Like many communities across the country, the COVID-19 pandemic forced us to reduce operations. As a result, we had to lay off nearly all of our part-time employees, including all of our swim instructors and part-time lifeguards. Since resuming normal operations in 2022, we’ve been working hard to rebuild our team of over 100 aquatic professionals in a very challenging labor market. We’ve taken a number of steps to improve recruitment and retention, including:

• Offering sign-on bonuses of up to $5,000 for difficult-to-fill positions
• Providing free swim passes to every employee in the Aquatics Division
• Offering free lifeguard certification courses to prospective employees

Since 2022, we’ve hired *45 new employees. This includes 9 swim instructors, 27 lifeguards and 14 aquatic attendants. *Several employees work more than one position.

As a maritime community, we believe that every child in Juneau should have an opportunity to learn how to swim, regardless of their ability to pay. Demand for swim lessons has always been strong, and it’s even greater now because swim lessons were suspended for almost two years during the COVID-19 pandemic. At the same time, one of our two aquatics facilities has been closed for major repairs since April 2023, reducing the amount of space available for all programs, including swim lessons. We are currently offering as many lessons as possible while also accommodating other users like high school swim & dive teams, Glacier Swim Club, and the general public. In 2023 we have opened registration for 620 children to participate in swim lessons including winter, spring, summer, and fall sessions. This is an increase of 283 participants compared to 2022. While many of these sessions do not sell out, lessons for younger children sometimes fill up because these classes require a lower ratio of students to instructors. In response to this challenge of accommodating preschool-aged children in our swim lesson program, Aquatic Staff created a new program for beginner preschool swimmers this fall called Lil’ Swimmers. This program started In October with 48 spots available for registration to beginner swimmers aged 3-5 years old. When Augustus G. Brown Pool reopens in early 2024, we look forward to increasing the number of lessons being offered for children of all ages. Something that makes CBJ swim lessons so special is that every child can participate, regardless of their ability to pay. We are committed to keeping fees for swim lessons as low as possible (currently $10 per lesson). Plus our scholarship program can cover the entire cost of swim lessons, as well as things like pool passes and even swimsuits for eligible kids.

The Augustus G. Brown Memorial Pool in downtown Juneau closed in April 2023 for an $8 million renovation and is expected to reopen later this winter. Juneau’s first indoor pool was built over 50 years ago, and this project will ensure that it will continue to serve our community for decades to come. The work includes:

• Replacement of boilers
• Replacement of water and wastewater plumbing
• Replacement of aquatic systems
• Resurfacing the leisure pool
• Replacement and updating of mechanical control systems
• Complete remodeling of locker rooms, including single-user showers and family changing room
• Refreshed sauna
• Remodeled lobby and reception areas
• New interior and exterior paint
• Replaced exterior stairs and sidewalks
• Asbestos abatement