North Hills Sprinters gather for pre-practice stretches at North Hills Pool. The first meet of the season is 6 p.m. today.

NORTH HILLS – Organizers are encouraging everyone to take swim lessons at the North Hills Pool where the first home meet of the season will be held at 6 p.m. today.

Lessons are the best place to start for peace of mind around water, Diana Wilson, a North Hills resident and president of the North Hills Pool Board, said.

“Between North Hills swim lessons and the swim team, my three girls became strong, confident safe swimmers,” she said. “You’re never too old to get better. The confidence and skills children gain in the water are something they carry with them for life.”

North Hills swim lessons are offered in two-week sessions, a format that Linda Alt, who coached the Parkersburg High School swim team, believes gives children the consistency needed to make meaningful progress.

While children learn in one week, the second week is often when skills begin to click. The extra time allows swimmers to build confidence, strengthen technique and become safer in the water, she said.

Holden Harris, 5, prepares for swim team practice with Coach Linda Alt at North Hills Pool. For generations of local swimmers, Alt has been a familiar face on the pool deck, teaching not only strokes and technique, but confidence and a love of the sport.

Lessons are available at 9 a.m. Monday-Friday for children ages 3-5 and at 9:45 a.m. for ages 6 and older. Registration remains open for lessons and children 5-18 also are encouraged to join the North Hills Sprinters Swim Team, which practices 10:45 a.m. to noon Monday-Friday.

Families interested in lessons or the swim team can register online at

https://north-hills-pool.square.site/s/shop?page=1&limit=30&sort_by=popularity_score&sort_order=desc.

“One of the things we’ve learned through this process is how deeply this community values the North Hills Pool,” Wilson said. “It’s more than a place to swim. It’s where children learn life-saving skills, build friendships, gain confidence and create memories that last a lifetime. We hope even more families will join us this summer.”

For more information about lessons, swim team registration or other pool programming, contact North Hills Pool at 304-834-1005, email northhillspool@gmail.com or follow @northhillspoolparkersburg on social media.

Ava Burdette, 6, and her brother, Cash, 5, work on their skills using kick-boards during North Hills swim team practice.

About 130 participants from the North Hills Sprinters swim team, coached by Alt, the Parkersburg Country Club and Parkersburg will participate in today’s meet. Residents are encouraged to attend and cheer for the local athletes.

The North Hills Sprinters includes about 60 swimmers ages 5-18 competing in age groups of 8 and younger, 10 and younger, 12 and younger, 14 and younger and 18 and younger.

The experience has come full circle for Leah Harris, a North Hills resident and member of the pool board.

“I spent years taking swim lessons and swimming under Linda’s guidance as both a North Hills Sprinter and a Parkersburg Big Red, so it’s incredibly special to watch things come full circle as my oldest son, Holden, begins his own swim journey with her,” Harris said. “In just one week of participating in both swim lessons and swim team, I’ve already watched him begin learning freestyle and backstroke techniques. It’s amazing to see how quickly children grow when they’re given consistent instruction, repetition and encouragement. I would encourage any family with children ages 5 to 18 to take lessons and give the swim team a try. The skills they gain will last a lifetime and they’ll have a lot of fun along the way.”

Other parents say they see similar results.

Photos Provided Siblings Ben Warner, 8, Hazel Warner, 7, Timothy Warner, 5, and Callan Warner, 3, enjoy time together between swim lessons and swim team practice at North Hills Pool. The pool recommends swim lessons for everyone and is encouraging attendance at the first swim meet of the season at 6 p.m. today. (Photos provided)

“We have five kids ages 8, 7, 5, 3 and 1 and have been so grateful for the excellent instruction at North Hills Pool,” Ashley Warner said. “I have two children in lessons and two on the swim team, and what I appreciate most is how the coaches challenge them to keep growing and trying new things. Even after just the first week, I’ve already noticed them becoming much more confident in the water.”

The North Hills Swim Team has been a great experience for the family, Ivy Burdette said.

“Thanks to the patient and knowledgeable coaches, both of my kids have gained confidence and improved their swimming skills in just one week of practice,” she said. “They can’t wait to get to the pool each day.”

Alt, who has coached swimmers since 1972, returned to North Hills this year after several years away. In addition to coaching the Sprinters, she is mentoring the next generation of instructors, lifeguards, and coaches by passing along the methods and philosophy that have shaped decades of successful swimmers.

Young swimmers who progress most quickly are often those participating in both swim lessons and swim team, where they benefit from additional opportunities to reinforce the skills they are learning, Alt said.

“I’ve been teaching and coaching long enough to know that these methods work,” Alt said. “If parents entrust us with their children and commit to the process, the results will come. Swimming is all about repetition. With consistency, time, and practice, children build the skills and confidence they need to become stronger, safer swimmers.”