“I work with the best people and have a great manager!” exclaimed 19-year-old Caitlin Nicolazzi who is a lifeguard and swim instructor at the Julia Butler Hansen Municipal Swimming Pool in Cathlamet.

“This is my second year here. I came back because I love the job and I love the people that I work with.”

This year, Duncan Cruickshank joins the crew as the pool manager. The pool employs 12 people during the summer in addition to Cruickshank. With a new manager comes some new ideas including a fresh look to the pool with marine figures decorating the pool bottom.

“The pool has been freshened up with some paint, and usually there is some lively music going and fun in the water. There is also a plan to have a midnight swim soon, so stay tuned,” Cruickshank said. “The lifeguards, all of whom except myself are returning, are great. They teach lessons, private lessons and they do a good job of supervising the pool so that things don't get out of hand.”

With the summer opening taking place June 15, the pool is now open weekdays from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.

“I think it is very important that kids have a safe place to learn how to swim," Cruickshank said. "I also think it very important that parents have a place that their kids can go and know they will be supervised but can still grow in independence and have fun,” explained Cruickshank.

“We’ve got lap swim on the 6's and aerobics on the 7's. I think there are more lap swimmers at night and more aerobics people in the morning.

"We teach lessons from 8 to 11 a.m. and 4 to 6 p.m. each day. Open swim is either 11 to 4 or 8 to 10 at night (under floodlights),” Cruickshank said. “The night swim has been the most popular. Sometimes there are 50 kids. That same 50 kid group would otherwise be sitting being entertained or finding uncontrolled ways to entertain themselves which can lead to all sorts of trouble. The pool is not a baby sitter, nor is a school, but there are some functions that the pool performs which are similar."

“I would definitely say that the pool is a great place to see people, and everyone is always having a good time,” said Nicolazzi, who watched local youth splash in the bright blue water, toss beach balls and float on inner tubes.

An asset to the entire community, pool staff encourage the public to come in for a swim and a splash. Scholarships are available for lessons and pool time. Donations are also graciously accepted.