New for 2023
Mountain Kids Swim Lessons is now the first Autism Swim approved provider in Western Canada!
Building on my experience working as a Behaviour Interventionist with kids on the spectrum, as well as teaching swimming to nearly a dozen more over the last few years, this professional development training has reinforced my learning and added more skills and approaches to my toolbelt. A more detailed intake form will be provided to kids with Autism and other diverse learning needs in the future to get a better understanding of their needs, as well as access to further resources such a social stories and visuals.
Learn to Swim Outdoors Every Summer!
Private and semi-private kids swim lessons offered at Tie Lake and Waldo Cove in the South Country near Jaffray, in the East Kootenays, BC.
Ready to Head Indoors for the Off Season?
Private and semi-private kids swim lessons are currently running at Fernie Aquatic Center this Winter Season. We hope to bring back parented baby and toddler swim classes in the Spring, and private lessons at Sparwood Pool if there is enough demand for the available times.
What do we offer?
Outdoor Lessons:
Mountain Kids Swim Lessons focuses on a more simple, supported and individualized approach to lessons that is adapted to the open water environment of the lake. Lessons are tailored to your child's individual needs and goals, and will focus on the practice of safety and survival skills needed at the lake (such as floating, treading water, survival strokes, and knowing their limits), as well as stronger learning of the basics (such as gliding, movement and breath control), and moving towards stroke development and endurance. We focus on providing a child centered and kind approach to learning, while having fun out in the sun!
Indoor Lessons:
Just like our outdoor, open water lessons, the focus is on developing survival skills, confidence and endurance. Beginner swimmers will focus on getting comfortable in the water, while learning to float, hold their breath, blow bubbles and go underwater. They will practice swimming on their front and back, learn water safety skills, understand personal responsibility, and practice survival skills in the case of an unexpected fall into the water (including a clothed swim practice). Beginner/intermediate swimmers will focus on the same, while adding more distance or duration, increasing independence, practicing breath control, developing stroke efficiency and moving between front and back swim/float to increase their ability to self-rescue in an emergency. All swimmers will learn at their own pace and new skills or strokes will be introduced as soon as they show competency in the foundational basics.
Skills are taught in a positive, fun and self-paced manner to ensure competency and confidence in the basics first, rather than merely trying to just "tick off the boxes". We need to build a respectful and trusting relationship first, before swimmers will let me start to challenge them just beyond their limits, which is where real learning and progress is made. At the end of your lesson set, you will receive an email to let you know their swim abilities, provide a swim level recommendation, plus skills you can practice with them at the pool too.
Neurodivergent and other high-risk and vulnerable populations will continue to be prioritized as best as possible in the registration process. Autistic swimmers for example, are 160 times more likely to drown than their neurotypical peers, so it imperative they have access right away. Many swimmers with disabilities have little to no options in the valley to access swim lessons that meet their complex needs, so Mountain Kids Swim Lessons is doing their best to provide a calm environment and flexible learning options to help them thrive.
2022-2023 Swim Lesson Sets
Winter Set 1 - Complete
Winter Set 1 - Complete
Spring Set 1 - Complete
Summer Season - Complete
Fall Set 1 - Complete
Fall Set 2 - Complete
Xmas Intensive - Complete
Winter 2023 - Complete
Next Sets
Spring: 4 April - 10 June
Summer: July and August Outdoors
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