CUMMING — When the temperature is hovering near freezing and snow is falling, water activities aren’t likely on the minds of most residents.

But they are for the staff of the Cumming Aquatic Center, where winter is one of the busier times.

“This is kind of our busy season for swim lessons,” said Carla Wilson, director of the center on Aquatic Circle, off Pilgrim Mill Road and near Exit 16 at Ga. 400. “We have made some changes to our swim lesson program this year, just so they’re more in line with what the American Red Cross offers, including an additional water safety component.

“We’ve also added new levels and then increased the number of classes per session.”

According to Wilson, the changes were aimed at helping more kids pass the class, but that there were activities for seniors going on as well.

“We’ve still got water exercise classes going on,” she said. “We offer 20 classes a week, including Silver Sneakers. We are a Silver Sneakers facility. The other, this is new this month, we’re also a Silver and Fit facility now.”

Wilson said the aquatic center, which opened in 2011, is also home to three swim teams. It also plays host to a variety of classes, typically tied to American Red Cross guidelines. Wilson said lifeguard classes even help with staffing at the center.

“We’ve always offered lifeguard classes and water safety instructor classes,” Wilson said. “But this year we’re offering additional American Red Cross classes. So we’re offering babysitter training, first aid/CPR/AED training, and then we’re offering a junior lifeguard training as well.”

Parties are also popular year-round activity at the center.

“We do parties during public swim times, and then we do after-hours rentals as well for private parties,” she said. “Believe it or not, we’ve had a ton of bookings of our cabanas this summer already.”