We love Silver Bear! All of the teachers are great and the staff is always friendly. The facility itself is clean and we are thankful for their focus on water safety in addition to swim. Thanks Silver Bear! read more

We love silver bear! We take our son here and have been going to silver bear for about a year but only recently moved to the south Reno location since we moved. We have had nothing but great experiences! Staff is all so nice and so knowledgeable on the best practices to teach our kids to swim (and survive!!) Miss Rachel is our usual teacher and she is just a gem. However all of the subs we have had have been great too. We are very pleased with how much our son has learned already and can't wait to see him continue to grow! read more

Silver Bear Swim School - Silver bear - Swimming Pools Near Me - Reno, Nevada

Many of my friends and my husbands cousins highly recommend this swim school for kids! My daughter had been on the waitlist in the past but there was always time conflicts during the weekend that we pushed it off. They had made an announcement on their social media that the waitlist would be open for 24 hours. I knew I wanted to catch this opportunity. We received a call last week saying that they had openings and we were offered to be in panda bear 1! Registration was quick and easy! They set me up with my account and I was able to download their app. My daughter had her first class earlier this week and it was the first time she did something on her own. We were instructed to come in 10 minutes prior to be oriented. As soon as we came in, we were welcomed in a room with chairs facing a 2 big windows to give access to see the pool. we were greeted by the receptionist and gave us a quick run down on what to expect. We were also offered a balloon with the color of my daughter's choice to help ease the first day anxieties. I was able to walk with her to her class, but had to walk away as there is limited room at the pool area. She cried which was hard to walk away, but Erin - swim instructor and Riannon - deck manager were quick to help her adjust! After about 10 minutes we could tell through the big window, she was getting used to it and we saw her in the water with Erin a few times with smiles! Riannon was able to come by after 10 minutes and give my husband and I reassurance that our daughter was adjusting and doing well! She let us know that this is totally normal especially when it's their first time being away from their parents. At the end of the class I was able to walk to pick her up at her class section and Erin was able to tell me how my daughter's evaluation went and goals for the next week. While inside the pool area, there a a few sections with curtains should you choose to change your children's clothes and several showers available to rinse off. The bathrooms are clean and There is 1 shower available which had enough room to help my daughter shower. There is enough room to change clothes with 5 other moms with their children 3 benches and 2 changing tables. In the pool area there is also a closed off area where you can change your child's clothes right away. Overall we had a great first impression and we cannot wait to watch my daughter learn to swim! read more

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I didn't even make it to a class bc when I called, per the websites instructions, to inquire about the school the instructor (of the infant classes) was incredibly rude over the phone. It went like this: Me: Hi, I'm calling about potentially scheduling my kid for classes. The website to call about the schedule and enrollment. Instructor employee: Well, that news to me that the website says that bc we aren't allowing enrollment. Our waitlist is closed. Me: Okay, I'm looking for information and that is what the website says (I read it word for word). Instructor employee: What do you want to know? (Rudely) Me: I'm sorry. Did I do something wrong? I'm confused. Are you willing to tell me about the program? Instructor employee: What do you want to know?! (Rudely) Me: Um, about the program in general? The general schedule? Instructor employee lists off some random things. I got extremely uncomfortable and frankly angry at her rudeness that I asked to speak to someone else. She said "sure". The other employee was polite. I want to thank this instructor employee for clearly displaying all her red flags in one conversation so I could easily decide NEVER TO SEND MY KIDS TO SWIM LESSONS AT THIS FACILITY TO POTENTIALLY BE PLACED IN HER CARE! Thank you!!! read more

Silver Bear Swim School - The website clearly stating to call to inquire about scheduling and stating enrollment is on-going. - Swimming Pools Near Me - Reno, Nevada

I can't say enough great things about Silver Bear swim school. I've taken several of my grand children here and they have gone on to be strong, capable, and safe swimmers. I currently have my two year old granddaughter, who was just promoted from the baby class to the Teddy class, learning to be a swimmer. Their instructors are patient, knowledgeable, and focus on the basics of water safety. I highly recommend them if you're looking for swim classes for toddlers on up. They are absolutely the best! read more

My 2 year old has been going to SilverBear for weekly swim lessons for 4 months now. He loves it so much, it has helped him learn the days of the week because he KNOWS Fridays mean Swimming Lessons!! Over the last four months his skill and confidence in the water has grown so much. He loves to splash and play and can hold his breath under water for more than 10 seconds. Most recently he is learning to swim down to the bottom of the pool and bring things up to the surface. The staff is very friendly and patient and he is always happy to go with them and never shys away from them like he sometimes does with other people. If you have to miss a class they allow multiple make up class options. There are a few locations, one in South Reno and one in Sparks and I believe there will be a third one opening soon. They use a saline mix instead of chlorine so it doesn't smell like bleach and is much gentler on the skin and eyes. The water is warm and they have a nice waiting area where you can bring family to watch your kiddos play/learn. It really has been a great experience so far and we are very happy we chose SilverBear, it was worth the wait. read more

Silver Bear Swim School - Swimming Pools Near Me - Reno, Nevada

Love this swim school! Affordable lessons for kids of all ages. We started at 1 year and he's now in the next class up without the parents in the water. He loves the pool and getting to swim with friends. Growing confidence, great attention to each kid & very family friendly. Sitting area for parents to watch. Showers & a changing area are available in the bathrooms and on the pool deck. read more

Silver Bear Swim School - Swimming Pools Near Me - Reno, Nevada

What an excellent staff. I really see that my 2 daughters are really learning how to swim safely, not just splash around. Now they are much safes to go and play in lakes during the summer! read more

Silver Bear Swim School - Changing rooms with shower and restrooms children under 6yr can use whatever side. - Swimming Pools Near Me - Reno, Nevada

Absolutely amazing place. We love the staff and swim instructors so much! Our daughter is 3 and is very comfortable in the water. Swim and water safety is such an essential part of childhood and silver bear has an amazing outlook and way of teaching. Highly recommend! I gave it a 4/5 because of the difficult waitlist for many. This was not an issue for us because we were able to start during covid, but for many the waitlist puts their children out too far. read more

My 6 year old has been coming here for years and now my 3 year old is enrolled and loving it. The instructors are patient and I love that there aren't too many kids in each class. My 6 year old is such a confident swimmer and gets better and better with each class. My 3 year old was very hesitant to get in the water at first(screaming and crying each class) but the teachers reassured me this happens and they are trained to handle it. Fast forward just a few weeks and now she jumps in and swims under water without any issues! read more

Love silver bear swim school! My son went here a few years ago and now my baby is in the baby class. We have Ms. Rosie and I adore her. She never seems frustrated and always patient even when my baby is screaming because she hates back floats! I have never seen someone keep a cheery attitude like she does! I love how everyone cheers everyone on, they are so friendly and it honestly is like a family atmosphere. We get excited for our Friday class!! read more

Our family adores Silver Bear Swim School. We enrolled our daugher in their Baby 1 class when she was two years old. A year later, she is in Panda 2, an intermediate class for her age group. The children get to ring a bell when they graduate to the next class. Everyone claps for them, and it's really a special moment to celebrate. My daughter has ZERO fear of the water since she was enrolled, which was a big goal for us. She is a total water baby at this point - she even wears her goggles in the bathtub for practice most days. The swim instructors are patient and encouraging. The pool is heated. There is a seating area with a clear view of the pool. There are 3 private changing stations near the pool along with 6 showers to rise off, and there are 2 restrooms with a private shower and additional areas to change. There is a convenient online portal to track payments, cancel a class, enroll in a make-up class (you get a free make-up class each month). We are very happy with Silver Bear! read more

Long story for short: We love silver bear!! The facility is clean and teachers are very responsible, professional and patient! Everyone of them is nice ,lovely and friendly! My boys love to take their classes at the same time with different teachers. They are thrilled to go to their swimming classes! read more

Silver Bear Swim School - Swimming Pools Near Me - Reno, Nevada

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I took my grandkids here today for the first time to start swimming lessons. At first I was slightly skeptical because it is expensive. Any doubts were quickly put to rest! They really know what they are doing here. Due to Covid the check in is outside. The girl that greeted us was super friendly and immediately put my grandkids at ease. Once we entered the pool area, they were completely organized and set up for the different age groups. The instructors were fantastic and immediately engaged the kids. They had songs and games that incorporated the swim skills and got the kids right into it. This school is absolutely worth every penny and I am confident that my grandkids will be swimming on their own in short order. Highly recommend! read more

I've brought my 4 year old here since she was 6 months, and now my 2 year old since he was 6 months. My kids both love swimming and look forward to class every week! The staff is always very friendly and knowledgeable. read more

Silver Bear is a Reno staple. For years my friends and I have sent our kids here to learn to swim, have fun, and be safe. They have all learned and looked forward to their weekly lessons. We have special memories of the first time our kids went underwater, swam on their own, and made the entire length of the pool. All of this was made possible by the great instructors at Silver Bear, and the cherry on top of the cake is that they are locally owned by a Reno family. I cannot say enough good things about a silver bear, I hope they are around for years to come. read more

Silver Bear Swim School has a fantastic swimming program! From the lessons, the caring staff, clean facilities and the overall happiness that is seen daily on the kids' faces, you're not going to find a better place for your child to learn how to swim. read more

I made it to this location only once during my GroupOn pass. They offer better times with my schedule on the weekends for the Chisel classes. It's tucked away in the an industrial park on the South Side of Reno. If you park in the front of the building, walk toward the back to the second door to get in. The staff was very friendly when I booked an early Saturday morning class. I was even more impressed that they held the class with just one student--ME! Again I had the same issues here as I did with the Sparks location: No lockers No adult changing area Heated pool Plus space was just hot. I don't know if they have AC. They just opened the back door for a nice breeze. This pool is a bit deeper. Not by a lot but I was able to get a great workout using the kick-board and fins/flipper -- ok I don't really know the technical name for those shoe like things you use for snorkeling. If you don't have the same issues(see above) I do I would recommend checking them out! read more

Love Silver Bear! Never had a bad experience with either of my kids. My 2 year old is swimming so well it is amazing! I also love the family open swim times so we can all swim together up to once a week! Wouldn't go anywhere else. read more

My kids love it here. Swimming instructors are cool af! Price is so-so, basically $25 for 30 mins. But it's better than most other places. The parking lot is horrible. Stupid Karen's can't drive. read more

I had the pleasure to go watch my grandson at the new Sparks facility. I am amazed how nice this facility is with the latest technics to create a love of swimming and respect for the water. Organized skilled teachers who use love and logic to accomplish the goal of water safety and love of swimming. My grandson has had three lessons and is expressing his accomplishment of holding his breath, putting his face in the water, floating on his back with shouting; "I did it!" His self-esteem of learning how to swim this summer is invaluable. Silver Bear swim center in Sparks gets five stars. Good job. read more

We love Silver Bear! Our son has already transformed in the month he has been going. Miss Jessey is truly amazing and puts our son at ease in every lesson! We could not be more happy with our choice! Highly recommend! read more

Love it here. My kids love it. They look forward to swim class every week. The instructors are amazing so nice, and knowledgeable, and patient and understanding when our kids may be having a ruff day. Always clean, and a friendly face. They really make us feel loke family. read more

My daughter and baby go here. She loves it. If there's ever an issue or question just talk to the staff. They are always open and helpful.

My son has been a client here for a year, he is 5. The instructors are fantastic, the water is warm and they have lots of props and incentives to keep it interesting. We are satisfied with the progress and fun that happens here! Thank you Silver Bear Swim School! read more

Best swim school in Reno! Our kids have gone here since before they were one, we've had nothing but exceptional experiences with the staff & lessons! read more

My daughter has been taking lessons here for a year. At first we were hesitant because the lessons are 30 minutes, once a week, and tuition is high. After enrolling though, we found it is well worth our money and she learns a lot in the half hour that she attends. I would highly recommend Silver Bear Swim School, it is well worth it! read more

I love this place! The instructors are great with kids and totally understand when children hesitate to do things they are unfamiliar with. My daughter loves the water but doesn't like to go under the water just yet. She is 3 and hopefully she will build up to that. They seem to understand and they don't force anything on her- which I love. Thanks Silver Bear! My daughter has a blast! read more

Let me just start by saying I didn't have a baby that loved swimming from the get go. I assumed it would be a breeze because she's easy going and loves the bath. She screamed and wanted nothing to do with class the first 2 times. During this time our teacher Cori gave me constant reassurance that this would pass and that she'd love the water. At the time I had no idea how that was possible, but now I've got a 15 month old that LOVES swimming. We've done makeups and had different teachers and EVERYONE has been patient and loving towards my daughter. I can't say enough good things about silver bear. read more

We've had lessons at both locations. While I prefer the layout of the Sparks location, the staff at both either location are amazing! He patience that the teachers have for the kids is incredible, especially the the younger ones. A lot of people feel it is too pricey....but it's worth it! read more

Best instructors and owners. You can tell all involved are really dedicated to the enhancement of the children. This is an amazing swim school. They focus on water safety and keep the class sizes small as to ensure each child gets special attention. read more

Very disappointed. They get you to commit to a 3 month period because they know that you will want to take your child out after the first lesson. My kids had 4 in a group for a 20 minute session. By the time all the kids are fitted for goggles and fins, each child only gets about 3-4 minutes of swim time. They put these huge white gate things in the middle of an already small pool, so your kids only swim two strokes at the most. They DO NOT offer private lessons, and their make up policy is non-existent. They just now offered a make up policy( one time only) if you commit to 6 MONTHS!!!!! No thanks, I found a private instructor for the same cost, and now I don't worry about my kids drowning anymore. IF YOU WANT TO SOCIALIZE AND WASTE YOUR MONEY, GO HERE. If you want your kids to learn how to swim and not drown, STAY FAR,FAR AWAY FROM THIS SCHOOL!!!!! read more

Absolutely the best environment for a child to learn water safety and develop a love for swimming. The teachers, the office staff, the class sizes, and the curricula create the ideal equation for success. There is nothing that compares to seeing the love and attention that are shown to your child and knowing that not only are they doing something good for their bodies, but their hearts, minds, and self-esteem. read more

Silver Bear Swim School has existed as a valuable part of this community for over 5 years now. Their reputation for exceptional swim lessons, courteous and professional customer service, small class sizes and daily lessons on water safety and awareness is what keeps them so popular with existing and new clients seeking their services. I have many friends in this community who's children attend Silver Bear Swim Schools classes and they are most definitely water SAFER and better trained swimmers than most other children I've seen swimming in the pools in this community. I would highly recommend their classes to anyone seeking swim classes in Reno/Sparks and to those who are committed to seeing their child learn to swim and love and respect the water. read more

The school itself was fantastic and the teacher's great. Our son really learned how to love how to swim. We would have rated this 5-stars except for a bad experience at the very end. We were assured a prorated refund because we told them in advance we would be possibly moving out of Reno early. Upon moving, we were told to expect the prorated refund. It never came, even after several calls. Disappointing. read more

Really couldn't be has happier with silver best. My 4 year old is on his 3rd lesson and almost swimming already.

Silver Bear Swim School is the only place where I would bring my children to learn how to swim. My experience has been nothing short of wonderful. My kids can swim and they wouldn't even step in the water before starting at Silver Bear! The curriculum and philosophy of Silver Bear are perfectly suited to any child - a strong swimmer, a timid toddler, and everything in between. Kids not only learn how to swim but learn self-confidence and safety skills. The instructors offer personalized instruction in a group environment, encouraging students to push each other and to learn from each other. I appreciate that children can have FUN at the same time that they learn important swimming and safety skills. The kids can't wait for their swim lessons (one recently asked if he could have swim lessons every single day) and I don't doubt that has to do with the positive environment at Silver Bear. I have never had a problem with any of the instructors and always look forward to their instructive feed-back and tips. The white plastic structures in the pool are incredibly helpful for children who are not yet capable of swimming the length of the pool, but want to experience the deep end. The structures create perfect intermediate goals for little swimmers. Not only that, but the pool deck is always pristinely clean - as are the changing rooms. A huge plus in any mom's book. There is a large viewing area for parents and room for my kids who aren't in lessons to play while I watch. I love that Silver Bear has someone on the deck of the pool who is watching all the lessons - for extra safety. My kids love the fact that the pool is ALWAYS warm. I have never heard a single complaint from the little ones about being too cold to swim - a big problem at all of our previous swim lessons. The pool temperature at Silver Bear is perfect. I have nothing but glowing things about Silver Bear Swim School and its staff. Absolutely 5 stars. Thank you for creating the perfect swim school in Reno. read more

We started our boys ages 1.5 and 3.5 about 9 months ago. It took me a while to commit because the price of the lessons was more than I anticipated. Once we started lessons though, I totally understood why-- it's worth every penny. The facility couldn't be better. The water and room temp is a balmy 90 degrees so the kids are always comfortable. The viewing area is perfect too. But the best part is the instructors/ratio of instructors. They have a great curriculum that has resulted in our 1.5 year old already swimming (underwater!) for 10 seconds and our 3.5 year old doing everything from back-floats to diving to the bottom of the pool for rings. Added to this, the class size is small. They commit to 4 students per teacher but so far for our 3.5 year old it's consistently been 2:1 which is great. By the end of the lesson he's pooped from having so much one on one time. The baby class has a bit higher numbers but I'm okay with that given I'm in the pool with him. Added to this, I'm amazed at the TLC I see the "deck staff," (those not in the water but supervising for safety) give the kids. They give real time coaching to the instructors if they have an idea of something that'll work better and do small things like adjust bathing suits/wipe noses through out the lessons. The director is present a lot too and has on more than one occassion struck up conversation with my husband or I just to see how things were going. It doesn't get better than this place! read more

I am a big fan of Silver Bear Swim School. I've had my two girls (now ages 8 and 10) enrolled off and on for a few years and they've both made remarkable progress. They really teach more than just swimming. Kids learn how to be safe and responsible around water. The lessons aren't about packing in as many laps as possible. The curriculum seems to be focused on developing well-rounded swimmers. I'm a fan of this approach. It really worked for my kids, one of which was pretty intimidated at first and very much a beginner. It's not the cheapest option. But the cost was well worth it to me thanks to the facility, professional staff and the fact that my girls made progress much more quickly than they had in other lessons. The bathrooms nice, but can get crowded with parents and little swimmers between classes when things are busy. My kids are now at an age where they change themselves, so they're no longer a problem for me personally. (If it weren't for this, I would have given 5 starts). My kids aren't advanced swimmers and I haven't seen any advanced classes in action. If your kids are beginner through intermediate level swimmers, I can definitely recommend Silver Bear Swim School. read more

I would love to say that our daughter had a chance to go to this school that we have heard such good things about, but these people don't have the common decency to return a phone call...several at that. In a small community reputation is everything, and Silver Bear is getting one as a snobby and poorly ran establishment. If they ever do call us back (which I doubt) we will tell them just that. read more