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 class is a bit different from our regular lessons. An instructor will be in the pool ready to help out and answer any questions. Unlike our usual swim lessons, this class 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 offer a small class size with limited spots. Parents should be prepared to be in the water with their child for this class. *Seasonal Availability*

Parent and Me

This class is perfect for nervous children and parents that want to be introduced to the world of survival skills. An instructor 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 your own pace and comfort level. This class is ideal for children under 3 years old. *Seasonal Availability*

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
    1. Navigate to our booking page.
    2. Choose a specific instructor to see their schedule, or "Any Instructor" to see the entire month's schedule.
      If you choose a specific instructor, you will be able to see their profile and learn more about them.
    3. Click "Book Now" to continue.
    4. Choose the class you would like. For regular lessons, you will choose "Survival/Stroke" lesson. Continue by pressing "Select".
    5. Select how many participants you will have and add them to continue. Click "Next".
    6. You will see the location and hours. Click "Next".
    7. Choose the dates and times for the lessons that you would like for the month. After the first time is selected, you will need to select "Choose Another Time Slot" to add additional lessons. Select "Next" when finished.
    8. Fill out the required forms. Your lessons will be held in your cart for 15 mins.
    9. Add payment method and "Next" to complete the booking process.
  • Get Ready

    Before your first lesson, we'll help you feel fully prepared so everything runs smoothly. Be sure to double-check your lesson time, arrive ready to go, and come with your child in proper swim attire, including a reusable AND disposable diaper layered for little ones. Parents play an important role by staying present, engaged, and using a calm, positive tone to encourage their swimmer. Our goal is to create a smooth, supportive experience so your child can feel safe, confident, and ready to learn from day one.

Meet the Team

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

  • Kirsten

    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!

  • Olivia

    Swim Instructor

    I'm a lifeguard, certified WSI and have worked for Gem Swim for several years. I love hanging out with kids! My goal is to help your kids become comfortable and have fun in the water!

  • Sadie

    Swim Instructor

    Hello! I love being active and having fun! I have been competitively swimming for over a decade and am a collegiate swimmer. I am a lifeguard and a WSI and have worked for Gem Swim for several years. I can't wait to see your kids and help them feel as comfortable in the water as I am!

  • Myah

    Swim Instructor

    Hello! I'm Myah and I'm a competitive swimmer. I absolutely love teaching kids and am passionate about seeing them succeed. I am excited to work with you and your family this season.

  • Evala

    Swim Instructor

    Hi everyone! My name's Evala and I'm a former competitive swimmer. I love teaching and I love helping kids become more confident and grow. I am so excited for this season and to work with all of you!

  • Maddie

    Swim Instructor

    Hi! I'm Maddie and I'm a WSI and lifeguard. I'm studying elementary education in college and I absolutely love teaching and working with kids! I'm super excited to teach yours!

Frequently asked questions