After being frustrated with YMCA, shanondale, Bronson and other local swim programs I was referred…read moreby a friend to Brittany Schmall and her swim school - Brittany's Swim School. I went in to the lessons trying not to get my hopes up as I had been disappointed with other area lessons, but after the first lesson I was pleasantly surprised. The lessons take place in her back yard and she employs several staff members. Brittany and her staff are very professional and give the best lessons in the Portage/Kalamazoo area. My children have participated in her group and private lessons and have been very satisfied with both. If you have children with special needs, Brittany's Swim school does a great job accommodating for all types of students. My oldest daughter is autistic and I am truly amazed how well Brittany and her staff work with her. The schedule is posted each summer in April/May on Brittany's website (www.brittanysswimschool.com) The lessons fill up quick, so if your interested in lessons, it's important to call right away!

My three kids did swim lessons w Ms. Julie- my four year old was swimming without any flotation…read moredevices in two weeks and my 6 & 8 year old were learning proper stroke techniques and could swim the long length of the pool very well! Very worth the investment.

You never learn anything new. My daughter got very bored. Not to mention they are money hungry and…read morewill get you for everything they can.

Shepard sets the bar high! Their pool is a 30x40 standard educational size pool. It is a saline…read morepool with a mandated chlorine back up. It is one of the only pools in the state that also sports a UV filtration system. The water is mild enough for even the tiniest little ones! As well, they offer an ozone filtration system that removes the chemicals that may evaporate into the air from the room. Their water is always heated to 92 degrees and the room is 94, so there are no shivering kiddos in sight! They also require 2 diapers for extra protection on children under 3. In my experience, they are very upfront with their policies. They're very well worded and thoroughly explained with ample opportunity to review them since they off both paper and digital format. Unfortunately, not everyone is as thorough at reading them as the management was at putting them together! When I signed my child up for classes, I was very aware that they may change class days, time, and even possibly instructors. I was also aware that a 30 day notice to stop billing would be required. Of course, I don't foresee needing to submit that any time soon; my child has gained such a tremendous amount of skill in the few moths we have attended! Their staff has always made me feel welcome and comfortable. All of their instructors have been trained to be incredibly proficient in their craft. They are all CPR certified and many (if not most) are lifeguard certified as well. They do their very best to make children feel comfortable and confident in the water. They introduce gradual breath control, and work at a consistent pace to make sure children progress. They have an iPad in each station and evaluate children daily with a skill tracking program that is second to none. Classes are kept small (4:1 or 6:1 if there is a parent in the water) to make sure all the kids get a good amount of swim time. My child is 2 and can swim 10 feet with at least a 10 second breath control. Consistency is key! As far as the items for sale- we were told upon enrollment that all that was required for class is a suit and a towel. I was also told that if id like to bring goggles, I could purchase any brand I'd like. They provide a wide variety of equipment that is both age and size appropriate for each level to be used in class. I compared the items offered in their swimshop to online prices and they seem to compare (and I don't have to pay shipping!). But, the convienence of not having to run all over makes the price just fine by me! They answer the phone by saying they're the "only certified swim school in Elkhart county", that, alone, speaks for itself! I would certainly recommend their services and clean facility! It may be a very busy place, but busy usually means successful! I'll NEVER trust my child's water safety to any other place! We LOVE Shepard Swim School!!

This place really is a lot of fun to go to! I love that for $10 my family of 4 can go swim for a…read morefew hours on a blustery cold day. They have a fun inflatable course that bigger kids or adults can go on, but my only complaint is that room and water in that pool is collllld! My kids much prefer the heated pool side equipped with a small slide, set depth entrance, lazy river (no tubes), and small pool to play or shoot hoops. There are benches build into the pool so parents can sit in the warm water while kiddos splash and play around.

This is located at Allegan High School, and the hours for the aquatic center are scheduled around…read morethe swim team and community offerings. There's a lap pool, and if this is your thing, check the times for lap swims. Sometimes it is crowded and you have to share a lane, and sometimes it isn't. Find your time! There is a play area that is wonderful - separate from the large pool. It has a slide for littles, a gradual walk in with splash fountains, and then you round the corner and can walk in a waist-deep pool (or do very short laps) - there can be a basketball hoop there. There's also a sort of lazy river with benches that you can walk around. This, too, has open hours that you can pay a small fee to use. The Aquatic Center is a fantastic community resource!

This will be our second year using FW Swimming, and I can't say enough good things about them. They…read moreare so patient with both of our girls and actually focus on what matters -- safety in the water. Both girls are swimming unassisted in the water and know what to do if they get tired. Would recommend to anyone who wants to ensure that their kids are safe in the water.

From the owner: We are FWSwimming, here to bring you a tailored and personalized lessons experience in the Fort…read moreWayne Area. We make swimming fun, imaginative, and easy for you and your family to commit to. With a team of dedicated and experienced instructors, we aim to teach every child in Fort Wayne the importance of Water Safety! If you are looking for Private Swim Lessons in Fort Wayne, you're in the right place!

I purchased several day passes (granted it was years ago) so that I could work out at this facility…read morefrom time to time. I asked when these were purchased if there was an expiration date and was told there wasn't. There is no expiration date written on the passes either. I still have most of these passes in my possession. I went to use one last week and I was denied entry. The explanation that was provided to me was 1. We stopped accepting these over a year ago 2. We sent emails out to let people know a long time ago that we wouldn't be accepting them any longer (I'm not on their email list) 3. We can't tell if people are photocopying and faking these passes or not. (Wow, I feel like I'm being accused of forging $5 passes so I can sneak into the gym?, really?). What bothers me far more than the lost $100 or so in passes is the lack of empathy and understanding. The only reason I went to the gym last week was with a relative who is older (and a member) so I could help set them up with a workout routine in light of a recent medical diagnosis. They wouldn't even let me enter just this once without paying for a $10 day pass. I guess I'm sorry I didn't use these passes sooner? But no empathy and flexibility from the staff at Spring Lake Aquatic Center earns a thumbs down from me. I've spent almost my entire life (since I was two years old) living in and supporting the local tri-cities. Doesn't feel right for a local organization to take my money and deny the service I paid for.

5 stars all around! Super thankful to live close to this place because it's awesome! My first time…read morein I squealed with excitement like a lil kid because the aquatic center is basically a mini version of a Great Wolf Lodge! Water slide, lazy river, splash zone, huge hot tub, steam room, and lap pool! I definitely was bummed when it was time to leave, but we fixed the sadness by getting a membership! The gym side of things is also top quality. There are weight machines, free weights, cardio machines, and indoor track, basketball court and more! The workout possibilities are endless and the staff is awesome! Very (and I mean VERY) affordable to get a membership here!