What should I bring to class on the first day?
Not Much! We provide all the tools necessary for your student to learn to swim. You will only need a couple of comfort and safety items:
Towels - Keep it in the changing room cubby while your student swims.
Swim suit - Any kind you like is fine with us. We highly recommend that any swimsuit, particularly those with long sleeves fit very snuggly. A loose sun shirt will make it harder for your student to swim and is not necessary. If you prefer long sleeves or pants for modesty we recommend a neoprene wetsuit.
Swim cap - Required for everyone regardless of hair length. Silicone is best, it keeps your student warm and our pool clean. You can purchase a standard size one in our shop on the first day. If your student has very long or thick hair you may want to purchase a larger cap designed for long hair online.
Swim Diaper - Required for all students 6 months - 3 years. Please use a fabric reusable style that fits snuggly around the waist and thighs.The disposable paper kind do not contain solids well so we cannot allow that kind in the pool for safety and sanitation reasons. Our favorite brand is available for purchase in our shop on your first day.
Goggles - Optional but recommended for students over 3 years. Please purchase a pair that does not cover the nose - blowing bubbles out of the nose will be an important skill taught in the first lessons. We have several varieties in our shop and our staff will help you choose a pair that fits well.
Please leave all of the following at home:
Water Shoes - Our pool deck is slip resistant and students need full use of their feet and toes during lessons.
Jewelry
Soaps and Shampoo - these make our shower slippery for the next person. We ask you to rinse only in the shower at our facility before and after your lesson.
Snacks or Dinner - eating to soon before a lesson can make a student uncomfortable and increase the chances of vomiting during or after lessons.
Where should parents be during a child's lesson? Can we drop off at the door?
An adult caregiver is required to be onsite during all lessons for emergency safety reasons. Parents may not drop off and leave for any reason.
We prefer for you to wait in the parent observation room during your students lesson. It's up to you if you want to watch at the windows or not but this helps us find you quickly if your child needs your assistance for any reason.
Please be aware that we cannot allow you to wait on the pool deck and especially not on the scuba benches by the ladies room. Waiting on the pool deck is a distraction for your student and others and makes it harder for them to focus on their instructor..
The scuba bench is reserved for scuba divers during scuba class only, the tanks are heavy and pressurized. You will be asked to move to the parent waiting room immediately if you sit there. Please do not sit on the scuba bench even temporarily to help your child dress. The changing rooms and parent observation room have benches and chairs for this purpose.
If you choose to wait in your car during lessons feel free to do so only if your child is 100% potty trained and capable of going to the bathroom independently. Our deck manager will walk your child to the bathroom but cannot help them inside the bathroom. If you choose to wait in your car, please also watch the time carefully - you need to be on deck to collect your child at the end of lessons promptly.
We have a one strike only policy for this rule. If you leave the facility during your student's lesson you will get one warning and the next time your student's will be removed from our program.
I'm not sure what level is right for my student? Do you offer trails or evaluations?
We would be glad to answer your questions about class levels over the phone or in person during a tour of our facility.
Most students aged 5 and up will start in our Beginner 1 level. Our pool is unique and requires comfort in deep water for all levels beyond Beginner 1.
If your student can comfortably swim 15 yards with their face in the water, float on their back, and jump into water over their head and return to the side unassisted we would be glad to schedule an in water skills evaluation to determine the proper class level.
We do not offer trial or drop in classes. We find that it takes more than 1 class for a student to get used to our facility and their instructor so a trial class is not a good indicator of whether your child will enjoy lessons with us. We do not have a contract so if you find your student is still not enjoying lessons after the first month you can drop at anytime.