​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Fall lessons will be running once a week for 8 weeks on Wednesday/Thursday afternoons (3-7pm) and Sunday mornings (9.30am-1pm) at the hotel pool at Canada's Best Value Inn (CBVI), Fernie (near Bridge Bistro), with a break around the middle for Thanksgiving weekend (October 12) and the final week being kept aside for rescheduled lessons (in the case of Instructor illness or pool closure). Sundays we will have the pool to ourselves, and weekdays are mostly private (though occasionally hotel guests may use the pool too). These 30 minute lessons include private or semi-private (1:2, our standard) lessons for beginner to beginner/intermediate swimmers aged 3 years and over (or more flexible for swimmers with disabilities or those who require a more sensory friendly space), as well as Family Lessons (2 siblings 1-4 years plus 1 parent/guardian in the water). Our parented Babies/Toddlers Small Group Classes (6 swimmers, 6 months - 3 years) are run according to demand and family availability (usually 4.45pm and/or 5.30pm weekdays, plus 9.30am and 10.30am (possibly 11.15am) on Sundays. All lessons focus on survival swimming first and foremost, followed by stroke development and challenges, then a Water Safety Week (clothed swim practice) will be offered on the second last week.

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Fernie Aquatic Center (FAC) small group classes will be running once a week for 8 weeks on Saturday mornings (9am-1pm), with a break around the middle for Thanksgiving weekend (October 11) and no lessons November 8 due to a swim meet event. Includes 4 swimmers of similar ability - intermediate to advanced swimmers only (7 years and over, competent in deep water, can swim around 25m independently). These 45 minute classes include: Lifesaving Skills, First Aid introduction, stroke development, deep water survival skills, interval training/using the deck clock, survival strokes, clothed swim practice, cold water safety, plus games, challenges and obstacle courses too. Here is the Program Overview for all the details. We have lane rental hire, but please keep in mind that there is no public access to FAC from 9-11.30am except for spectators (FAC lessons and the Dolphins will also be running), so swimmers cannot use the facilities during this time, then lane swim/leisure swim runs from 11.30am-1pm, then public swim from 1pm. After 11.30am you may pay the entrance fee to stay after your lesson to use all the facilities.​​​​

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Investment

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Please see Learning Options for full details on lesson/class options and see bottom of page for grants and funding options.

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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, professional development training/recertifications, business/website development, sick days, administration, bookkeeping, securing lesson locations, plus insurance and expenses on top.

• Pool use fees are paid in advance along with registration, with hotel pool fees being $5 per swimmer, per lesson for privates/semi-privates/family lessons and $3,50 per swimmer, per lesson for babies and toddler classes (no additional fees for parents/guardians or spectators). FAC pool fees will be split amongst swimmers in the fairest way possible to account for the higher $35/hour lane rental fees -likely between $6 and $10 per swimmer, per lesson TBD.

• Semi-Private one-on-two lessons (30 mins, 3 years+) include 2 swimmers of similar age and ability (sign up with a sibling/friend, or request a match). The cost is $38 per swimmer, per lesson, plus 5% tax, hotel pool use fees and registration fee ($379.20 each for the set).

• Small Group Classes at FAC (intermediate/advanced swimmers only, 45 mins, 7 years+) include 4 swimmers of similar ability (sign up with a sibling/friend, or as a single). The cost is $38 per swimmer, per lesson (depending on demand) plus 5% tax, FAC rental fees and registration fee.

• Family one-on-two lessons (1-4 years) include 2 beginner siblings/cousins and 1 parent/guardian in the water. The cost is $38 per swimmer, per lesson plus 5% tax, hotel pool use fees and registration fee ($379.20 each for the set).

• Babies and Toddler Classes (6 months to 3 years) include 6 swimmers and their parent/guardian in the water (can request to join a friend). The cost is $24 per swimmer, per lesson plus 5% tax, hotel pool use fees and registration fee ($249.60 each for the set).

• 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 at high risk. The cost is $76 per lesson plus 5% tax, hotel pool use fees and registration fee, and can be invoiced direct to AFU or homeschool funding.

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​How to Pre-Register

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1. Pre-registration will open at 8.00pm on Monday 18th August, when three links will appear in the green box at the top of this web page - one for Babies & Toddlers classes, one for beginner-beginner/intermediate lessons at CBVI, and one for intermediate-advanced classes at FAC. This will take you to a Google form to fill out, which takes a few minutes to complete (and often books out in less than 10 minutes, so please get in fast). 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 Friday 22nd August 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 (though you may request an extension on payment if needed).​​

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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) AND this 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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Program and Assessment: Swimmers will be assessed during their first lesson and work their way through water safety and swim skills at their own pace. Lifesaving Society booklets will NOT be provided, as we prefer to have a stronger focus on survival swimming first, being able to tailor skill progressions to each swimmer, as well as building confidence and competence in and around the water. Please let us know if you have any specific requests or goals for their learning (e.g. trying out for the Swim Club) and we will sign off on booklets if there's just a couple of skills left, otherwise you can request a free skills/level assessment at your local aquatic center if you would like to proceed with group lessons. Feedback on swimmer progress can be requested at any time.
 

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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Funding Options? If your swimmer has funding for homeschooling physical education, e-Streams, SelfDesign, disability funding (such as Autism BC 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 $25 for invoicing time.

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Financial challenges this year? Please consider the following options that may be of assistance:

- ​Jumpstart Individual Child Funding for Sports - may be an option for swimmers 4 years and over, with $300 per session available..

- ​Emily Brydon Youth Foundation - may be another option for local families, for swimmers 4 years and over.

- ​Other options? Please let us know if you discover any other funding options for kids in the Kootenays.​​​​​

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

mountainkids.swimlessons@gmail.com​