Please note: due to high demand for indoor lessons and lower demand for outdoor lessons this year, we have switched Set 2 to an indoor set, added Set 4 and a Bonus Set option as well (see details below) - or head to our Summer Outdoors page for Sets 1 & 3!

 

 

We are excited to announce that our Summer Seasonal Instructor Ellie, who joined us last year, will be returning for another season - indoors and outdoors! We are less excited to announce that this will be our final Summer season, and indeed final year, of Mountain Kids Swim Lessons operating here. Head Swim Instructor/Founder Sarah will be seeking career development through a Master's of Occupational Therapy in 2026! This will offer further skills, expertise and modalities to continue to support kids to achieve their goals, especially within the Autistic and disabled communities. After over 7 years calling this beautiful little part of the world home, she has decided to study in Australia to be closer to her family, baby nephew, affordable housing, the beach and expanded professional opportunities, and will be moving back most likely at the end of the Fall season. This was an incredibly difficult choice, and your swimmers will be missed immensely!

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​​Summer Indoor Intensive Sets

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Set 2: July 14, 15, 16, 17, 21, 22, 23 and 24 - 8 lessons at the same time each day

Set 4: August 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 27 and 28 - 8 lessons at the same time each day

 

Plus one of these options will run, according to demand:

Bonus Set A: July 12, 13, 19, 20, 26 & 27 - 6 lessons at the same time each day

Bonus Set B: July 18, 19, 20, 25, 26 & 27 - 6 lessons at the same time each day

Bonus Set C: July 28, 29, 30, 31 & Aug 1 - 5 lessons at the same time each day

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Lessons will be running at the hotel pool at Canada's Best Value Inn (CBVI), Fernie (near Bridge Bistro), between 9.30am and 1.30pm. 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. There are deck chairs for spectators, two change rooms with showers, and parking right outside the door. Options include:​​​​​​​​​​​

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• Semi-private lessons (1:2) are available swimmers 3 years to adults, from beginners to beg/intermediates (or flexible for those who learn better in a sensory friendly space). You are encouraged to sign up with a sibling, cousin or friend, or you can sign up your single swimmer by describing their ability and experience on their pre-registration form. Experience has shown that having a good match makes all the difference in boosting confidence, encouraging swimmers to challenge themselves and progress faster, and providing a more fun experience. A lot of time and consideration is taken when selecting a match for your swimmer.

• Private lessons (1:1) are available for any age or ability. We specialize in (and prioritize) supporting swimmers with disabilities and/or neurodivergent brains, especially Autistic and ADHD swimmers, and have completed additional certifications such as Autism Swim (3 years) and the Autism and Neurodiversity Masterclass, on top of years of special interest researching, disability support work, and being neurodivergent myself. Our Seasonal Instructor Ellie has also been focusing on supporting kids with disabilities in her placements for her undergrad Physio and Kinesiology studies too. Autism BC funding can be used to pay for your swim lessons as a Life Skills Program.

• Family lessons (1:2) are available for 2 beginner 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 one adult per swimmer for our Toddler classes, or trying to book back-to-back Toddler classes and semi-privates. 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.​

• Babies and Toddlers (small group classes with up to 6 littles and their parent/guardian in the water) are available for swimmers 6 months to 3.5 years (groups according to age and ability/experience - and demand). 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 water safety skills and routines to take with them to continue spending time in the water with their infants outside of lesson time too.​​

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Investment

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Please see Learning Options for full details on lesson/class 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 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).

• Semi-Private (1:2) lessons (3 years to adults) 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 (30 mins) or $56 per swimmer, per lesson (45 mins) plus 5% tax, hotel pool usage fees and registration fee.

• Family lessons (1-4 years) include 2 beginner siblings/cousins with 1 parent/guardian in the water. The cost is $38 per swimmer, per lesson (30 mins) or $56 per swimmer, per lesson (45 mins) plus 5% tax, hotel pool usage fees and registration fee.

• Babies and Toddler Classes (6 months to 3.5 years) include up to 6 swimmers and their parent/guardian in the water. The cost is $24 per swimmer, per lesson (30 mins) plus 5% tax, hotel pool usage fees and registration fee.

• Private (1:1) lessons (2 years to adults) are available by request for any ability. The cost is $76 per lesson (30 mins) 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 9am on Saturday 19th April, when a link/box will appear in the dark green strip at the top of this web page (one for Babies& Toddlers, one for everyone else). This will take you to a Google form to fill out, which takes 2-4 minutes to complete. Please see Terms and Conditions before pre-registering. You will be able to select your preferred sets and times, and we will accommodate these as best as possible.

2. After you complete your pre-registration form, your details will be added into our tetris-game-of-color-coded-excel-spreadsheets to prioritize swimmers, match swimmers, and place in their availability (back-to-back siblings if possible). We will wait until the end of the weekend to start organizing swimming spots, and you can expect to receive an email by the end of the following week (April 26th), either offering you a lesson spot, or letting you know you missed out this set. You may receive a lesson spot with either Instructor Sarah or Instructor Ellie.

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 on the Parent Portal (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. If you change your availability at this point, it is unlikely we can offer you an alternative spot, so please triple check your available dates first.

 

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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 (or at the same time with different Instructors), 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. 

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Prioritized Swimmer? This includes swimmers who are neurodivergent (Autistic, ADHD, OCD, trauma and more), have sensory processing challenges, other disabilities or medical challenges (diagnosed or awaiting assessment) AND 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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​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 your children 4 years and over. 

- ​Emily Brydon Youth Foundation - may be another option for youth in the Elk Valley, or your children 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​