Learn water safety at annual April Pools Day event in Apache Junction

By Richard Dyer
Mail | X: @RHDyer

Water safety — including the importance of barriers, life vests, CPR and swim lessons — will be explained to families participating in a free April event offered by the city of Apache Junction, police department and fire district.

The event is 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 25 — with public swim 11 a.m. to noon — at Superstition Shadows Aquatic Center. 1091 W. Southern Ave. in Apache Junction.

“This year’s event will be very similar to last year, keeping the popular activities that families loved. The focus remains on water safety education and fun, but we are always improving the experience with small updates and possible new vendors to promote water safety,” said Julia Feraldi, Apache Junction aquatics recreation coordinator.

The city’s parks and recreation aquatics team will explain important water safety tips and demonstrate safety practices to attendees, she said.

“Participants will learn about the proper use of life jackets, water awareness and basic CPR techniques. Instruction will be provided at various interactive stations, including a life jacket try-on station, a sensory booth, a CPR booth and a swimsuit visibility booth,” Feraldi said.

Participants also will have the opportunity to explore “Touch-a-Truck” vehicles from Apache Junction Police Department, Superstition Fire and Medical District, and Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office; take mini swim lessons; receive a free lunch; and engage in fun activities designed to promote safety and awareness around water, Feraldi said.

Fire district officials will provide the free lunch, and safety tips for being in and around the water, SFMD Deputy Fire Marshal Tina Gerola said.

“The SFMD will be grilling up a free hot-dog lunch to everyone that attends,” she said. “The focus remains on the layers of water safety, including barriers, life vests, CPR and swim lessons.”

The district, which is primarily funded by property taxes, provides fire suppression, fire prevention, wildland protection, advanced life support, rescue, extrication and medical transportation services out of five fire stations in Apache Junction and Gold Canyon.

Summer swimming

Superstition Shadows Aquatic Center opens Saturday, May 23, for the summer. Daily fees are $2 for 17 and under, $3 for 18 and older, with youths free every Wednesday. Open swim hours are 11:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 1-5:30 p.m. Friday-Sunday. For information, visit https://www.apachejunctionaz.gov/aquatics.

The city of Apache Junction offers swimming lessons for children 6 months old to adults. Other pool classes include adult lap swim for ages 15 and older, water aerobics for ages 16 and up, and a water stretch and tone class for ages 16 and up. Register at https://www.apachejunctionaz.gov/onlinereg.

A Mesa business is helping children build water-safety skills with programs ranging from 5 year olds to adults.

Revel Surf Park, 4503 S. Power Road in Mesa, teaches water safety, rescue skills, surf technique and teamwork in a controlled wave-pool environment. Visit https://revelsurf.com to register.

A junior lifeguard program was held in March. A senior lifeguard program for ages 16-18 is planned at the beginning of summer, with dates to be released.

“It will be an elevated and more in-depth version of our junior lifeguard program. The idea is to put them through our actual lifeguard training and test to prepare them to become a real lifeguard. They will leave with an actual StarGuard Junior Lifeguard certification, and if we have spots left to hire for in our lifeguarding department, a chance to interview for a job position with us and get certified as an actual lifeguard,” said Ryan Armstrong, general manager at Revel Surf.

The business also offers a guppy guards program for ages 5-9.

“Our mini and guppy guard programs are a much shorter morning/day camp. The idea is to create a fun camp environment to begin to expose them to water and beach safety while making new friends and having fun at the beach,” Armstrong said.

Richard H. Dyer can be reached at rdyer@iniusa.org, or on X @rhdyer. Please submit comments at yourvalley.net/letters or email them to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines, https://www.yourvalley.net/civility-checklist/.

Richard Dyer
Managing Editor | East Valley

rdyer@iniusa.org

Meet Richard
Richard Dyer has worked at Independent Newsmedia Inc. USA since 1987, starting his career in Apache Junction as a copy editor and being promoted over the years to work as the editor of the Mesa Independent, news services editor for the East Valley office in Apache Junction, managing editor for the East Valley office, news services editor for the East Valley office and eventually also for the newspapers at INI’s then-Chandler office, managing editor again and as a news editor covering Apache Junction/Gold Canyon and Queen Creek. He helped start the Florence Independent while the news editor covering Apache Junction and Mesa news. In January 2023, he became associate managing editor for the East Valley newspapers and in August 2023 became managing editor for the East Valley newspapers of Chandler/Tempe, Gilbert, Queen Creek, Florence, Mesa and Apache Junction/Gold Canyon, while also reporting on Mesa and Apache Junction/Gold Canyon.  

Community: Since 2009, he has worked as a volunteer to design The Blue Guitar Magazine, Blue Guitar Jr. magazine and Unstrung magazine, which are projects of The Arizona Consortium for the Arts; and since 2014, has been overseeing the art submissions. 

Education: University of Arizona with a master of arts in journalism and a bachelor of science in agricultural communication. Also continuing education at Mesa Community College in welding in a metal art sculpture class.

Random fact: Saw his first tornado on May 31, 2010, which was classified as an EF-2, as part of a stormchasing tour group.

Hobbies: He is an artist of welded-steel sculptures, selling his artwork at juried and non-juried art shows.