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Mountain Kids Swim Lessons provides quality swim lessons to swimmers of all ages, while reducing barriers to accessibility, and being welcoming and accepting to all. We focus on survival skills first and foremost, and aim to build trust, self-confidence and an appreciation of the aquatic environment. Since our humble beginnings in 2020 starting outdoors at local lakes, we now operate year-round indoors and outdoors in the Elk Valley and South Country. Perhaps you have been working with kids in preschool, childcare, school, sports, special education or have children of your own, and are looking to try something new? Swim Instructing really is such an amazing community service to get involved with.

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We exist to teach kids in our community how to stay safe around the water and to do our best to help fill the huge gap in inclusive opportunities to learn to swim, especially for swimmers with disabilities, who are neurodivergent, or otherwise have their learning needs met far better in a smaller group environment or with private lessons. We are sustained by a passion for wanting to support vulnerable swimmers, connecting with people, teaching them life-saving skills and helping them find joy in the water. We are in a position of desiring growth, and are looking for our next Instructor to join the team and help us expand to teach even more swimmers!

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Job Description

Your role is to provide the best possible Swim Lessons you can, to the most awesome kids around. Your goal is to share the joy and freedom of learning to swim, while teaching the fundamental swim skills needed to improve survival skills, endurance, stroke development and confidence. Lessons are run in seasonal sets, that run for 8-10 weeks each, so it’s important that you can commit to the whole set for consistency for the kids. You will teach around 6 half-hour lessons a day (with a break in the middle), for a minimum of 2 days a week, though working towards 4 days would be ideal (dependent on demand). Weekday afternoons and weekends are the most requested lesson times, but days and times can be flexible for the right candidate. Ideally, you will complete your training and practice hours during the Winter Season indoors in Fernie (between January 10 and March 17), ready to start teaching lessons independently for the start of the Spring Season (starting after Spring Break).

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You will have the option to teach to your strengths and preferences in terms of age groups and abilities. Our current service offerings include:

• Private or semi-private swim lessons (1-2 swimmers) - mostly beginner to beginner/intermediate swimmers aged 3-12 years, some teens and adults too

• Family lessons - 2 siblings aged 1-4 years plus parent/guardian in the water

• Small group classes for infants – 6 babies or toddlers aged 6 months to 3.5 years with parent/guardian in the water

• Intermediate and advanced small group classes in the Summer - 4 swimmers aged 8-16 years

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Our Ideal Instructor

A great fit for Mountain Kids Swim Lessons is patient and kind, as well as safe and responsible. You will be excited to get in the water, be engaging to all different kinds of kids, be encouraging and supportive, and most of all be dedicated to establishing trust and respect with swimmers from day one. You will have experience working with kids (and love it!), and experience with infants and adults a bonus. Ideally, you will also have experience working as a Swim Instructor, Sports Coach, Childcare Worker or similar as well. For the right candidate, we can support you to upskill and gain further training or qualifications (see end of qualifications list for details**).

We work hard to provide an inclusive and adaptive approach to teaching our lessons. We specialize in working with kids with a diverse range of learning styles and needs and prioritize high risk swimmers. Since so many of our swimmers are neurodivergent, a connection to, and understanding and acceptance of this community would be a strong asset, and you will have the option to work towards learning to teach these swimmers too.

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Qualifications

• Current Standard First Aid with aquatic CPR required (or willing to obtain prior to teaching independently)

• Bronze Cross minimum required for the Summer season, or willing to obtain prior (National Lifeguards preferred)

• Lifesaving Society Swim Instructor or other Swim Instructor qualification ideal, but thorough training will be provided

• Certified Lifesaving Instructor (LSI) would be a bonus for the Summer Season

• Clean vulnerable sector criminal record check and strong references

• Valid Canadian work permit (if applicable)

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**While in an ideal world, the applicant would already be a qualified and experienced Swim Instructor (and Lifeguard), we understand this is difficult to come by in small towns. What makes a good Swim Instructor goes far beyond courses and ticking the boxes, it is about the ability to connect well with children, be attuned to their needs and build trust and respect with each individual swimmer. While I can teach you how to break down a swimming skill into its progressive steps, the ability to connect cannot be taught in a course. For the right applicant, we would be willing to support you through the process of completing the minimum level of courses. If you are looking for long term employment, we may also be able to provide financial support to complete these too. 

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Remuneration 

Hourly wage of $24-$28 for seasonal or ongoing position, depending on experience and qualifications (plus EI, Worksafe and vacation pay). You will be provided with training and practice hours as necessary (paid at or above minimum wage), as well as lesson plan guides, progressions, games and familiarization with each aquatic environment. You will also be provided with all necessary equipment and teaching tools, as well as ongoing feedback to further develop your skills as an Instructor. Applicants with disabilities are welcome to apply, and accommodations will be provided.

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For more information or to apply, please email Sarah Laverick at mountainkids.swimlessons@gmail.com, along with your CV/Resume, copy of certifications/qualifications and a short description of yourself and why you think you would be a good fit for Mountain Kids Swim Lessons. Many thanks!