Coburn Dives into Lead Aquatic Center Role

May 20

Skyler Coburn, above, will take a break from college to provide leadership this summer as the Aquatic Center Supervisor, managing open swim, lifeguards and swim lessons.

Tom Peterson / Photos courtesy Skyler Coburn

The Dalles, Ore., March 2025 — Skyler Coburn is set to make a splash this summer as he will fill the role of Aquatic Supervisor with Northern Wasco County Parks and Rec. this summer.

The 19-year-old TDHS graduate has worked his way into the deep end after almost a decade either swimming or working at the Aquatic Center at 602 W 2nd St.

Coburn will manage the Aquatic Center, open swim hours, swim lessons, lifeguards and working with assistants on different community events in the pool.

“I’m super excited for this summer,” he said recently while in between classes at Stevenson University near Baltimore, MD. “It will be my sixth summer since I started working there.”

“I’ve been a lifeguard, head lifeguard and swim instructor - so I am really excited to take on this new position.”

He plans to bring his work ethic to the pool this summer.

“There are a lot of people that are returning, and we have a really awesome staff,” he said. “I am excited to work with them, and I have been working with Scott (Baker) all 6 summers…”

What do you do in the role?

“I’ll be checking in with swim instructors and giving tips and hosting swim instructor training and teaching good, high-quality lessons to make it fun for the kids and make sure there is plenty of opportunity for kids to be involved in those swim lessons,” Skyler said.

Always a Swimmer

Skyler’s swim career goes back more than a decade.

He loves to compete. He finished his swim season in the middle of February at Stevenson University.

And he does not take the easy lane.

His events include the 400 and 200 medley swims -which include butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, and freestyle.

Coburn was also a glutton for punishment during track at TDHS preferring the hurdle and high jump.

“I like to push myself doing any sport,” he said.

What’s it like when you're in that last 20 yards before touching the wall in a tight race?

“Swimming I would say is like running in track,

but you use your entire body until you hit that point - digging deep to find the energy when your body is out of oxygen and you have to endure to win. You’re whole body is feeling like your digging.

You have to find any energy you have left because in free style (the final stroke in the medley) does not take as much energy but it requires you to move fast to keep your momentum. You have to give everything you have left to win.”

Coburnnat right when The Dalles Swim Team

How does that translate to your work?

His experience on the swim team has also prepared him for working within a group.

“One of the huge things is being part of a team,” he said.”I really enjoy making a lot of friends through it - I still talk to a lot of my old teammates from The Dalles SwimTeam and High School Team.”

Coburn landed back in The Dalles in mid-May and he has already gone to work in preparing for the season by getting in touch with staff and making plans for the summer.

“It’s really exciting,” he said. “I am glad I got the opportunity to do this.”

Coburn is working toward his degree in biology and plans to attend medical school to become a physician’s assistant.

Click here to read all about parks in the Spring / Summer 2025 Newsletter.