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of swimming, and we want our kids
to have fun.” Rick helped establish
the Splash program as one of its first
coaches and she’s been involved with
the Aquatics Center since it opened. “It’s
very important to me that it’s successful
and does well at meeting those goals.”
In addition, she said, “We’ve had really
great swimmers who’ve gone on to
become really successful in high school
and college.”
Moreover, Rick added, “It’s not just
about swimming. It’s about making
friends too. It’s been really rewarding for
me to see friendships created between
kids who would have never met because
they go to different schools”—that
includes Morgan Hill, San Martin and
Gilroy. “We do our best to teach kids
all the strokes and get in shape, but it’s
more than that. It’s about having fun.”
Rick has worked with children who
are nervous about competing in the
meets. “We tell parents to encourage
them to participate in one or two
events. We’ll make sure it’s their favorite
event.” She explains to the kids that
swimming is an individual as well
as a team sport. “I try to tell them to
compete within themselves and not
worry about everyone else.”
In addition to the swim team, the
Aquatics Center offers year-round lap
swimming and aqua fitness classes. During
the summer, pool hours are expanded for
open swim and swim lessons.
In fact, swim lessons are available
at both the Aquatics Center and at the
CRC, beginning with classes for parents
and their infants, classes for children
and teens, even private lessons for
adults. “If someone wants to learn to
swim, we’ll find a way to teach them,”
Rick said.
Open swim at the Aquatics Center
begins after Memorial Day, including the
competition pool, a spray toy, a shallow
area, two water slides, diving boards,
an inflatable obstacle course, and an
instructional pool.
CRC members may use the Aquatics
Center at no additional cost. There are
also drop-in rates for both the Aquatics
Center and the CRC facility for Morgan
Hill residents and non-residents, based
on age. Visit morgan-hill.ca.gov online
to learn more.
Water Fun at Gilroy Gardens
Michael Fulcher has worked as the
operations manager, including the
aquatics manager, for nine years at Gilroy
Gardens. Fulcher listed the Gardens’
most popular water attractions as
Water Oasis, Splash Garden, and Splash
and Squirt.
Water Oasis was opened in 2016
and will expanded next year. “It’s always
filled,” Fulcher said. “People can’t get
enough of it.”
First, there are “water journeys” for
very young children, who can watch
toys pump and flow into channels to see
how water flows. Along the channels, the
children find tips on how to conserve
water. “This exhibit aligns with our
whole signage about water conservation
and where our water comes from,”
Fulcher said.
Also within Water Oasis, Splash Path
contains large structures such as flowers,
and it rains down water when the chil-
dren push buttons. The kids can race
through the interactive process to fill
buckets, which dump water.
According to Fulcher, the main
attraction in Water Oasis is the Lagoon,
which has two water slides, and a
wading pool one and-a-half feet deep,
where kids can splash and swim around.
Closer to shore, the water is shallower,
with toys that shoot streams of water. At
GILROY • MORGAN HILL • SAN MARTIN
MAY/JUNE 2017
the deepest point, there are small water
slides with jets at the top. Lifeguards
are posted throughout Water Oasis.
“What makes Water Oasis special is
because it’s such a tropical atmosphere,
with six cabanas that you can rent,”
Fulcher explained. “And with them
comes a couch, shade, service from
the restaurant at the touch of a button,
pizza for the family, drinks—it makes
it like a loungy area, great for adults
while kids play.” Fulcher added that
Water Oasis tends to attract kids who
are eight to ten years old.
Kids aged two to eight should also
explore the park’s other two main water
areas: Splash Garden and Splash and
Squirt. Splash Garden shoots water
from the ground as children stomp
around. Splash and Squirt contains
more interactive water features,
according to Fulcher. Children use
water guns to shoot at a pile of crates,
decorated with wind chimes and
spinning objects. There’s also a slide in
the shape of a circus tree, where water
rains down the center allowing kids
to get wet, even though it’s technically
not a water slide. Fulcher said, “People
really like the educational connection
Splash and Squirt makes with water
conservation and water works.”
Learn more at gilroygardens.org.
gmhtoday.com