From Safety to Strokes - Building Strong Swimmers, One Lesson at a Time.

Lessons for all age groups, skill levels, and backgrounds, with children starting as young as 6 months old. Our approach to swim lessons differs from traditional methods, as each lesson is conducted on a one-on-one basis with an instructor, ensuring the utmost personalization.

Services

Infant Lessons

We can start survival swimming lessons for little ones as young as 6 months, as long as they're developmentally ready. At this age, we get them started on the basics of survival swimming, which involves controlled underwater dips and learning how to float on their back from day one. Our experienced team will be right there, helping your child get the hang of these important skills, all in a supportive and caring setting. For the best progress, we suggest going for three lessons a week.

Toddler Lessons

In our toddler lessons, we prioritize teaching essential survival swimming skills. This includes skills like floating on their back, rolling over, confidently moving towards walls or stairs, and figuring out what to do if they were to fall or slip in. We understand that toddlers can experience a wide range of emotions, and our patient team is always ready to assist them through any challenges they encounter. Besides these skills, we're big on boosting their confidence, making sure they know their limits in the water, and keeping them safe. For the best progress, we suggest going for three lessons a week.

Child Lessons

Whether your child is new to lessons or already has some water experience, we want all our swimmers to understand water safety skills first. After that, we customize our teaching to suit your child's needs. We usually start with freestyle, backstroke, and elementary backstroke, but for those extra enthusiastic swimmers, we can also introduce breaststroke or butterfly. The more your child swims with us, the faster they'll improve. We suggest having lessons 2-3 times a week.

Adult Lessons

We often get asked if we teach adults, and the answer is yes! Whether you're looking to improve your swimming technique or simply want to feel more at ease in the water, we've got you covered. And if you feel like our usual 20-minute lessons aren't quite enough, you can always book two lessons in a row for a 40-minute slot.

Open Swim

This session is a bit different from our regular lessons. Kirsten will be in the pool with her daughter, ready to help out and answer any questions. Unlike our usual swim lessons, this session is more about kids getting comfy and having fun in the water with their parents in a safe, relaxed setting. It's a great fit for kids who prefer to have their parents alongside them for instruction. We're keeping the class small, with just 4 kids per session. Parents should be prepared to jump in the water with their child for this class.

Parent and Me

This class is perfect for nervous children and parents to be introduced to the world of survival skills. Kirsten will walk you through simple survival skill techniques while you work on them with your child. You are able to modify the skills and fully take it at you and your child's pace/comfort level.

Kirsten will be using her own daughter during the class to help show techniques and skills.
*ideal for children under 5 years old

How to Book

  • Plan

    Our easy-to-use scheduling system lets you pick the days and times that work for your family's busy life. Lessons are booked one month at a time, with no extra fees for reschedules or cancellations*. The next month's schedule goes live two weeks before lessons start - typically on Mondays at 7 pm. For updates, follow us on Instagram @gemswimidaho.

    *Please see our cancellation policy for full details.

  • Sign Up

    For your first time swimming with us, you need to pick 'First Time Lesson with Gem Swim.' It'll give you a form to fill out, our policies, and what to expect before you join us. After your initial lesson, go ahead and choose the 'Survival/Stroke Lesson.' If you've got multiple kids, select as many lesson slots as needed for each of them. All our lessons are one-on-one with an instructor, designed to suit your child's needs for that day.

  • Find Lessons

    After you've picked the type of lesson, you can choose a specific instructor or simply go with the 'Any Available' option. It'll show you the open lesson slots. Just select your preferred date and time, specify the number of lessons you want, and then book with an instructor.

    Here's an important tip! When you choose a lesson time, you'll see options like 'select and continue', 'select and add another time', or 'select and make it recurring'. This lets you book multiple times during the month in one go, saving you time.

Meet the Team

All of our instructors are certified survival swim instructors and CPR/first aid certified

  • Kirsten Clayton

    Owner

    Welcome! I am the owner of Gem Swim and mother of 3 girls. I am a certified WSI, Survival Swim instructor and swim mom. I am passionate about safety and swimming and believe every child should know how to be safe in the water. I LOVE watching kids progress. Nothing beats seeing that float for the first time! Thank you for trusting us to teach your kids. I can't wait to see you poolside!

  • Eddie

    Manager/Swim Instructor

    Hey everyone! I'm Eddie, and I'm excited to be part of the Gem Swim team. With over 12 years of coaching experience, including currently serving as the head coach of the Nampa Swim Team, I have a passion for helping kids enjoy swimming, challenge themselves, and feel confident in the water. My approach is calm and friendly -- I believe in creating a supportive environment where kids can learn at their own pace while having fun. I'm looking forward to meeting your swimmers poolside soon!

  • Olivia

    Swim Instructor

    Hey! I'm currently a lifeguard at the rec center, certified WSI and CPR/AED certified. I love hanging out with kids! My goal is to help your kids become comfortable and have fun in the water!

  • Kaleb

    Swim Instructor

    Hello! My name is Kaleb. I am currently a member of the Nampa Shark Swim Team and Treasure Valley Water Polo Team. From a young age, I have always loved swimming. I feel it is an important skill for everyone to have. I look forward to meeting you and sharing not just the imporant swimming skills but also how fun it can be!

  • Sadie

    Swim Instructor

    Hello! I love being active and having fun! I am on my high school cross country, track, and swim team. I have also been competitively swimming for a decade. I am Lifeguard, WSI and CPR certified and can't wait to meet your kids and help them feel as comfortable in the water as I am!

  • Talia

    Swim Instructor

    Hello! I'm so excited to be joining Gem Swim! I am currently in college and working toward a business degree. I grew up in and around the water! My favorite thing to do is go boating and wake surfing with my family. I also love working with kids and I can't wait to teach yours!

  • Nate

    Swim Instructor

    Hi! My name's Nate and I'm currently a lifeguard and swim instructor for the city of Nampa, in addition to working at Gem Swim. I love being around water, whether that's the ocean, lake or pool! My goal is to have fun with your kids and help them learn how to be safe in the water and love it just as much as I do!

Frequently asked questions