​​​Lesson Locations

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​Fall lessons will be held on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Sundays at the hotel pool at Canada's Best Value Inn (CBVI), Fernie (near Bridge Bistro). It is similar to the size of a backyard pool, approximately 8m x 4m (3.5-5.5 feet deep) and heated up to around 32 degrees Celsius (for reference that is 1 degree below the Leisure Pool and 4 degrees above the Main Pool at Fernie Aquatic Center). Weekends we now have the pool to ourselves, and weekdays it is mostly private, though occasionally hotel guests may use the pool or hot tub too. There are deck chairs for viewing, two change rooms with showers, and parking right outside the door. Parents (and siblings) may use the hot tub during lesson time too, and swimmers can dip in for a warm up after lessons too. This pool is suitable for infant and preschool-age swimmers of any ability, beginner or beginner/intermediate school-age swimmers, or more flexible for swimmers with disabilities or those who require a more sensory friendly space.

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After years of trying, we have finally had our lane rental request accepted at the Fernie Aquatic Center! Private and semi-private lessons for intermediate, advanced and/or older swimmers will run on Saturday mornings for 6 weeks, and we will also be offering small group classes (up to 4 swimmers, 45 minute classes). Swimmers with disabilities and learning differences will be prioritized, as well as our regulars who have outgrown the hotel pool. We were denied our request to hire lane 1 or 6 for accessibility reasons, so we will likely we sandwiched between FAC public lessons and 4 lanes of Swim Club, but at least there will be no public access from 9-11.30am, then lane swim/leisure swim after that. Please note that for lessons from 9-11.30am, no public use of the pool is allowed, beyond a strict 2 minute hot tub warm up after lessons. After 11.30am you may pay the entrance fee to stay after your lesson to use all the facilities.

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Learning Options

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Lessons take a child led approach, working at each swimmers' own pace, using a variety of equipment, games and activities to build comfort, confidence and competence in the water. Lessons are fun, calm, encouraging, and swimmers progress on to new skills as soon as they are ready, starting with survival skills first and foremost.

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Private one-on-one lessons (by request only) - only for swimmers with disabilities at this time (no parent/guardian in the water). All abilities are welcome and can be tailored to suit each swimmers' needs and learning preferences. 

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Semi-Private one-on-two lessons (our standard) - for 2 swimmers of similar age and ability (no parent/guardian in the water). Experience has shown that most swimmers enjoy having a peer to learn with, and pairing with a close match in ability can really help drive progress and build confidence. A lot of time and consideration is taken when selecting a good match for your swimmer. ​

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Small Group ​​one-on-four classes - for 4 intermediate/advanced swimmers looking to challenge themselves in the longer and deeper water of the Fernie Aquatic Center. Recommended for swimmers who are competent in deep water and can swim the length of the 25m pool in any style. Swimmers will be grouped according to ability, will include some age/ability appropriate Lifesaving skills and will consider the goals of each swimmer in lesson planning.

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Family Lessons one-on-two - for 2 siblings/cousins aged 1-4 years with 1 parent/guardian in the water. The benefit of this option is that you can have both your kids in the water at the same time, rather than needing 2 adults (one per swimmer) for our Toddler classes, or trying to book back-to-back Toddler classes for your 1-3 year old and a semi-private for your 3-4 year old. Additionally, since you will be in the water providing alternating support for your swimmers, I will also be taking the time to teach YOU how to teach your kids in the water. Please note: If your 3-4 year old swimmer is much more advanced than your 1-2 year old, we would recommend booking them separately.

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Babies & Toddler Classes (6 months to 3.5 years) with 6 littles and their parent/guardian in the water. Classes focus on building comfort and confidence, learning water safety and survival skills, along with sensory and developmentally appropriate swim skills to introduce little ones to the love of water. They also aim to equip caregivers (no matter their own swim ability) with skills and routines to take with them to continue spending time in the water with their infants outside of lesson time too.​

- Babies Classes (6 months/able to sit up to around 18 months/starting to walk) - we take a play-based approach to learning a variety of foundational swimming skills including water acclimation, kicking and paddling, floating, breath control and safe entries/exits.

- Toddler Level 1 Classes (around 18 months/walking to around 2.5 years) - as above but working towards age/ability appropriate survival skills and is suitable for first timers, and more nervous swimmers.

- Toddler Level 2 Classes (2.5 years to 3.5 years) is suitable for continuing swimmers (who have participated in our classes before, or a set of other swim classes) as well as more confident littles - we still take a play-based approach (as that's how little brains learn) and continue to advance foundational skills, but there will be a stronger focus on survival swimming skills such as flip-and-float and swim-float-swim sequences, which includes breath control for going underwater, jumping in and returning to the edge and first independent swims.

Please note: If your swimmer is on the border of ages, you may choose which one is the best fit, or select both options on your form. We do our best to group swimmers according to age and experience/ability, depending on who registers and families' availabilities.

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Investment

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• There is a non-refundable registration fee ($20 per swimmer), which is put towards the immense time it takes for this solo human to plan and complete registration, plan lessons and lesson sets, daily set up/set down, professional development training/recertifications, business/website development, sick days, administration/bookkeeping, securing lesson locations, plus insurance and expenses on top.

• Pool usage fees are paid in advance along with registration, with hotel pool fees being $5 per swimmer, per lesson for privates/semi-privates/family lessons ($40 for the set) and $3,50 per swimmer, per lesson for babies and toddler classes ($28 for the set). No additional fees for parents/guardians. FAC pool fees will be split amongst swimmers in the fairest way possible to account for the higher $34/hour lane rental fees, likely between $6 and $10 per swimmer, per lesson.

• Semi-Private one-on-two lessons (3 years+) include 2 swimmers of similar age and ability (either book with a sibling/friend, or request a match). The cost is $36 per swimmer, per lesson plus 5% tax, hotel pool usage fees ($40) and registration fee ($20). FAC pool fees TBD.

• Small Group Lessons at FAC (intermediate/advanced swimmers only) include 4-6 swimmers of similar age and ability. The cost is $36-44 per swimmer, per lesson (depending on numbers and 30 or 45 minute lesson duration), plus 5% tax, registration fee ($20) and FAC pool fees TBD. We will also be running Junior Lifeguard Club for those interested,

• Family one-on-two lessons (1-4 years) include 2 beginner siblings/cousins and 1 parent/guardian. The cost is $36 per swimmer, per lesson plus 5% tax, hotel pool usage fees ($40) and registration fee ($20).

• Babies and Toddler Classes (6 months to 3.5 years) include 6 swimmers and their parent/guardian in the water. The cost is $22 per swimmer, per lesson plus 5% tax, hotel pool usage fees ($28) and registration fee ($20).

• Private one-on-one lessons (3 years +) are only available by request, such as for swimmers with disabilities, complex learning needs or who are otherwise high risk. The cost is $72 per lesson plus 5% tax, hotel pool usage fees ($40) and registration fee ($20). FAC pool fees TBD.

• Funding Options. If your swimmer has funding for homeschooling physical education, e-Streams, SelfDesign, disability funding (such as BC Autism funding) or similar, please let me know and we can arrange direct invoicing and billing (paid upfront for new swimmers if you're able, then refunded upon approval/receipt). Please allow an additional $20 for invoicing time. If your family is struggling to make ends meet at this time, please see our Upcoming Lessons​ page for information about kids' sports grants that you can apply for. We hope to offer more subsidized options in the near future too. 

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​How to Pre-Register

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1. Pre-registration will open at 8.00pm on Tuesday 6th August, when three links will appear in the green box at the top of this web page - one for Babies & Toddlers classes, one for private/semi-private/family lessons at CBVI, and one for private/semi-private/small group lessons at FAC. This will take you to a Google form to fill out, which takes 2-4 minutes to complete (and usually books out within about 10 minutes). Please see Terms and Conditions CBVI or Terms and Conditions FAC before pre-registering.

2. After you complete your pre-registration form, your details will be added into my tetris-game-of-color-coded-excel-spreadsheets to prioritize swimmers, match swimmers, and place in their availability (back-to-back siblings if possible). By the end of the weekend you will receive an email either offering you a lesson time, or letting you know you missed out this set.

3. If you are offered a lesson time, you will receive a link to our Jackrabbit Swim booking site, where you can complete your family registration (or log back in), enroll into your lesson time, complete waivers/policies and send e-transfer payment. This must be completed within 48 hours to secure your lesson booking.

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Prioritized Swimmers will receive a 24-hour boost to your submission time. This includes swimmers who are neurodivergent (Autistic, ADHD, trauma and more), have sensory processing challenges, other disabilities or medical challenges (diagnosed or awaiting assessment). This applies only if it affects their ability to participate in other swim options available in our community, and/or they do not have their support needs accommodated there.

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FAQ

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Why Pre-registration? The reason for pre-registration is that it allows for siblings to be placed back-to-back, allows single swimmers to be matched with another swimmer of similar age and ability, with the same availability, and allows prioritized swimmers (who often have no other accessible options) to have a chance to participate too. There is huge benefit from having a good match, as it often results in a more fun experience, encourages swimmers to challenge themselves more, creates faster progress, and helps to build confidence too. The final reason is that some families have very limited availability, or are travelling from the South Country, so I try my best to accommodate those who would normally miss out on swim lessons for this reason. 

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Who can participate? Swimmers 3 years+ can participate in private or semi-private lessons, preferably who are confident enough to leave the clutches of their parent/guardian already, though parents/guardians can stick around if need be. Swimmers who are too often left without suitable options to meet their needs are especially welcome to join, including neurodivergent swimmers, swimmers with disabilities or medical conditions (diagnosed or awaiting assessment), high risk swimmers, Indigenous swimmers, and 2SLGBTQIA+ swimmers. For example, studies show that Autistic children are 160 times more likely to drown than their neurotypical peers, so it is important that we as a community support those who are most vulnerable and in need of swim lessons right away.

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Looking for a Match? You can sign up 2 swimmers together (siblings, friends, cousins) of similar age and ability, or you can sign up as a single and be matched with another single. If you are asking family or friends to find a match for your swimmers, please keep in mind that anything more than a 2 year age gap will usually result in a different ability.

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Any questions? After checking this page for your answers first, please email any questions to Sarah at 

mountainkids.swimlessons@gmail.com

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