A crew doing The World’s Toughest Row, 2025

There’s something about September that makes the calendar feel a little different. Summer isn’t quite over, but routines are shifting and it feels like a good time to decide what you want to put on the calendar next.

For me, I’ve added something pretty big. In December 2027, I’m going to row across the Atlantic Ocean. Yes. You read that correctly. I’ll be part of a four-person team, Team Rising Tide, rowing roughly 3,000 miles from the Canary Islands to Antigua in the World’s Toughest Row.

Right now, December 2027 feels VERY far away. But that’s part of why I want to share this journey with our GMCF community. Big goals start when you decide to do something that feels scary, crazy, or maybe even impossible and then figure out how to get there. You make a plan. You train. You learn. You adjust. And you keep showing up.

And really, that’s what happens here every day. Your GMCF membership gives you a place to start, restart, try something new, build toward something bigger, and discover what you’re capable of.

Over the next 15 months, I’ll share that process with you, and I hope you’ll come along for the ride. It starts this November with Help Float Our Boat, a fundraising event right here at GMCF where you can step inside the adventure, learn what it takes to row an ocean, and help Team Rising Tide get closer to the starting line.

So, my challenge to all of you this September: Put something on the calendar that you’re not quite sure you can do yet. Then go get it!

Group Swim Lessons schedule:

• 9/7 8 AM: Swim lesson registration opens for the 2026.6 Fall session
• 9/20 – 11/13/26: 8-week session (1x/week)

For more information, click the button to view our Swim Lessons page. Registration goes live Monday, 9/7!

Read through the FAQs for additional details and email our Aquatics Director with any other questions or concerns.

Get your guard certification before pool season next summer! (For ages 15+) Lisa Kinsman and Kae Zaino, highly experienced and well-qualified Lifeguard Instructors, will provide you with an enjoyable combination (online & in-person) course experience filled with everything you need to know to become an American Red Cross Lifeguard.

Our upcoming course in October/November is now open for registration! 

Dates: October 27, November 2-6, 9-13, 2026
Cost: From $200 (Varies depending certification type)

Apprehensive about the prerequisite swim skills test? Sign up for our pre-course training sessions to practice w/an instructor.

GMCF SwimClub is a swim team for the joy of it! A training program for swimmers between the ages of 13-18, SwimClub has a focus on building swim-specific strength alongside technique, endurance and speed in the water. With 3 coached sessions per week during the Winter season, both in the gym and in the pool, GMCF SwimClub is your place to find friends, fitness and fun!

Dates: November 2 – February 19, 2027
Schedule: Mondays 5:30-6:30 PM (gym session), Wednesdays 5:30-6:30 PM (pool session), Fridays 5:00-6:00 PM (pool session)
Cost: $657; Includes swim cap, club t-shirt

Learn pickleball with this 2-hour clinic for beginner players covering the basics of technique, rules & scoring. 

Date: 9/12/26, 9-11 AM
Cost: $35

5 weeks of fun and competitive pickleball play await you in our GMCF Pickleball Leagues‘ Fall session!

Dates: 9/21-10/19/26;
Mondays, 4:30-7 PM

Supportive instruction and gameplay designed to make the game accessible to people with disabilities.

Dates: 9/16-10/28/26;
Wed, 10:30 AM-12 PM

PushBack at Parkinson’s Disease™ is a community-supported, intensity-driven group exercise program designed specifically for people living with Parkinson’s disease. Sessions focus on strength, agility and flexibility, as well as emotional and psychological aspects of Parkinson’s Disease.

In order to participate, players will need a Passport from a PushBack™ trained Physical Therapist. (Click the link to email Soren for more information or to register)

Dates: September 14 – October 22, 2026
Schedule: Mondays & Thursdays, 11:30 AM-12:30 PM
Cost: Members: $157 / Non-members: $187

PushBack Against Parkinson’s Disease™ programming is supported by the Frederick C. Binter Center for Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders at the University of Vermont Medical Center.

Do something beautiful with your strength. Steel Mace Flow with Sara Henderson is a full body movement modality that will work your strength, mobility, balance, and coordination as you learn to move with an unbalanced load.

Learn and perform the Steel Mace Flow Master Class series of flows and the circular movements of the 360 and 10 & 2 swings throughout the series. We will have a variety of weights available from 5-10 lbs, so this program is accessible for everyone.

Dates: September 23 – November 11, 2026

Schedule: Wednesdays, 6:30-7:30 AM

Cost: Members: $97 / Non-members: $157

AquaHIIT is a full-body workout combines cardio intervals, strength work, and athletic conditioning using the water for both resistance and support. Expect challenging intervals, functional movements, and strength exercises designed to get your heart rate up and your muscles working—without the impact of traditional HIIT workouts.

Knowing swim strokes is NOT required for this series! Whether you are a GMX or HIIT enthusiast, are an Aqua athlete looking for a higher intensity challenge, or simply want a workout that pushes you without beating up your joints, AquaHIIT will challenge you to move, work, and sweat in a whole new way

Dates: October 5 – November 23, 2026

Schedule: Mondays, 7:30-8:45 AM

Cost: Members: $97 / Non-members: $157

The GMCF ENDURANCE Team, a community-driven endurance sports team built for athletes of all levels who are passionate about running, cycling, swimming, triathlon, and all forms of endurance sport, is proud to announce that Team Rising Tide have become members!

In December 2027, the four-person crew (which includes GMCF Executive Director/Owner Cady Hart-Petterssen) will be rowing across the Atlantic Ocean, 3,000 miles from the Canary Islands to the Caribbean.

Click through to read the blog and support Team Rising Tide!

GMCF will be closed Monday, 9/7, for Labor Day.

BUT—you can work out with us for our annual Labor Day WOD on Monday morning—the Orange Room garage doors will open at 8:30 AM and the workout will start promptly at 9 AM!

Our Pickleball athletes were represented at the VT Senior Games across many age groups and playing levels and we are proud to have them all representing our community on the court, and on the podium!

Notice the four legged greeters at the bottom of our driveway? These 5 new temporary residents are on-loan from a GMCF community member, Kate Powell, to do some clearing work.

They’re friendly and enjoy visitors, but please don’t give them any people food!