Hit the trails, go for a walk, or even jump on the treadmill in Juneau Parks & Recreation’s annual virtual trek to Ketchikan. Walk Southeast is a free and fun activity that helps you stay active by tracking miles you walk, run, or hike between May 1 and September 1. The more miles you log, the more chances you have to win in a local prize drawing. Hit 150 miles and get entered in the Alaska Airlines drawing for two round-trip tickets anywhere Alaska Airlines flies in North America. To qualify, you must also be registered, live in Alaska, and submit your tracker by September 2. Register now through May 10 at walksoutheast.org. 

Walk Southeast, created by the City and Borough of Juneau (CBJ) Parks & Recreation, is a region-wide activity that challenges you to walk the 297 miles it takes to travel from Juneau to Ketchikan. This year, Juneau, Ketchikan, Sitka, and Petersburg will vie for the title of 2026 Walk Southeast champion, which goes to the community with the highest average of miles walked per participant. 

Registered participants have two options to track miles: a traditional paper Mileage Tracker or the My Virtual Mission app presented by Goldbelt. In addition to tracking miles, CBJ Parks & Recreation added two new components to Walk Southeast this year. Junior Trekkers, a program for kids 12 years and younger, makes the trek a bit less daunting, aiming for 83 miles. Summit Series challenges you to ‘climb’ a different mountain each month by tracking your elevation-gain while walking, running, or hiking. For all the details, go to walksoutheast.org. 

For assistance with registration and tracking your miles, join CBJ Parks & Recreation at a Help Session where we’ll show you everything you need to know. Visit the department’s Facebook page for specific Help Session dates and times.  

For questions, contact CBJ Parks & Recreation at 907-586-5226 or [email protected].  

Registration is now open to join the Juneau Pools Water Safety Instructor course. Participants who complete the course will be qualified to work as a swimming instructor at any Red Cross affiliated aquatic facility, including Juneau Pools, for 2 years until renewal. The class is limited to 6 participants – register for the course at bit.ly/registerCBJparks before Monday, April 20 at 5 p.m.  

Class time will be a mix of time in the water and the classroom. See below for more details: 

Prerequisites: 

• Must be 15 years old by the last day of the course 

• Pass pre-course swim test  

Pre-course Swim Test: 

• 25 yards of: Front Crawl, Back Crawl, Side Stroke, Breast Stroke, Elementary Backstroke 

• 15 yards of: Butterfly (an alternate certification that does not include the butterfly is available through this course) 

• Maintain position on back in deep water for 1 minute 

• Tread water for 1 minute 

Cost: 

• Free of charge to anyone who submits an application to teach swimming lessons for Juneau Pools 

• $400 for all other instructor candidates 

Dates and Times: 

Online content: 

• 7.5 hours on Red Cross Learning Center, to be completed before the first day of class on Friday, April 24 

One pre-course session: 

• Wednesday, April 22, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Dimond Park Aquatic Center. If you cannot make the scheduled pre-course testing date, contact Ellen Johnston at 907-586-0839 ext. 4148 for alternative options. 

Class sessions will be held: 

• Friday, April 24, 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Dimond Park Aquatic Center 

• Saturday, April 25, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Dimond Park Aquatic Center 

• Sunday, April 26, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Dimond Park Aquatic Center 

• Friday, May 1, 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Augustus Brown Pool 

• Saturday, May 2, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Augustus Brown Pool 

• Sunday, May 3, 12 to 4 p.m. at Augustus Brown Pool 

Students must attend and participate in all class times to complete the course. 

For questions, contact Ellen Johnston at [email protected] or at 907-586-0839 x4148.  

The City and Borough of Juneau Parks & Recreation department has a Parent and Tot swimming lesson for children 6 months to 3 years old coming up. Classes take place at Augustus G. Brown Pool on Saturdays between 10 to 11:30 a.m., from April 18 to May 30, with no class meeting on April 23. A parent or guardian will need be in the water with participants. 

Registration for the class opens April 10 at bit.ly/registerCBJparks. Six half-hour classes will cost a total of $60 plus tax. Scholarships are available at bit.ly/ZGYCscholarship.

For questions, call Augustus Brown Pool at 907-586-0839 or Dimond Park Aquatic Center at 907-586-2782.  

The Dimond Park Aquatic Center fitness deck will be closed starting at 9 a.m. Thursday, April 9, in preparation for a swim meet. The entire Dimond Park Aquatic Center will be closed at 8 a.m. Friday, April 10, through Sunday, April 12. Normal operating hours will resume Monday, April 13. 

For questions about the closure, contact Juneau Pools at 907-586-0839. 

Registration for two Juneau Pools programs open at 12 p.m. on Friday, March 20. Visit the “Juneau Pools” tab at bit.ly/registerCBJparks to register for the Triathlon Training Camp or youth swim lessons.  

Triathlon Training Camp 

Designed for youth ages 8 to 15 years old, the Triathlon Training Camp will prepare participants for triathlon events. Participants will build endurance, learn about essential triathlon equipment, and understand the flow of a triathlon. The total cost of the camp is $80 plus tax, and this camp is required for youth under 12 who wish to participate in the upcoming Dimond Dash Triathlon. 

Camp Dates: Tuesdays & Thursdays, April 14 to May 7 from 5:15 to 6:30 p.m.  

Location: Begins each day at either the Dimond Park Aquatic Center or the Field House, with other areas of the Dimond Park complex used for training.  

Prerequisites: Complete a 150-yard (3 laps or 6 lengths) swim test at 5:15 p.m. on Friday, April 3 or 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 4. If participants need gear for the camp or need to schedule an alternative time for the swim test, contact Recreation Coordinator Ellen Johnston at [email protected]. 

Youth and Preschool Swim Lessons  

The next sessions of Preschool (ages 3 to 5 years, levels 1 to 3) and Youth (ages 6 to 12 years, levels 1 to 4) swim lessons run this April at Augustus Brown Pool and Dimond Park Aquatic Center. The total cost for the swim lessons is $80 plus tax.  

Lessons at Augustus Brown Pool will run between 4:20 to 6:50 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays from April 1 to April 27. 

Lessons at Dimond Park Aquatic Center will run between 4:15 to 7 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays from March 31 to April 23. 

For more information about upcoming Juneau Pools programs, contact Recreation Coordinator Ellen Johnston at [email protected].