Water Carnival a Big Splash for Chatham Kids

Amy Nauta, the pool director at , hosted the annual Water Carnival Thursday night.

Children ages 4 to 8 who take swimming lessons can show off what they've learned at the water carnival. Skills include basics, such as kicking and pattling for the 4-year-olds, to breastroke, backstroke and freestyle for the 7- and 8-year-olds.

Nauta said the Water Carnival has been an annual tradition "for as long as I've been here, so at least 25, 26 years." This year, however, the pool had a record number of 59 students take lessons.

Laura Schaefer is the assistant director, and Paul Pender is the head lifeguard. Other lifeguards and swim instructors include Brian Schaefer, Joe Mascolo and Jess Carey.