About SwimRVA
SwimRVA is highly regarded for its excellent spectator facilities, including comfortable seating, good views, and modern amenities like power outlets and 5G service, making it a good venue for watching aquatic events. However, for its children's summer camps, there is a significant reported concern regarding child safety and the enforcement of disciplinary actions.
What parents should know
Summarized from real visitor reviews.
Best for: Watching competitive swimming meets or aquatic events, due to excellent spectator amenities.Adults seeking masters swimming or open water training, particularly the Hammerheads or Winter Open Water programs, known for experienced coaching and a supportive environment.No specific age ranges mentioned for children's camps, but the negative review is specifically for 'my child' at a summer camp.Adult programs (Hammerheads, Winter Open Water) cater to 'college athlete,' 'masters swimmer,' 'athletes of all skill level,' 'aspiring triathletes,' and 'former elite swimmers.'
Why families love it
- Excellent spectator experience with good seating, views, and bleachers with seatbacks.
- Convenient amenities for spectators: power outlets along walls, 5G service, good sound system with understandable announcer, and a great video board.
- Coaching staff for adult programs (Hammerheads, Winter Open Water) are highly praised as welcoming, experienced, helpful, and knowledgeable, catering to all skill levels with safety as a primary concern.
- Facility described as 'fantastic' and a 'special place' for adult swim programs.
- Spectator seating with seatbacks and room for personal camp chairs.
- Power outlets available along spectator walls.
Insider tips
- For parents considering summer camps, thoroughly inquire about their child safety protocols, bullying prevention, and disciplinary action policies, especially regarding repeated incidents.
- If attending as a spectator, note that bleachers have seatbacks, and you can bring a camp chair for added comfort.
Good to know before you go
- Summer camps at the SwimRVA North location without explicit clarification on how they have addressed the reported child safety and disciplinary issues.
- Enrollment in children's camps if child safety and zero tolerance for bullying are your absolute top priorities, based on the specific negative review.
- A direct report of significant child safety issues at a summer camp (SwimRVA North location), where a child was repeatedly hit and kicked by another child.
- Lack of disciplinary action taken against the aggressor, who was allowed to continue attending the camp for multiple weeks.
- Staff reportedly excused the aggressor's behavior by stating the child also hit counselors, leading to concerns about the priority of children's safety.
- Accessibility
- Room to bring a camp chair is mentioned, which could imply some space for personal mobility aids, but no formal accessibility accommodations are specified.
- Safety
- For adult programs (Hammerheads, Winter Open Water), safety is emphasized as the 'ultimate concern,' with programs modified for all skill levels and a deliberate focus on safety education for open water swimming.
What parents say
"Great spectator experience. I've been to a number of poops over the years to watch my kids and this place is my favorite. Good amount of seating with good views regardless of where you sit. Bleachers have seatbacks! Room to bring a camp chair if you want. Power outlets along wall behind bleachers. 5G service. Good sound system, can actually understand the announcer (The announcer at the meets I've attended is fantastic, btw!). Great video board. Reasonable amount of parking."
a month ago
"Terrible experience at one of their camps last summer (2024). My child was hit and kicked by another child at the SwimRVA North location. After the 1st time I thought it'd be handled, but it happened 2 or 3 more times after that. No disciplinary action was enforced and that child was allowed to continue attending the camp for more weeks thereafter. When I tried to get them to take action I was told the child also hit the counselors so I guess that made it acceptable in their eyes. Bottom line, SwimRVA DOES NOT make the children's safety their number one priority."
a week ago
"I have used this facility since it has opened, first as a college athlete and then as a masters swimmer. The Hammerheads program has created a space for masters swimming that makes you want to keep coming back. The winter open water training program is an incredible opportunity for athletes of all skill level to have a realistic experience in preparation for open water swimming but in a controlled environment. The program is very deliberate in emphasizing safety and making sure athletes understand the reality of open water swimming. Staff cater to the needs of all skill levels, modifying the p"
3 months ago
Reviews sourced from public Google data.
More summer camps in Richmond
Summer Camps Riverside Outfitters
4.9(360)4.9 out of 5 stars, 360 reviews325 S 14th St, Richmond
Summer Camps SCOR Sports Center of Richmond
4.4(651)4.4 out of 5 stars, 651 reviews1385 Overbrook Rd, Richmond
Summer Camps Visual Arts Center of Richmond
4.7(297)4.7 out of 5 stars, 297 reviews1812 W Main St, Richmond
Summer Camps Tuckahoe Family YMCA
4.5(347)4.5 out of 5 stars, 347 reviews9211 Patterson Ave, Richmond