This year there will be two options for members to participate:
- For those 14 and under we will have a half mile swim (34 laps)
- For all ages there will be a mile swim (68 laps)
For each we will host up to 4 heats/session of 3 swimmer each and will seed swimmer based on their approximate guess at the time to complete the event.
Also, we will need volunteers to man stop watches and lap counter boards (training will be provided). All participants will receive an MBC Endurance Swim water bottle and there will be pizza afterwards.
To sign up for the swim or to volunteer please complete this form.