Meet Char Mahar, Five Seasons Family Sports Club Aquatics Director

If your child dreads going into the water and recoils at the thought of taking swimming lessons, then Char Mahar can relate perfectly.

Although she is now the Aquatics Director at Five Seasons Family Sports Club in Burr Ridge, Mahar was one decidedly aqua-averse child in her early years growing up in California.

That all changed with the 1972 and 1976 Summer Olympics. The various swimming events, and the world-class competitors vying against one another, captured the young girl’s imagination. Her trepidation over swimming gave way to great enthusiasm.

“I hated swimming lessons before then because I was always getting water up my nose and that hurt! Yet I fell in love with the idea of swimming just by watching those Olympics,” recalled Mahar. “Something just clicked.”

She went on to become a top competitive swimmer at California State University, Sacramento. After receiving a Communication Studies degree, she continued in the field as a swim instructor and director for more than 15 years.

“I love to give back to the sport that has given me so much,” she said.

Buoyed by one of the region’s top outdoor pool facilities, as well as an indoor pool, Five Seasons, at 6901 S. Madison, has built a strong aquatics program over its 15-year history. And Mahar is excited about strengthening it through a variety of Learn-to-Swim Group Classes, Competitive Swim Clinics, and Private Swim Lessons with top-notch, experienced instructors.

“We are thankful for the great opportunity to prepare children for summer and year-round club teams,” Mahar said.

Most recently, before starting at Five Seasons in June, Mahar was the Aquatics Director at the Oak Brook Racquet & Fitness Club (OBRFC) in Westmont for 10 years—serving as that club’s fitness director as well for a year.

Mahar and her husband, Dave, have two grown children, a daughter, Ashley, who is a third-grade teacher and a son, Stephen, who is a college freshman. The family moved from California to Western Springs in 2000 when Dave became the Pastor of Student Ministries at Christ Church of Oak Brook.

Mahar sees her work with youngsters in a similar vein—not necessarily in a spiritual sense, but more so as a voice of encouragement and support in the midst of children’s often-stressful lives.

Her message to each parent: “Your child needs​ you as their biggest and best cheerleader. They already have coaches.​”

When connecting with youngsters, she has always remembered her initial difficulties in adjusting to swimming—not to mention the trials and tribulations that accompany growing up.

“My heart goes out to these kids who are often unsure of themselves. I love to instill confidence in them and I also want to help instill the responsibility of being on a team,” Mahar said. “When these kids come to me to for lessons, I want them to leave feeling like a million bucks.”

Away from the club, Mahar’s outlets are frequently athletic in nature. She has been a national qualifier in triathlons and has completed six Bank of America Chicago Marathons as part of Team World Vision.

The team raises money to bring water, sanitation and hygiene to communities in Africa, and on October 11th Mahar will be participating with Team World Vision as she runs the marathon for the seventh time.

For more information about Team World Vision, please visit http://www.teamworldvision.org/

Five Seasons Burr Ridge is the premier year-round high-energy, high-touch sports club focused on family leisure and entertainment, improving sports performance and maintaining overall health. The club is online at http://www.fiveseasonssportsclub.com/burrridge/ and can be reached at 630-570-5200.