Bear Paddle Swim Lessons Cater to Children of All Ages

Bear Paddle Swim School swim lessons allow students to progress at their own rate. The Aurora-based facility offers a warm, saltwater pool, a parent-friendly kids' clubhouse and family-friendly changing rooms as well as free water safety presentations to schools, Safety Towns and other organizations that support children.

Patch: How has the Bear Paddle Swim School transformed over the years?

Bear Paddle Swim School: Bear Paddle launched in Aurora, Ill. in 2010. We wanted to introduce a payment structure to make swim lessons more affordable for families. Bear Paddle has never charged an enrollment fee. Prior to the opening of Bear Paddle, swim schools were structured to operate on sessions
(winter, spring, summer, fall) and collected a full session of fees for each student. This structure
required families to pay upwards of $250 per student per session, which was cost-prohibitive for
most families. Bear Paddle charges a monthly fee and offers a multiple-student discount.

We wanted to introduce a structure which allowed students to progress at their own rate. Bear Paddle evaluates students on a weekly basis. Once skills are mastered, they graduate to the next level. Class ratios are small and focus on very specific skills, which all build towards developing a safer and more aware swimmer and continues to build skills for competitive swimming. Our structure allows families to navigate busy schedules while keeping year round lessons a possibility. Bear Paddle can transfer any student at any time to accommodate the demands of a busy family. Students may enroll, transfer, or withdraw at any point throughout the year. Bear Paddle was the first swim school to offer online class selection and registration.

Very little has changed or transformed for Bear Paddle over the years. We have always strived to provide an innovative structure with enthusiastic teachers, a customer service-oriented team and result-driven lessons. Our most obvious changes would be seen within the company as we work to offer higher pay, less hours and the best working environment for our team. Bear Paddle has remained a leader and helped change this industry to benefit the student, parent and teacher.

Patch: Bear Paddle offers swim lessons to children 6 months to 11+ years old. How do you
ensure each student's success?

Bear Paddle Swim School: Bear Paddle ensures success by structuring classes by both age and ability. Students who start at 6 months will never be with a student over 36 months. Within each age group, there are seven levels, which ensures students are surrounded by others of similar age and skill.

Patch: How does Bear Paddle contribute to the community?

Bear Paddle Swim School: Bear Paddle offers free water safety presentations to schools, daycares, Montessori's, Safety Towns and other organizations that support children. Our presentations are professionally delivered, and we do many of these each year-round. We offer gift baskets to fundraisers, non-profits and special causes. We provide an invaluable service to the community. We provide jobs for entry-level professionals as well as salaried positions for qualified industry professionals.

Patch: What is the significance of a saltwater pool system?

Bear Paddle Swim School: Saltwater systems provide an enhanced swimming experience. Saltwater systems are gentler to skin, eyes and sinuses.

Patch: Tell us about Bear Paddle's seasonal swim camps.

Bear Paddle Swim School: Swim Camps bundle multiple lessons together into one to two week increments. For example, during the summer, we offer two week swim camps that run Monday through Thursday. Summer swim camps allow students to receive eight swim lessons in two weeks versus two months. We offer also offer swim camps in the winter and spring, which are typically one week and will match the break schedule of the local elementary schools.

Patch: What makes Bear Paddle instructors unique?

Bear Paddle Swim School: Bear Paddle Swim Teachers complete roughly 60 hours of training before beginning their first full shift. We strive to provide Teachers who are enthusiastic, creative, capable and professional. Our reachers are among the highest paid in the industry. They receive biannual reviews and receive feedback after each shift from their deck manager.

Patch: Bear Paddle is expanding to Lake in The Hills in 2017. How significant is that expansion
to the school's growth?

Bear Paddle Swim School: The expansion into Lake In The Hills is significant because we chose this area for our first stand-alone swim school. This was a major investment and and demonstrates our confidence in Lake In The Hills as a strong family-based community.

Patch: What is the vision for the future of the school?

Bear Paddle Swim School: Our mission is to save lives by teaching children how to swim. Bear Paddle's vision for the future includes continued expansion into communities similar to Lake in The Hills and others.
Given our ability to teach children to swim successfully, we are compelled and feel a certain obligation to bring swim lessons to as many children as possible.

Patch: What resources do you offer to parents interested in enrolling their children in a lesson?

Bear Paddle Swim School: Parents interested in enrolling can utilize the following resources: free tours of our facilities, free online or in person swim assessments, level descriptions of age and ability and easy
registration by phone at (630) 692-7946, online at bearpaddle.com or by visiting us today!

Patch: How can Patch readers contact Bear Paddle and learn more about the school?

Bear Paddle Swim School: Visit us at bearpaddle.com; call us at (630) 692-7946; or visit us at our facility at 307 Randall Rd., Lake in the Hills, Ill. 60156.

Photo credit: Bear Paddle Swim School