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Read the most Recent Updates
Summer Update 2024: Published August 27, 2024
Dearest Gentle Swimmers,
I hope your summer has been a splash! Thank you to everyone who has participated in my swim programs & for your generosity with compensation.
I’m reaching out to let you know that…
There are STILL openings for private swim lessons tomorrow afternoon, Friday morning and Monday. Book those here
You are invited to our end-of-summer party at the pool on Sunday. There’ll be short group swim lessons, games, one-on-one time with KJ, free swim and… food, face painting, dry land activities for kids, fairy hair & more. Will you join us or tell your friends? It’s an End of Summer Swim & Fun(draiser) that we are hosting to help with my and my kid’s upcoming out-of-the-ordinary trip to Disneyworld. Can’t make it but want to Leave a Tip to help support us? We’re ever grateful.
The pool closes next week. 
Would you like to leave me some feedback or to share a “Testimonial” which may be published on the Swim Gently website? Thanks! Here’s the Feedback Form.
Want to stay connected, give your family a strong foundation for your children to have a healthy relationship to their own body and sexuality AND be the first to know about any future swim lessons I’ll offer? Then please consider registering for my Bodies & Boundaries School Year: Sex Ed & Swimming Skills class which will be one Sunday a month from 10:15-12:15p at the Odyssey School starting in October. More details to come, please click ^^ that link to pre-register.
You are naturally on the email list to receive registration information about swim lessons Summer of 2025 at the Odyssey School. Want to be removed? Let me know (just write unsubscribe in the subject line).
Where you can find me this school year: Fall-Spring, I run another business providing face painting for local festivals, parties and events. Year-Round, I am developing curriculum and offering classes & coaching for parents, youth and parents & youth in the field of comprehensive, shame-free and practical sex education. I’d love to be teaching in schools across Asheville and am aiming to get my AASECT certification. Follow @ShameFreeandSafer on Insta and click here to be on the email list.
If I’m able to secure access to an aquatic facility, I may offer swim lessons year round.
Summer always flies by and watching so many of your children gain confidence and abilities in the water has filled my heart with joy. Did your swimmer reach new heights this summer? You might consider signing them up for the JCC Swim Team! I cherish getting to work with your families in this role of teacher/coach and hope that you have had a positive experience with Swim Gently.
Stay Tuned, in an email Coming Soon:
Upcoming Classes with me
How to keep up with swim skills through the year & harness your summertime momentum
Bathtime Conditioning
Tips & Tricks to get children acclimated to the water
Swimmingly
KJ Hawk
https://www.instagram.com/swimgently
Published June 18, 2024
Thanks for dropping by the website! All of our private lessons through the end of July have been booked, but do not fret. If you want private lessons, be sure to get on our email list so you can be the first to know when the schedule is open again. You can also get on our last minute cancellation list to a receive a text message when lessons open up (shoot us an email for this one too). To get on our list, just email swimgently at gmail dot com.
Here's what's coming up with openings for you!
Group Swim lessons that are a part of the upcoming Bodies, Boundaries & Bathing Suits Swim Days which is three hours of learning and fun together for a really affordable price!
Our Wednesday Class for beginners has openings: ⭐Starfish Sprouts! Beginner Swimmers ages 4 & up: Wednesdays @ 7pm - Session 1
and the Wednesday Class for kids who are ready for the next level has plenty of room too!
🐬Dolphin Divers: Advanced Swimmers Ages 6 & up: Wednesdays at 5:45pm, Session 1
If we have enough demand, we'll be offering this class as well:
🌊 Mindful Manatees! Mature beginner Swimmers for anyone age 10 & up (to 99!)
Lastly, there's plenty of room in our Saturday Class: Turtle Tot & Crew Swim for 0-3 year olds: Saturdays 9:30am Session 1 Session 2
Again, thanks for swimming by!
~ Coach KJ
Summer Update 2024: Published June 14, 2024
Hi Swim Fams!
We’ve got a fun, potentially FREE, Father’s Day swim coming up this Sunday, some changes to our classes based on what you want & a few updates. Also, I’d love help filling these classes, will you please tell your friends about Swim Gently’s Summer offerings? Thank you!
Some of you asked about missing classes - if you want to register for a session but you know you’ll miss one of the dates, I’m happy to prorate the class. Simply use the code PAYLATER then email me. (Already signed up and paid the full price? I’ll give you a refund, just let me know.) *note, this is if you’ll only miss 1 class
This Sunday:
To honor dads & humans who protect, provide for & play with our children (no matter our title or gender), Swim Gently is having a special Dad’s Day Swim Celebration Sunday the 16th from 10a-12:30pm. This will be a chance to meet the teacher (me), have your swimmers assessed & to lay back, swim and play in the sun. I’ve got a fabulous deal for you! If you sign-up for any one of the upcoming Bodies, Boundaries & Bathing Suits Swim Days, you can join me this Sunday for free! And if that’s not the path you want to take, no biggie, sign-up for an affordable fee.
Future Sundays:
You can now register for any Sunday you want and join me for a 3 hour: workshop, swim lesson & free swim time from 930a-1230p. Our Amazing Bodies IN THE POOL! To make this class as dynamic and accessible as possible, I’ve tweaked it a bit so the amazing Sunday programming is now longer, includes a large component that is all about swimming (45 minute group lesson) & they can be booked for individual days instead of attending the whole session. These will be a value-packed super fun day of learning and connection!
Why this class? My dad was a beach lifeguard during his teenager years. He gave me the gift of swimming. When he was in his early twenties, he taught me to swim before I was old enough to even remember. For as long as I can tell, I’ve felt comfort & joy in the water. On the flipside, there are many things my dad didn’t model for or teach me that would have saved me a lot of heartache. I’ve designed this class for parents (but kind of with dads in mind) because these are the lessons I would have wanted to learn, and to have my dad learn, when I was growing up. I believe that by empowering children to share their feelings & boundaries & teaching parents to listen and respect, this is how I change the world in my own small way.
Changes to Classes offered:
The Wednesday Beginners class has been changed from a 5 years and up to a 4 years and up class >>>
⭐Starfish Sprouts! Beginner Swimmers ages 4 & up: Wednesdays @ 7pm - Session 1
⭐Starfish Sprouts! Beginner Swimmers ages 4 & up: Wednesdays @ 6p - Session 2
There’s an additional class for the 3-5 year olds that just got added!
🪼Jellyfish Kids Swim for 3-5 year olds: Wednesdays @ 6:30p - Session 2
The advanced swim class has been moved from Sunday afternoons to Wednesday evenings & is now for anyone who either can pass the deep end test or who is close to passing but may not have yet nailed it. >>> 🐬Dolphin Divers: Advanced Swimmers Ages 6 & up: Wednesdays at 5:45pm, Session 1
🌊 Mindful Manatees! Mature beginner Swimmers for anyone age 10 & up (to 99!) - this class will be offered if I have enough demand. Please let me know if your family is interested in this one
There are still plenty to spots open for private swim lessons as well 🙂
Private Lessons: For one person, for two people or for three people are now live through July 29th. I have about 7 slots a week and will open more as we get into the summer. This summer, swimmers will need at least 1 supportive adult in the water during lessons. Swim Gently clients are invited to book ONE private lesson a week per/family.
Group Classes: There are still spaces in all of my group classes. Most Classes are 25 minutes long, capped at 8 swimmers + their adult(s) & must have a minimum of 4 registrants in each group in order to run the session.
Here are some quick details about dates & rates:
Saturdays Session 1: 5 weeks ~ Fee: $75 ~ Dates: 6/15, 6/22, 6/29, 7/6, 7/13
Saturdays Session 2: 5 weeks ~ Fee: $75 ~ Dates: 7/27, 8/3, 8/10, 8/17, 8/24
Wednesdays Session 1: 4 weeks ~ Fee: $60 ~ Dates: 6/26, 7/3, 7/10, 7/17
Wednesdays Session 2: 4 weeks ~ Fee: $60 ~ Dates: 7/31, 8/7, 8/14, 8/21
Turtle Tot & Crew Swim for 0-3 year olds: Saturdays 9:30am Session 1 Session 2
These lessons are for littles who are at least 6 months and up to 3 years old. A loving adult is required to be holding the child in the water. This class is designed to get you and the children comfortable in, bonded with and enjoying the water. Classes are taught in a unique way combining music and singing so your little ones can learn to enjoy the water safely. We work on getting faces in, floating, arm paddles, leg kicks, swimming gently and proper body dynamics.
Jellyfish Kids Swim for 3-5 year olds: Saturdays at 10am Session 1 Session 2
Wednesdays at 6:30pm Session 1
** Wednesdays @ 6:30p - Session 2** new**
This is a group class for people with children between the ages of 3 & 5. 1 loving adult is required to be with the child at all times and will assist in the water. We'll work on proper breathing techniques, back floating for a rest, swimming the front crawl correctly, using arms and feet properly and gaining confidence with their swimming ability. Songs/games will be involved so be ready to sing along. For each swimmer, having an additional adult geared up to get in the water as needed and sitting on the edge of the pool during the class would be ideal.
Starfish Sprouts! Beginner Swimmers ages 4/5 & up:
5 & up > Saturdays 10:30am Session 1 & Session 2
4 & up > Wednesdays @ 7pm Session 1
4 & up > Wednesdays @ 6:30pm Session 2
This is a group for children ages 4/5 and up who are beginning to get comfortable in the water & need guidance with the basic skills. Each child must be accompanied by a supportive adult (preferably the same person each time). This class utilizes stories that teach skills, supported exercises, goggles/putting faces in the water, back floating, basic ASL sign language & games.
Sea Otter Superstars! Intermediate Swimmers ages 5 & up: Saturdays 11am Session 1
Session 2 & Wednesdays at 6pm Session 1
This is an adult supported class for children between the general ages of 5-12 designed for swimmers who feel comfortable holding their breath, going underwater & being horizontal on the water but lack skills to be able to swim longer distances unassisted. In this class we’ll nail the back float, learn breathing techniques so swimmers can roll onto their back to rest & learn the basics of freestyle & breaststroke. We do this with fun, play, games & activities. Each swimmer needs one supportive adult in the water with them at all times.
Dolphin Divers: Advanced Swimmers Ages 6 & up: Wednesdays at 5:45pm, Session 1
In this class we will: learn the basics of breast stroke, back stroke & freestyle. Swimmers will have time to practice these strokes. We will work on diving, treading and floating. We’ll play fun games & swimming as well as social skills will be developed. We’ll even add in learning good communication, basic manners & situational awareness. It’ll be fun & confidence building.
More to Come: I’ll be sending out more availability in the next few weeks.
Waiting List: I like to have a short list of people to contact with last minute availability. In the case that you are unable to secure lesson times when you desire them - if you would like to be on the “Contact us in case of a last minute cancellation list” please shoot me an email with the best number to text you.
A note about email & text replies: My reply times vary depending on workload (in career & in my solo-parent household), my energy levels/personal health & living in accordance with my values of rest and communal care which is typically slower than the hyper-productivity many structures and systems demand. I appreciate your patience and kindness as we reimagine work, communal care & boundaries in this time to ensure that small business ownership is sustainable. (verbiage inspired by Davis Squared Consulting)
