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Facility Information and Hours > M.C. Johnson Natatorium

M.C. Johnson Natatorium

Welcome to Southern Miss Recreational Sports Aquatics. With the only collegiate indoor pool in the area, we offer recreational programs, instructional programs and special events throughout the year. Our facility, the M.C. Johnson Natatorium, is located inside the Payne Center on the Hattiesburg campus of The University of Southern Mississippi.

A variety of activities are available to the participant who wants to swim laps, dive off the boards or simply come in and enjoy the 84-degree water.

Pool Parties
The natatorium is a great place to throw a child's birthday party-the kids love it, and so will you! Our heated indoor pool, complete with certified lifeguards, is available for pool parties during the weekends. Call our reservation staff at 601.266.5405 for special times and costs for private or open recreational swim parties. We are the best when winter is at its worst!

Party Rules
All parties must be approved by the director.
All reservation requests must be handled by a member of the reservations department or the director.
Requests will be taken on a first-come, first-approved basis.
There will be a maximum of 30 swimmers between the two parties in the pool at one time.
Each child is not required to have a parent with him or her, the group is simply required to have a parent with them.
Birthday parties are only allowed on Saturdays and Sundays.
Available during the fall and spring semesters

1. Saturday morning private party: These parties are from 9:30 to 11 a.m. only. No other groups will be in the pool at the time of the party. There is a $50 deposit due, before the part takes place, for the first 15 swimmers, and $3 for every swimmer other that number.
   
2. Saturday during rec swim: these parties can be from 1:30 to 3 p.m. or from 2:30 to 4 p.m. There is the possibility that two parties can be going on simultaneously. The total number of swimmers in both parties can not exceed 30. These parties are $3 per swimmer. Party hosts will be on the honor system for counting their party members and paying the appropriate amount to central control in the Payne Center.
   
3. Sunday during rec swim: This party is from 2:30 to 4 p.m.. These parties are $3 per swimmer. Party hosts will be on the honor system for counting their party members and paying the appropriate amount to central control in the Payne Center.

For all birthday parties
Once all participants are present, a lifeguard will assemble the group and explain the rules of the pool, discuss swimming safety, and administer the swim test.

Swim test: Each child will be asked to swim across the pool at the shallow end. Children over 10 may be able to swim across at the middle of the pool. If in the lifeguard's judgment, a child has swimming skills sufficient for the deep water, then he or she will be allowed to use the whole pool. If this is not the case, then the child will be restricted to the shallow end. A child may ask a lifeguard for a retest at anytime during the party.

For more information, please call our reservation staff at 601.266.5405.

Instructional Programs

Throughout the year, in conjunction with the Department of Human Performance and Recreation, we offer several lifeguard training classes by the American Red Cross. These classes prepare people to work as professional lifeguards. We also offer other classes ranging from Beginning Swimming to Scuba Diving.

Special Events

We host a variety of special events every year for both the spectator and the participant. These include the Delta Gamma Anchor Splash, family swimming times, intramural swim meets, and specialized training sessions for children with disabilities. We are also the home of the Hub Fins Swim Team, a local USS Swimming Team.

For more information about any of our programs, please call 601.266.5430