​​​Spring Break Intensive Set - March 17, 18, 19, 20, 24, 25, 26 and 27

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​​Spring Break Intensive lessons will be running 4 mornings a week for 2 weeks on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday AND Thursday at the hotel pool at Canada's Best Value Inn (CBVI), Fernie (near Bridge Bistro), with Fridays being kept aside for rescheduled lessons (in the case of Instructor illness or pool closure). 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). We will have the pool to ourselves (as hotel guests cannot use the pool until after 2pm), with lessons running at 9.30am, 10am, 10.30am, 11am, 11.45am, 12.15pm and 12.45pm. There are deck chairs for spectators, two change rooms with showers, and parking right outside the door. This set will include private and semi-private 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).

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​​​Spring Set - April 2 - June 15

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​​Spring Set lessons will be running once a week for 9 weeks on Wednesday afternoons, Thursday afternoons or Sunday mornings at the hotel pool at Canada's Best Value Inn (CBVI), Fernie (near Bridge Bistro), with 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 with lessons running at 9.30am, 10am, 10.30am, 11.30am, 12.00pm and 12.30pm and weekdays it is mostly private (though occasionally hotel guests may use the pool or hot tub too) with lessons running at 3pm, 3.30pm, 4pm, 4.30pm, 5.30pm, 6pm and 6.30pm. This set will include private and semi-private 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 Babies/Toddlers Small Group Classes (6 months - 3.5 years) are run according to demand and family availability - Babies usually runs at 9.30am Sundays, and Toddler Level 1 and 2 usually run at 4.30pm and 5.30pm on a Wednesday OR Thursday, plus 10.30am on Sundays.

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Fernie Aquatic Center lessons/classes will be running once a week for 9 weeks on Saturday mornings, which will include intermediate and advanced swimmers only (7 years and over, competent in deep water, can swim at least 25m front crawl and back crawl independently). Most of these will be small group classes including basic lifesaving skills (3-6 swimmers, 45 minutes), though semi-private lessons may also be available to those who need it. We have lane rental hire between 9am and 1pm (classes run at 9am, 9.45am, 10.30am, 11.30am and 12.15pm), but please keep in mind that there is no public access to FAC from 9-11.30am (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. All lessons/classes are 30 minutes duration, except FAC classes (45 mins).

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• There is a non-refundable registration fee ($22 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 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 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 (3 years+) include 2 swimmers of similar age and ability (either book with a sibling/friend, or request a match). The cost is $38 per swimmer, per lesson plus 5% tax, hotel pool usage/FAC rental fees and registration fee.

• Small Group Classes at FAC (intermediate/advanced swimmers only, 45 mins, 7 years+) include 3-6 swimmers (ideally 4) of similar age and ability. The cost is $34-$44 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 usage fees and registration fee.

• Babies and Toddler Classes (6 months to 3.5 years) include 6 swimmers and their parent/guardian in the water. The cost is $24 per swimmer, per lesson plus 5% tax, hotel pool usage fees and registration fee.

• 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 $76 per lesson plus 5% tax, hotel pool usage fees and registration fee

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​How to Pre-Register

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1. Pre-registration will open at 8.00pm on Monday 3rd February, 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 2-4 minutes to complete (and usually books out in less than 10 minutes, so pleae 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 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) 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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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.

 

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 your children 4 years and over. Click on the link to apply for a grant directly to request funding towards your lessons. Mountain Kids Swim Lessons will do what we can to fit their requirements and provide the paperwork they need.

- ​Emily Brydon Youth Foundation - may be another option for youth in the Elk Valley (Fernie, Sparwood, Elkford). Click on the link to complete your application form. Let us know if Mountain Kids Swim Lessons can provide any assistance to complete this.

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

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

mountainkids.swimlessons@gmail.com​