Fitness Opportunities

Without health, no education is complete. We know our students can only achieve their best academically if they are healthy. As part of the activity fee, we provide boarding students membership at the University of Maine at Machias Center for Lifelong Learning. Daily transportation is provided from the school to the Center.

The Center includes a competition-size swimming pool, a fully equipped fitness room, racquetball courts, an aerobics/multipurpose room, and the largest gymnasium in eastern Maine. The Center staff includes certified personal trainers, fitness instructors, and lifeguards. Students can use the facilities independently or take one of many courses included in the membership.

Aquatics: The competitive length six-lane swimming pool is perfect for swimming laps or taking one of many levels of swimming lessons and fitness classes. The pool is staffed at all times by American Red Cross certified lifeguards; all classes are taught by certified instructors. The swim instructors teach a variety of strokes, including the front crawl, back crawl, elementary backstroke, breaststroke, sidestroke, and butterfly. Instructors also introduce a range of personal safety skills and diving techniques. Private swim lessons are available to those who prefer one-on-one instruction.

Fitness Room: The Center for Lifelong Learning has a variety of equipment for the perfect workout. Students can receive one free session with a certified personal trainer to create an individualized fitness program and learn to use the equipment. The aerobic equipment includes advanced treadmills, Stairmasters, recumbent bicycles, upright bicycles, and Elliptical Cross Trainers. The weight training equipment includes state of the art BodyMasters selectorized weight-training equipment (including a Smith machine and cable crossover), free weights and Universal selectorized equipment.

Many Fitness classes are available as well, most of them free to boarding Washington Academy students, although a few have a small fee. Some of the Fitness Classes offered include: Aquacise, Women on Weights, Butts 'n Guts, Fitness Swimming/Masters Swimming, Iyengar Yoga, Aerobics, Power Yoga, Cardio Kickboxing, Tai Chi, Fencing, Youth Summer Swim Team, Beginning Water Polo, and various styles of Dance Classes.

Martial Arts: The Center for Lifelong Learning also has a comprehensive Martial Arts training program offered in partnership with Coastal Martial Arts. Classes include Basic Karate, Shorin Ryu Karate, Okinawan Kobudo, Jujitsu, Judo, and Taiho Jitsu. Special monthly classes provide advanced instruction for Black Belt students. A special weapons class, Kobudo, is also offered for advanced students.