FAQs
Do you have to live in Lake Wildwood to participate?
You do not! The Water Otters are open to any Nevada County residents.
When is the season?
Practices start the last week in May and the 2026 Season concludes with Championships on August 1.
Practices occur Monday-Thursday evenings in a 45 minute to 1 hour time slot between 5-8pm (with the youngest swimmers starting earlier).
There are 5 Saturday meets and 1 Championship meet. The full schedule can be viewed HERE.
How much does it cost?
We do everything we can to keep costs minimal. We are aiming for registration fees of $150 for the first child and $135 for siblings for the 2026 season. The fee covers insurance, pool usage, coaches wages, and team equipment.
The team does one Splash for Cash fundraiser to help subsidize additional costs.
How do I register?
Registration for the 2026 season will open in February 2026. Links will be provided here when it is live.
How competitive is the team (i.e. what if my child is not the next Michael Phelps?!?)
Not to worry- there is only one Michael Phelps on this planet!
The Water Otters is a club recreation team where the primary focus of the Water Otters is to help build confidence in your children. While there is a competitive dimension through meets, we encourage swimmers to focus on improving their own individual performance and cheering on others- both in and out of the pool.
A swim test will occur before the season starts which ensures that all swimmers are water safe- they absolutely are NOT required to know how to do all strokes (I mean, how many of you parents can do butterfly?!!).
What involvement is required from parent(s)/guardian(s)?
We require each family cover between 3-5 volunteer shifts (the final number is based on how many swimmers participate in a given season- the more families we have, the fewer shifts for everyone… tell your friends about the Water Otters!). Most positions are typically half of one swim meet. Example positions are timer, burger cook, set up/tear down, etc.
Volunteering is fun for parents and a great way for the whole family to participate in the community!
Does my child have to attend every single practice and meet?
The short answer is no, they do not!
While we do believe that every additional practice and meet helps develop the skills of your child, we completely understand that families may have conflicting summer plans and commitments.
Practices take place Monday through Thursday evenings and Friday afternoons from late May- late July. The full team schedule can be viewed HERE.