Incoming beach director Matt Northrup. (Photo by Lisa Aciukewicz)
“This year it’s going to be totally new management, because it’s the first time hiring someone from outside,” said Parks and Recreation commissioner B.J. Pessia. “…We want to try to change the image down here a little bit, being much more customer friendly.”
The new waterfront director, Matt Northrup, is not entirely new to Harvard. Northrup coached the Bromfield swim team this winter and served in the spring as an assistant lacrosse coach. His coaching approach, Pessia said, was “stern, but fun.”
“And that’s what we want down here [at the beach],” she said, “stern, but fun.”
Northrup is the first director in recent years not to emerge from the waterfront program developed by the late Nancy Brown, who served in the post for 40 years starting in 1966. Through Brown’s program, which is still going strong, several generations of Harvard teens have started as beach volunteers at 12 years old and worked their way up to become paid staff and lifeguards. A veteran of that program, Elise Bilodeau, has returned for the summer from college in New York City to serve as head lifeguard.
“This is a great job,” Bilodeau said. “I think I would have a hard time being in an office setting for the summer after I worked here for so long.”
Despite the ten-year spread of their ages, Bilodeau said, the waterfront staff is a tight-knit group. Throughout the summer they bond with bonfires, trips to Kimball Farm for ice cream, and even a water show.
“There’s a lot of camaraderie here,” Pessia said. “It’s like a camp. That’s the kind of thing that, as a parent, attracted me to the place.”
Northrup, a Boston resident with a degree from Boston College, said he’s not interested in changing any of the traditions enjoyed by the beach staff—save a few “bad habits.”
“I just want to make sure that everyone is doing their part, especially safety-wise, first and foremost,” he said. “…I want it to be the best summer a lot of these kids have had. I’ve got a philosophy: work hard, play hard. So as long as everybody’s doing what they’re supposed to, I think it can be a very fun summer.”
One of the keys to a successful summer on the beach will be open communication, Northrup said.
“When people come to the beach and there’s something that they’re not liking that’s going on, I want to be someone that they can communicate with, and I can communicate with our staff to make sure that everyone’s having a safe, but enjoyable time,” he said.
New this season
New this season at the pond is Water Tots, swimming lessons for toddlers. Two sections—for ages 0 to 2 and 3 to 4—are being offered. A parent is required in the water at all times for each toddler.
The idea behind the Water Tots program is to get the toddlers used to being in the water. Parents and session leaders play games and sing silly songs with the toddlers, Pessia said.
“It’s all games,” she said. “You never teach kids how to swim. You just have fun with them in the water and then they learn how to swim.”
At the other end of the age spectrum is a new water aerobics program for adults.
“This is a deep-water class,” Pessia said. “They’ll have a flotation belt on, moving in the water without any weight on the ground, which is really good for you.”
The pond staff is also emphasizing its boating options this season. In addition to boating lessons, the pond has eight sailboats, six canoes, and four kayaks available for rental.
“We have these huge assets: we have all these sailboats, we have this beautiful pond, and [in past summers] the sailboats would sit on the moorings all day. After class, they would never be used again,” Pessia said. “So this year, we’re going to put the sailboats on the beach, with all the riggings and everything on them.”
As long as beach patrons can pass a deep water test (treading water with their clothes on), they qualify to take out the sailboats and other boats when they’re not being used for classes. And during the last week of June the waterfront staff will keep all the boats out on the beach, available at no charge to help get patrons familiar with them. There will also be a portable rock climbing wall on the beach during this preview week.
Also new this season: a snack bar, which will offer ice cream, drinks, and pre-made, pre-packaged food. A Keurig single-serving coffee maker will also be on hand to help parents stay alert during early-morning swim lessons.
“We’ve got a lot of new programs that B.J.’s worked hard to install, so I think it’s really going to make the kids have a good time—the kids who are coming to do lessons and the families and parents that will be here,” Northrup said. “I think it will be different than in the past and I think it will be a much better, more fun summer for most people.”
The waterfront at Bare Hill Pond is staffed until 7:30 p.m. each night. Parking stickers for Harvard residents and taxpayers may be purchased at the beach for $40.
