Our Philosophy
Our goal in teaching children to swim is for them to be able to enjoy the water and water related activities and are knowledgeable about the water, its properties, hazards and challenges and how to help themselves and others.
Safety
Child will learn to think, feel and be safe in, on, and around the water.
Comfort
Children will learn to be comfortable in the water envirnoment.
Growth
Children will grow in their swimming ability and be challenged in each class to become a better and safer swimmer.
Relationships
We know how important relationships become to your children and trust is key to developing any new skill. So, we strive for consistency in instructors and inform you of a teacher change.
Safety Based Lessons
Self Help Skills
All lessons have safety skill incorporated into them. These include:
- Rolling Over
- Turn and Go Back
- Back Floating
- And More
The Rules
We teach all children the pool rules. These include rules like:
- Walking
- Don’t get into the pool without a parent
- Safe Jumping and Diving
- And More
Lifejackets
It is important for children to understand what lifejackets do and why they may have to wear one. We also teach our students that parents put on & take off their lifejacket so parents know that the lifejacket is off.
Help Others
Children may come into a situation where they may need to help someone else. We want them to learn to keep themselves safe first.
Why Choose Us
Swim-in Zone has been in business since 2004. We have taught over 13,000 students in our warm 88º pool.
Warm Water 88º
Safety Based Lessons
Longer Sessions to Allow Growth
UV Sanitation System
Family Owned Business
Unlimited Makeup Classes
Mission
Swim-in Zone is dedicated to quality instruction by a serious staff of committed instructors in water safety, water confidence and swimming in a friendly atmosphere where learning is fun, at maximum value to the students.
Vision
Teaching water safety and swimming skills to children for a liftime of safe, enjoyable water experiences.
Values
- Safety
- Well-trained knowledgeable staff
- Ability to Adapt
- Growth
- Relationships Matter
Family Practice Swim
With your lessons paid in full you and your family can come swim for FREE on Friday afternoons and evenings. This is a great time for children to practice their skills. We find that the more children are in the water the faster they progress.
Hours: Friday’s 1-2:30pm & 6:30-8pm
Pricing
Swim-in Zone offers multiple payment options to suit your needs. We want to make swim lessons affordable for all families to have their children learn to swim. Pricing is based off the amount of lessons in the session.
Group Classes
30 Minute
Ages 3 - 6 Years- Ratio: 4:1
- FREE Group Make Ups
- FREE Friday Family Practice Swim
45 Minute
Ages 7 Years & Up- Ratio: 5:1
- FREE Group Make Ups
- FREE Friday Family Practice Swim
Parent Child
Ages 6 Months - 3 Years- Ratio: 8:1
- FREE Group Make Ups
- FREE Friday Family Practice Swim
- Parent Required to be in Pool
Dippers
Age 2- Ratio: 8:1
- FREE Group Make Ups
- FREE Friday Family Practice Swim
- Parent is NOT in the Water
Private & Semiprivate Classes
30 Minute Private
Ages 3 & Up- Ratio: 1:1
- FREE Group Make Ups
- FREE Friday Family Practice Swim
30 Minute Semiprivate
Ages 3 & Up- Ratio: 1:2
- FREE Group Make Ups
- FREE Friday Family Practice Swim
Weeklong Classes
45 Minute
All Ages and Levels- Ratio: 4:1
- FREE Group Make Ups
- FREE Friday Family Practice Swim
Dippers
Age 2- Ratio: 2:1
- FREE Group Make Ups
- FREE Friday Family Practice Swim
Semiprivate with Partner
30 Minutes- Ratio: 2:1
- FREE Group Make Ups
- FREE Friday Family Practice Swim
- Price is for 2 students
Private
30 Minutes- Ratio: 1:1
- FREE Group Make Ups
- FREE Friday Family Practice Swim
Adult or Teen Lessons
Swim-in Zone offers teens and adults of all swimming abilities swimming lessons. Our patient instructors can help you stay in control and learn to overcome your fear of water. We can help you gain confidence in your ability to swim and breathe efficiently and correctly. We also have coaches who can improve your technique for triathlons and lap swimming.
Private 45-minute lessons work best for adults, but we also offer 30-minute private or 45-minute semiprivate options. Adults choosing the semiprivate option must provide their own partner. A minimum of 5 lessons is required, but the actual scheduling can be difficult because adults have work and family responsibilities that impinge upon their personal schedule, plus the constraints of the pool schedule and instructor’s schedule. Ideally, students are scheduled back-to-back to maximize the instructor’s time.
To schedule lessons, please contact our adult lesson coordinator, Susan.
- The minimum of 5 lessons is required. Most new swimmers need more than 5 lessons to make significant progress in swimming.
- The non-refundable registration fee ($35.00) plus a minimum of 5 lessons must be prepaid at least 2 days before the first lesson. Payments can be accepted by credit card over the phone.
- All lessons must be completed within 8 weeks. If the 5 lessons are not completed in 8 weeks the swimmer will be given a swim pass for each unattended lesson. No refunds.
- Only 1 make-up is permitted after the schedule is determined and agreed upon. If more than 1 class is missed, that class is lost, but you can receive a swim pass to practice on your own at an open swim time (see website or our APP for open swim times). There are no refunds. If Swim-in Zone cancels the class, the lesson will be made-up. Please give at least 6 hours notice if you will be unable to attend the lesson.
- Depending on the pool schedule, you may be able to practice before or after your lesson for 30 minutes at no additional charge.
Frequently Asked Questions
General Questions
How long will it take for my child to learn how to swim?
- How do you define “swim”? Technically swimming is simply moving through the water.
- Drowning is the leading cause of accidental death in children ages 1—4, and the third cause of death in children ages 15—19.
- In response to these statistics, in 2019, The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) defined water competency as “the ability to enter the water, surface, turn around toward the exit, propel oneself for 25 yards, float or treat water, then exit from the water.”
- In addition, the AAP includes in its 2019 statement being aware of risks associated with water situations and conditions present in quarries, lakes, oceans, creeks, rivers or any body of water, as well as learn CPR and simple rescues.
- The United States Swim School Association defines a Safer Swimmer and adds he/she should be able to “tread water or hold a resting float with the ability to transition into forward movement. Propel oneself 25 yds. while taking breaths and to have the emotional level to adapt to different water situations”. Included is an understanding of important water safety rules, CPR, and simple rescues.
- There really is no magic number of lessons, as each child is different. Learning to swim is a process—a journey. Swimming is a motor skill that takes practice, much like tying your shoes, dribbling a basketball, or playing any sport. Some children take a long time (1+ years) to go underwater and start floating, while others fearlessly go underwater after only a few lessons. Generally, it takes 2 sessions of weekly lessons to progress through one of Swim-in Zone’s color levels.
Is your pool cold? Is it clean?
- The water temperature is 88 degrees, so the children can focus on learning and not on being cold.
- Our water is disinfected by ultraviolet light, carefully chlorinated, and pH balanced by a computer controlled automated system. It is filtered in our twin, high-pressure sand filters at 350 gal/min resulting in a 3-hr. turnover, exceeding the PA state standard of 8 hrs.
- We drain and refill at least twice per year. An independent lab takes weekly pool samples for testing.
How deep and big is the pool?
- Our pool ranges from 3.5ft to 5ft deep. We have steps and a ledge along one side of the pool for teaching students who are not tall enough to stand in water where it is 4ft. deep. We also have 3 – 25yd lanes.
How can I help my child do well in their swim lessons?
- Be positive. Be on-time. Be prepared with swimsuit, goggles (if they use them) and, towel.
- Come to our free Friday Family Practice Swim to let your child show you what he/she has learned.
My child is repeating the same level that they were in last session. Isn’t there a guarantee?
- Every child will probably need 2 sessions to fulfill the skill execution requirements in each level. Development and readiness are often at fault when a child needs to repeat a level more than twice.
- Once a child is age 4 and swims for 3 sessions in the same color level and it is recommended that they repeat that level again, Swim-in Zone’s guarantee kicks in.
- Swim-in Zone guarantees that a swimmer (>age 4) will not spend more than three CONSECUTIVE sessions (must be 2 weeklong weeks in summer session) in one color level or the 4th session is free.
- Swimming is a motor skill unique to all others because of the comfort required in the water environment. Child development, the ability to focus, listen, and perform the instructions all contribute to successful skill acquisition. Over the years, we have seen the natural progression of skills that children demonstrate as they learn to swim. Skills should be stronger, more consistent, and progressively better at each level.
- Safety skills need to be practiced consistently and repeatedly for them to become automatic and, therefore, lifesaving.
Why do children practice swimming in the middle of winter while it is snowing outside?
- Swimming is like any other skill, if it is not practiced, the skill is lost over time. Swimming year-round helps children continuously develop their swimming skills and ensures that skills are not lost.
My child is afraid and does not even want to get in the water. What should I do?
- First, figure out what the child is afraid of: separating from you? new situations? the class? What does he think will happen in swim lessons? Will he be required to go under water? Will he be required to swim by himself? Is he afraid the water is too deep and he will fall underwater and drown? Each concern must be dealt with differently and gently.
- If separation is the issue, put him in a parent/child class for the first time in swim lessons.
- If he is generally shy of new situations, plan on supporting him and helping to make the lessons fun. In a few weeks it won’t be new anymore.
- If he is concerned about the class itself, communicate with the teacher and the team leader in front of your child. Tell the teacher that he is worried about going underwater. The teacher will say that this is a “not going underwater day.” Give him time.
What happens if I need to withdraw from the session?
- At this time we are only granting credits to accounts if you student needs to withdraw from the session. All credits can be used for future lessons or store merchandise.
About Our Lessons
How is Swim-in Zone’s curriculum organized?
- We use a Progressive Rainbow curriculum developed by our owner, Penny Pantano, based on her 40+ years of teaching and coaching experience.
- Each level is color coded using the rainbow, starting with red and ending with the pot of gold.
- Each level becomes increasingly complex, with more and more challenging skills and distance components.
- Each skill is practiced multiple times using different techniques, games, and activities.
How are lessons scheduled?
- At Swim-in Zone, we divide the year into 4 sessions that roughly follow the seasons. Each session can be anywhere from 10-15 weeks long.
- We have found that as the children get to know their instructor, classmates, and what is expected of them, they are able to put it all together and “take off” in the last 4-6 weeks of a session.
How are individual classes scheduled?
- About 10 weeks before the start of a session, our instructors supply our program director with their teaching hours. Those hours are put into our SwimWare program, as “teacher available” times. Then:
- “School Year Option” families are given the option to stay in the same time slot or move. They are put into the schedule first.
- After a week or so, we open scheduling for all other parents, who can choose to add their child to any available class on-line or call to see if there are other options.
- Our Spring session is our busiest session. Sign-ups for Spring are staggered and are very competitive.
Can we sign up for lessons once a session has started?
Yes, however it might be difficult to find your preferred time and day. To ensure that you have your preferred time and day be sure to sign up before the session starts.
When can I sign up for a session?
- Sign-ups for the next session are always up to date on our website
- Dates can be found here or on the parent portal
How do I sign up for lessons?
- We have several options available for your convenience. You can sign up either online, over the phone, or in person with the front desk.
Can we make a teacher request or switch classes?
Yes! We will try our best to accommodate all requests and switches. Often a requested instructor is already booked or is not working because of their personal schedules.
What are the graduation requirements?
- Swimmers graduate from Swim-in Zone, if they have:
- Attended at least 4 sessions of lessons of lessons at Swim-in Zone
- Swim in good form with turns: 200 yds of freestyle, 100 yds of backstroke, 100 yds of breaststroke, and 100 yds of elementary backstroke
- Tread water for 2 minutes
- Pass a written 10-point safety quiz