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www.FredericksburgParent.NET 11 A Parent's Guide to Your First RSL Swim Meet Watching your kid's first swim meet, you may find yourself secretly praying they don't pee themselves with excitement (don't worry, no one can tell in a wet swimsuit) or tire themselves out halfway across the pool because they were trying to not only win their heat but also qualify for the Olympics (again, don't worry, they have lifeguards). So here are some helpful tips to make you look like a confident and well-prepared parent at your first swim meet even if you aren't: 1. HAVE A GAME PLAN: Meets typically start at 6 p.m. and swim- mers usually have to be there an hour before, so know where you are going and get there in time to set up your base camp. Bring umbrellas and canopies for shade along with comfortable folding chairs as there is no seating on the pool deck because that would add more chaos to the organized chaos that is a swim meet. 2. KNOW YOUR EVENTS: Keep track of which events your swim- mers are competing in and brand them accordingly. You can never have too many black Sharpies on hand. Swim meets can move very quickly, so pay attention to the events around your child's meet so they are ready to go when the pistol fires. 3. SNACK SMART: Sure, kids love fast food and carb loading, but French fries and ice cream are best saved for after the meet. The only thing that might be worse than your child missing all of their events is your child puking and delaying everyone else's meets. If you want your child at peak performance level, pack healthy snacks. Orange slices aren't just for parks and rec soccer anymore. 4. EMBRACE THE CHAOS: Swim meets are exciting and loud. Think of a Taylor Swift concert but with chlorine. There is also a lot of sit- ting around and doing nothing, so parents can and should volunteer at the meets so they can not only help move things along swim- mingly but also get a front row seat to look upon other people's kids with haughty disdain. 5. KEEP IT SIMPLE: Yes, we live in an era of cell phones, but kids may surprise you with their capacity to learn how to throw a frisbee or play cards. So don't be afraid to give your swimmer a true 1990s swim meet experience while they wait. 6. HAVE FUN TOGETHER: Lastly, have fun and keep it in perspec- tive. The Fredericksburg area has produced a number of world-class swimmers but odds are that your child might just enjoy making new friends and learning a life skill without ever being named an All- American in the 50-meter backstroke. College Heights Pool 250 Greenbrier Drive, F'burg Cost: Membership required Season: May 30–Sept. 7 Hours: Daily Doris E. Buffett Pool 1300 Dixon Street, F'burg Cost: $6–$8 | Free for city residents with ID Season: May 23–Sept. 7 Hours: Weekdays, 12–6 p.m.; weekends, 12–8 p.m. Ferry Farm Community Pool 711 Jett Street, F'burg Cost: Membership required Season: May 23–Sept. 7 Hours: Times vary by day, shorter hours on swim meet days Grafton Pool 11 Mercer Lane, F'burg Cost: Membership required Season: May 23–Sept. 7 Hours: Sunday–Thursday, 12–7 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, 12–8 p.m. Riverfront Park Splash Pad 713 Sophia Street, F'burg Cost: FREE! Season: May 23–Sept. 7 Hours: 10 a.m.–6 p.m., daily Looking for ways to cool off close to home? Our guide is round- ing up the best pools and splash pads across Fredericksburg and surrounding areas, so you can find the right fit for your crew. Whether you're chasing fountains downtown or planning a full day at the pool, these local spots make it easy to dive into summer fun. WRITTEN BY SAMANTHA HENRY A Guide to Pools and Splash Pads Around Fredericksburg Fredericksburg con nued on pg 13 King George King George Family YMCA 10545 Kings Highway, King George Cost: Membership or day pass Season: Year-round Hours: Monday–Thursday, 5 a.m.–7:30 p.m.; Saturday, 7 a.m.–5:30 p.m.; Sunday, 12–3:30 p.m. The Salem Fields Sunfi sh 2025.