Yes the Saratoga Swim Club has a Sauna and Fire pit.  But there are definite rules on who can use the sauna and how it is used.  The fire pit is open to all, but only members who are 21 or older should be starting a fire. This page describes the sauna and cold shower, and describes the rules, roles and responsibility required to use the Sauna.

The shower has a lever to turn on; if water does not flow, then you need to turn the water on at the hose bib.  There are two valves as you stand at the hose bib looking at the sauna; the valve on the right turns on water to the shower.

See all of the shiny metal parts on the heater? When the heater is heating the sauna, all of the metal bits become very, very hot. So hot it will burn you; badly.

Hence all of these rules are to prevent the sauna from burning down AND prevent our members from getting burned. To ensure this goal is achieved, there will be harsh punishment for violators of the rules.

The Rules

1. Only club members who are 21 or older are permitted to enter the Sauna.

1. 1. • Note, non-members are not allowed to use the Sauna, only Swim Club members

      • Note it says members who are 21 or older.  This does not say "unless watched by a member who is 21 or older"; You must be 21 years or older

   2. If you have been in the pool, shower before entering the Sauna.

      • The pool has CL in it, and the CL will destroy the wood

   3. No alcohol is permitted in the Sauna at any time. 

   4. No metal containers are allowed in the Sauna.

      • The sauna gets very hot, any metal will get very hot and can burn you. The sauna can reach temperatures over 85C (185F). It does not take very long for any metal object to heat up to a temperature which will burn you.

   5. Maximum capacity is 8 members

   6. A member who wishes to use the sauna and start a fire in the sauna's heater is considered the "Sauna Captain".  The Sauna Captain has several responsibilities and duties:

      • First they must inform the lifeguard that they are the Sauna Captain.

      • Before starting a fire in the Sauna heater's firebox, the Sauna Captain must take the fish sign labeled "The Sauna", and flip it over so it reads "Caution Keep Out The Sauna is Heating" and hang it over the door knob.  When the sauna has reached temperature (a temperature where you want to start saunaing) replace "The Sauna" sign back on the eve indicating the sauna is ready for use.

• If the sauna is unoccupied, the Sauna Captain must watch the sauna to insure no-one enters the sauna. 

The goal is to prevent anyone from entering the Sauna and getting burned by the sauna's heater.

• If the Sauna Captain can not watch the sauna temporary, they must appoint a temporary trusted 3rd party member (over 21) to watch the sauna and insure nobody enters.

• If the Sauna Captain needs to leave the club, they must identify a new Sauna Captain and inform the lifeguard of the change.

Note: If anyone gets burned or the sauna catches fire, the lifeguard needs to be informed immediately.

Lighting the Heater

The Saratoga Swim Club also has a fire pit (Yukon Solo Stove) which is nice for warming up during the cool evenings. The firepit has a spark arrester, which should be used at all times. Around the firepit you should find two handles to lift the top of the spark arrester off (to add wood or start a fire, and a poker used to move burning logs around. There is also a bucket and shovel that can be used to remove the ash from the firepit (only remove ash when the firepit has cooled).