FAMILY SPLASH AND PADDLE SESSIONS ARE FOR FAMILIES TO ENJOY THE WATER AND LAKESIDE.
THESE SESSIONS ARE FOR PADDLING AND LIMITED SWIMMING ONLY - THERE ARE ALTERNATIVE SESSIONS AVAILABLE FOR THOSE WHO WISH TO SWIM.

Family Splash and Paddle will be overseen by an OWA Lifeguard.
The lifeguards are there to manage your safety and ensure rules are being abided only.

THE RULES (very important - by booking you are agreeing to follow all the rules below).
OVERVIEW

It is especially important that participants understand, this is a body of open water and so comes with many risk elements.
The water is not heated, so time spent in the water should be assessed depending on how acclimatised you and your child are to open water temperatures - please ensure you and your children are wearing swimwear that means you can safely enjoy the water without the risk of sunburn or hypothermia. You can check the current water temperature by visiting our website or calling us. You also need to protect your skin from the sun and sunburn. To do this we recommend using swim tops, all in one swimwear or wetsuit/tri-suits that cover your skin. This will also limit the oils transmitted from sun creams into our open water lake.

PARENTAL GUIDANCE AND AGE LIMITS - FAMILY SPLASH AND PADDLE
Parents/Guardians must accompany their children at all times in and out of the water.
Children under 3 years old are not permitted to enter the water.
Children under 6 years old must be accompanied in the water by an adult (18 and over) on a ration of 1 adult to 1 child.
Children under 6 years old must wear a buoyancy aid at all times in the water (please bring your own in the form of a lifejacket, arm bands, ring, noodle etc).
Children 6 years and over may only enter the water without a buoyancy aid if they are a confident pool swimmer and can swim at least 50m unaided.
Paddling tots must be holding onto their parents hands.
Children who can swim competently in a pool may have a swim, but again the parent MUST swim alongside them at all times.

Height restriction of 1.2m applies for children who wish to swim accompanied by parent/guardian during the splash and paddle.
DO NOT AT ANY TIME LEAVE YOUR CHILD UNACCOMPANIED IN OR AROUND THE WATER.

TIME SLOTS
You have 30mins to enjoy the water, and the number of participants will be limited to provide adequate outdoor space, and management of car parking.

You can finish your splash and paddle before the 30mins slot is up, and spend some time walking around the lake, gardens or on the patio. Please notify a member of the OWA team if you finish your session early.

TIME SPENT ON SITE
We have a limited number of spaces in our car park and so we can only allow a certain amount of time on site.
Please do not arrive earlier than 15mins prior to your start time. This will allow you time to park, sign in, change and access the water.
Each family is permitted an additional 20 minutes following their 30 minute slot to spend on site to enjoy the grounds (not in the water).

ENTERING AND EXITING THE WATER
You will only be able to enter the water at your exact start time.
You can complete your session and exit the water anytime within your 30 minute slot.
Our OWA team will call you in when the 30 minute time slot is over.
Your 30 minute time slot is fixed, we cannot allow additional time if you are late due to traffic/other reasons.
Please give your name at reception on your way out, so our receptionist knows you have left site.

FACILITIES AVAILABLE
Please note that at this time changing rooms and showers are not available for use.
Toilets and changing cubicles.
Free onsite car parking for those who have booked - please note that your cars and any valuables are left at your own risk.
Please arrive swim ready (eg have your cozzy on under your clothes...saves time getting changed if you run late).
Please ensure you have suitable equipment to allow you to change following your swim.
The main entry/exit to the lake is a gradual ramp into the water - perfect for paddling.
The family splash and paddle area depth drops gradually to a max of 1.2m.
Family splash and paddle is limited to this area only.

SUGGESTED SWIM EQUIPMENT
Suitable swimwear.
Buoyancy aid for children (arm bands, inflatables, noodles)
*Please provide relevant safety wear for your child depending on their ability and age.
Wetsuits or All in One Sun Protection swimsuits for kids.
Rash Vest / Swim Top.
Warm towels.
Warm robes.
Blanket for the bank.

FOOD & DRINK
Our cafe serves hot drinks, cold drinks, freshly baked cakes where you can enjoy on our patio and garden area.
We ask that food is kept in this area to avoid littering the lakeside.
You are not permitted to bring your own picnics/throw away food items to Ocean Walker Academy.
For the health and enjoyment of everyone, do not litter in or around our lake. Please ensure that any food items you consume that creates litter goes in the bins provided (at the patio or toilet area) or goes home with you.
You are not permitted to bring and/or consume alcohol or drugs at Ocean Walker Academy.

HOW TO BOOK
Adults (aged 16 years and over) £6.50 each
Children (aged 15 years and under) £4.00 each
The booking responsible Adult must be 18 years and over, selecting the correct qty of adults by adjusting the qty.
Then ticking the relevant tick box for how many children.

If a member of the family wishes to join you to watch (not swim) they can just pay £3 on the door (spectator fee).

DOGS DURING FAMILY SPLASH AND PADDLE
Sorry no dogs during this session.

ISLANDS, TREES AND GENERAL AREAS
You are not permitted to climb onto the islands (except in an emergency).
Visitors are not permitted to pick plants.
Visitors must not throw grass, sticks, stones or any other item into the lake at any time – anyone caught throwing will be immediately removed from the site.
Visitors may not climb, hang from or carve any tree, rock or item at the venue.
Visitors are not permitted to lift or remove any display items from their position.

NO SMOKING
We are a no smoking/vaping venue, this includes the car park.

EVERYONE is required to abide by our venue rules this is for your safety and your enjoyment. If we feel that someone is not following our guidance during their visit, they will be asked to leave the venue. If this is a non-swimmer, the swimmer will be required to finish their swim so that they can leave site.

BOOKINGS/RESCHEDULING/CANCELLATIONS
All bookings to be made online.
You can book up to 2hrs in advance of a slot.
You can reschedule up to 24hrs before your slot.
PLEASE NOTE: We cannot make last minute changes to your booking over the phone, if something comes up on the day or you are late for example.
If you arrive late but within your time slot, you can use the remainder of the time of your booked slot, sorry we cannot extend your session to another time slot.
You can manage your bookings from the confirmation email you receive upon booking.
Missed slots are non-transferable.
You cannot transfer your booked slots into the following year.
We cannot transfer bookings for family splash and paddle sessions/slots to alternative courses.
Refunds for cancelled bookings are not automatic. They will be administered once a month, via the original payment method with the payment processing fee deducted.

Please book your slots with the intention to use them.
One person cannot book all available slots within the same 30 minutes (for friends for example) each adult must book their own slot.
If we deem that slots are being booked and rescheduled in a manner that is causing problems for both the OWA team or other swimmers, then you will be notified and in extreme cases you may be banned from booking future swim slots at the OWA venue.

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