Busy summer schedule planned for Whidbey pool

School’s out for summer and kids are in the water at John Vanderzicht Memorial Pool.

On Friday, the North Whidbey Park and Recreation District hosted “Summer Vacation Celebration 101,” an event to celebrate the end of school and the beginning of summer vacation.

The event featured free fun and free food, and there was no charge to join in the fun (provided you passed school).

The pool was packed with kids of all ages taking advantage of the popular water slide, the huge turquoise swim tubes provided by the facility and even the wading pool was full of younger kids who weren’t quite ready to brave deeper water.

All of this kept Daniel Saiku, one of the pool’s lifeguards and a recent graduate of Oak Harbor High School, busy.

“We had a lot of kids come and it’s been crazy in here today,” he said.

Pool Director Craig Carlson said he was pleased with the turnout and remarked that this is just one of the many activities planned for this summer.

From 8:30 to 10 p.m. on Friday, July 11, teenagers will have the opportunity to experience the “Teen Moonlight Musical Adventure.”

For a fee of $2.25, a disc jockey will be on hand and kids will be able to swim and dance to the latest music. Food and beverages will be provided.

Then on Saturday, July 28, the annual “Double Float Aquatic Fun” fest will be held at a cost of $6.75 per family.

Parents and kids can enjoy a float in the pool and root beer floats for everyone.

Saturday evening, Aug. 23, from 5:30 to 7:15 p.m., is the “Family Float-in and Frankfurter Fest Final Fling.”

The cost for this event is also $6.75 per family and patrons are invited to bring their favorite flotation devices.

Hot dogs and pop will be provided.

“Just about any kind of flotation device goes,” said Carlson.

Finally, on Sunday, Aug. 24, the fourth annual “Dog Days of Summer Swim” is scheduled.

People are invited to bring their dogs to the pool from 7:30 to 9 p.m. for a free swim.

Following the event, the pool facility will be closed from Aug. 25 to Sept. 1 and the pool will be emptied, sanitized and painted as part of annual maintenance.

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