Summer water fun is near and the Ames Parks and Recreation Department has courses for those wishing to improve swimming and life guarding skills.

March 31 through April 30, adult swim lessons will be given. The class is for all adults ranging from beginners to those wishing to improve their swim strokes.

The lessons will be held on Mondays and Wednesdays from 7:45 to 8:30 p.m. The cost for the course is $24 for residents and $29 for non-residents.

Along with the adult swim lessons, the American Red Cross will offer “Learn to Swim Lessons” for young people.

Classes will also be held on Mondays and Wednesdays. Class times are 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. and 7:05 to 7:35 p.m. for younger children.

From 6:45 to 7:30 p.m. is the class for beginners, advanced beginners, intermediates, swimmers and junior life guarding. The cost is $20 for residents and $25 for non-residents.

The deadline for both adult swim lessons and the “Learn to Swim Youth Lessons” is March 24.

The Ames Parks and Recreation will offer an American Red Cross life guarding course on March 18, 20, 25, 27, April 1 and 3.

The classes will be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Municipal Indoor Pool, located outside of Ames High School.

“The purpose of this course is to provide necessary skills and knowledge for an individual to qualify as a lifeguard in a swimming pool setting,” said Paul Peanasky, supervisor of aquatic activities for the Ames Parks and Recreation Department.

The course includes all first aid and CPR requirements for the Red Cross Lifeguard certification. The cost is $45 plus books for residents of Ames and $50 plus books for non-residents.

The deadline to register for the life guarding course is March 22.

For lifeguards, Ames Parks and Recreation will be offering a CPR-Professional Rescuer Recertification Challenge course on Saturday, March 22 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Municipal Pool.

The course will meet the requirements that all American Red Cross certified lifeguards must have renewed on an annual basis.

The cost is $12 for residents and $17 for non-residents.