PAWS-Pool and Water Safety

04/01/2026

Hello! The beginning of April and our Season is well underway. We are finishing up Session #3 this week and ready to see these swimmers have an amazing summer in the pool. Quick shout out that we have 4 remaining morning lessons available for the Refresher Class that takes place May 18 to May 21st. The Refresher Class is only one week long for anyone that is interested. Additionally we are down to the last 22 lessons for the Season with the majority of availability in July and August. If you know of anyone that would be interested we would hate for them to miss out for our 2026 Season have them reach out to us NOW. Thank you all so very much for your support of our program and helping us to spread the word to so many families. We owe so much of our success to each and every one of you!

03/09/2026

Hello FB Friends and Family! Our 2026 Swim season begins tomorrow Monday 3/9 and we are thrilled to be welcoming back some of our returning swimmers for a Refresher course. At this point we are more than 3/4 filled for our season and could not be happier or more thankful for all of the likes/shares/comments that so many of you have posted. We are blessed to be part of such a supportive community of friends. There are a few remaining slots left for lessons -

Session #3 March 23 to April 2 11, 11:30AM
Session #4 TOTALLY BOOKED :)
Session #5 TOTALLY BOOKED :)
Session #6 May 4 - May 14 10, 10:30AM, 11:30AM, 3PM
Session #8 June 1 - June 11 3, 4:30PM
Session #9 June 15 - 25 All sessions except 9:30, 10, and 5PM
Session #10 July 7 - July 16 All sessions except 10:30, 5:30PM
Session #11 July 20 - 30 All sessions available
Session #12 August 3 - August 13 All sessions available

Again, many thanks and much love for your support!

01/22/2026

Here it is - our 2026 Swim Schedule Update
It's been a busy day enrolling swimmers - session times listed below are what is now available.

Session #1 March 9 - March 12 Refresher class for one week
Anyone signing up for this class must have already
completed the 2 week Session.
9, 9:30, 10, 10:30, 11, 11:30, 3, 3:30, 4:30, 5, 5:30

Session #2 March 16 - March 19 Refresher class for one week
Anyone signing up for this class must have already
completed the 2 week Session
9, 9:30, 11, 3, 3:30, 4, 5:30

Session #3 March 23 - April 2
9, 11, 11:30, 3, 3:30, 4, 5, 5:30

Session #4 April 6 - April 16
9, 9:30, 10:30, 11, 11:30, 3, 3:30, 4, 4:30

Session #5 April 20 - April 30
9, 11:30, 4, 4:30, 5, 5:30

Session #6 May 4 - May 14
9, 9:30, 10, 10:30, 11, 11:30, 3, 3:30, 4:30

Session #7 May 18 - May 21 Refresher class for one week
Anyone signing up for this class must have already
completed the 2 week Session
9:30, 10, 10:30, 11, 11:30, 3

Session #8 June 1 - June 11
9, 10, 11, 11:30, 3, 3:30, 4, 4:30, 5, 5:30

Session #9 June 15 - June 25
9, 9:30, 10, 10:30, 11, 11:30, 3, 3:30, 4, 4:30, 5, 5:30

Session #10 July 7 - July 16
First week is Tuesday through Friday
Second week is Monday through Thursday
9, 9:30, 10, 11, 11:30, 3, 3:30, 4, 4:30, 5, 5:30

Session #11 July 20 - July 30
9, 9:30, 10:30, 11, 11:30, 3, 3:30, 4, 4:30, 5, 5:30

Session #12 August 3 - August 13
9, 9:30, 10, 10:30, 11, 11:30, 3, 3:30, 4, 4:30, 5, 5:30

Please email with your preference for lessons. Be sure to include your child's name and age, Session # and time. Lessons are not confirmed until you receive an email confirmation and we receive your registration fee if applicable for new swimmers.

Keep in mind that the earlier in the season - the cooler the weather but the pool is always maintained at 88 to 90 degrees for everyone's comfort. It is strongly suggested that our younger swimmers have lessons earlier in the day or in the earlier slots in the afternoon.
If you have any questions or concerns - please feel free to reach out. Looking forward to another great season!
All lesson requests MUST BE DONE VIA EMAIL -
[email protected]

01/21/2026

Good Morning Friends -

Here it is - our 2026 Swim Schedule

Session #1 March 9 - March 12 Refresher class for one week
Anyone signing up for this class must have already
completed the 2 week Session.
9, 9:30, 10, 10:30, 11, 11:30, 3, 3:30, 4, 4:30, 5, 5:30

Session #2 March 16 - March 19 Refresher class for one week
Anyone signing up for this class must have already
completed the 2 week Session
9, 9:30, 10, 10:30, 11, 11:30, 3, 3:30, 4, 4:30, 5, 5:30

Session #3 March 23 - April 2
9, 9:30, 10, 10:30, 11, 11:30, 3, 3:30, 4, 4:30, 5, 5:30

Session #4 April 6 - April 16
9, 9:30, 10, 10:30, 11, 11:30, 3, 3:30, 4, 4:30, 5, 5:30

Session #5 April 20 - April 30
9, 9:30, 10, 10:30, 11, 11:30, 3, 3:30, 4, 4:30, 5, 5:30

Session #6 May 4 - May 14
9, 9:30, 10, 10:30, 11, 11:30, 3, 3:30, 4, 4:30, 5, 5:30

Session #7 May 18 - May 21 Refresher class for one week
Anyone signing up for this class must have already
completed the 2 week Session
9, 9:30, 10, 10:30, 11, 11:30, 3, 3:30, 4, 4:30, 5, 5:30

Session #8 June 1 - June 11
9, 9:30, 10, 10:30, 11, 11:30, 3, 3:30, 4, 4:30, 5, 5:30

Session #9 June 15 - June 25
9, 9:30, 10, 10:30, 11, 11:30, 3, 3:30, 4, 4:30, 5, 5:30

Session #10 July 7 - July 16
First week is Tuesday through Friday
Second week is Monday through Thursday
9, 9:30, 10, 10:30, 11, 11:30, 3, 3:30, 4, 4:30, 5, 5:30

Session #11 July 20 - July 30
9, 9:30, 10, 10:30, 11, 11:30, 3, 3:30, 4, 4:30, 5, 5:30

Session #12 August 3 - August 13
9, 9:30, 10, 10:30, 11, 11:30, 3, 3:30, 4, 4:30, 5, 5:30

Please email with your preference for lessons. Be sure to include your child's name and age, Session # and time. Lessons are not confirmed until you receive an email confirmation and we receive your registration fee if applicable for new swimmers.

Keep in mind that the earlier in the season - the cooler the weather but the pool is always maintained at 88 to 90 degrees for everyone's comfort. It is strongly suggested that our younger swimmers have lessons earlier in the day or in the earlier slots in the afternoon.

If you have any questions or concerns - please feel free to reach out. Looking forward to another great season!

All lesson requests MUST BE DONE VIA EMAIL -
[email protected]

01/15/2026

Countdown is on! Our 2026 Swim Lessons will be posted here on Wednesday 1/21 late morning. Be looking at your schedules now so that you are prepared to schedule without any conflicts with vacations. This season we will be offering 2 Refresher weeks and without a doubt - those fill up super quick. Looking forward to hearing from all of you next week and be sure to spread the word with friends, family and any FB groups that you are part of that registration is open on Wednesday. Those of you that know us - know that availability is GREAT in the beginning and becomes much more challenging as the season gets closer. I realize that the weather is super cold this weekend and the last thing we are thinking about is swim - but BE THINKING ABOUT SWIM!

01/03/2026

Hello!
Thank you so much for your interest in our Swim Program- PAWS Pool and Water Safety. We are excited that you have reached out to us to meet the needs of your child in regards to swim safety. Many of you have questions prior to registration so I’m including this information for you to take a look at prior to opening up registration on January 21. Hopefully it will answer all of the questions that you may have in regards to our program.

On January 21 all of our lessons will be listed here with available Sessions and time frames. Last year on our first day of enrollment when schools were closed and we were expecting snow that day we enrolled 56 students! One day and half of our summer was already spoken for! It was a crazy day beyond our expectations. With that being said – take a look at your calendars now so that when lessons are posted you are able to know what works for your schedules. Know when you are taking vacations, when friends are coming into town and work schedules. Availability gets limited quickly and changes become a little more challenging. While all slots get booked the most in demand are early morning and all afternoon times without a doubt. We will have lessons until 6PM this year.

For those of you that are new – please read through this information thoroughly so you are ready to go when lessons are available. For returning swimmers there will be two separate weeks of refresher classes available to choose from – each being a week long. Refresher classes can only be taken by those swimmers that have completed the initial two week session with Mr. Rob. For new swimmers the regular lessons are two weeks in length Monday through Thursday.

Information about our program below -
The PAWS – Pool and Water Safety Program was designed in light of the need to instruct and teach our littles the importance of feeling safe and secure in and around the many bodies of water that they will encounter here in Florida – especially pools. As our grandson became more curious about the fun that water play entails, we realized that we needed proper guidance and instruction for him to do so safely. After making numerous calls and realizing the tremendous need for this service Rob decided to go through all of the instructional Red Cross courses to become certified to teach lessons to children and adults. It was extensive training that included classroom and textbook training, hands on pool instruction, a variety of testing and skill levels and online work as well. For years he has been surrounded by young ones as Elaine has been an in-home childcare provider, so this seemed like a natural progression for him. He retired 7 years ago from his full-time employment and is now successfully enjoying teaching littles about pool safety.

While most lessons are often taught in a group format – PAWS is one on one instructions for 25 – 30 minutes Monday through Thursday and sessions go for two weeks. This allows for total concentration on one child at a time and eliminates the waiting time on the edge of the pool while other students are in the water. Total concentration on each student for the duration of the lesson. It is not the goal of PAWS to expect that any child could be placed in the middle of the ocean and swim to shore – instead we want to instill in them the familiarity of the water and to not panic but rather feel totally comfortable in the water. Should an incident occur, they will know how to respond and find themselves able to get to the edge of the pool. As with any education and especially with our children – reinforcement is the key to success. You are encouraged to follow through with the exercises they are taught during lessons and allow these actions to become habits for your children. We do not instruct with “water wings” or any other inflatable device for them to become dependent on so that they become confident in their own skills.

Lessons are held at our East Arlington/Intracoastal West home located off Mt. Pleasant near Wonderwood and Girvin Roads. Our pool is heated for comfort and although the pool is heated -some mornings – especially our first few sessions are a little cool.
During lessons you are encouraged to observe from the patio area and sometimes your observations may need to be made from inside where you can look out to the pool area but your child cannot see you. Some students will do better when concentration is on Mr. Rob and will be more focused on the lesson. Additionally, we are often asked if parents need to be in the pool to participate and that is not part of our instructional program. Your child will do well paying attention to Mr. Rob and listening to him. We very much encourage observation so that you can follow up with what your child is learning during lessons and ask that you do observe them in the water free from any cell phone distractions.

Although Mr. Rob has been trained in lessons from infants on up in age – our instructions are geared for those children 2 years and older. Upon requesting lessons for your child please also inform us of any health concerns for your child that we should be made aware of as well. Some children have limitations and it is nice to know of any considerations that we need to take and prepare our lesson according to your child’s needs. Also if your child is on the Autism spectrum or has other needs that would be the time to make us aware. This can range from hearing to sensory issues and we like to be prepared and have the ability to adjust the lesson for your child accordingly.

RATES
There is a $50 non-refundable registration fee that is due at the time your class is confirmed. This can be done via Venmo to Mr. Rob. Requests and confirmation of lessons are done via email only and no lessons can be booked through our FB page, Messenger or personal texts. All requests for classes are filled on a first come first serve basis and answered in the time order that they do come in. Swim instruction rates are $150 per week and sessions are held in two-week increments. Sessions are held Monday through Thursday of each week leaving us Friday to do any make up classes or pool maintenance. We often are able to make up classes on the weekend as well if necessary but do try to keep them during the week when possible. We understand that appointments and sick days do occur. With that being said – keep a sick child at home and we will do our best to reschedule. All classes will be made up but for the safety of other swimmers and Mr. Rob we want to keep our environment as healthy as possible. Both Mr. Rob and Elaine are up to date and current on vaccines – especially for the flu. Should your child choose to do an additional week or two beyond the original class there is no registration fee for that next class. Additionally, there is no registration fee for return swimmers either when they do a “refresher” class. Refresher classes are only available to those swimmers that have already completed a 2 week session with Mr. Rob.

Mark your calendar for Wednesday January 21st and we look forward to hearing from you to get your child enrolled in our PAWS Program.

Regards,
Mr. Rob and Miss Elaine

12/24/2025

Ho Ho Ho and Happy Holidays from Mr. Rob and Miss Elaine! Hoping this greeting finds everyone happy and healthy this season. Mark your calendars for our swim lesson registration for 2026 season. January 21st will be open registration for all!
Best wishes for a happy New Year!

10/27/2025

Hello Friends! Totally enjoying our off season - had a fabulous 2 week cruise and headed out on Friday for the Inaugural Norwegian cruise from Jacksonville! Elaine officially retired on 10/8 and although we miss the littles - life is very good!
Wanted to let our swim friends know that Santa will be in town 🎅🏼 December 5 - December 19. He is a very dear friend of ours who is an AMAZING Santa. If you would like to book him for your child’s preschool/daycare or a home visit please let me know. We still have openings available and it will make your holidays that much more spectacular!

08/25/2025

Hello Friends! As much as we thought our season was coming to a close - we have been requested by several families for classes so we are doing one more session that will go from September 1 to September 11. Our intent is that these are morning classes only so please text me if you are interested. We already have 3 littles scheduled but if you want to get your child in - please let me know this week. Our weather has been most cooperative in the mornings as well - not so much in the afternoons. Looking forward to hearing from you even if you want a one week refresher during this time. Elaine - 904-343-1435.

Send a message to learn more

08/03/2025

One week Refresher classes available
8/4 to 8/7 and 8/11 to 8/14
Text me if interested!

Send a message to learn more

08/03/2025

One week Refresher classes available
8/4 to 8/7
8/11 to 8/14 TEXT ME

08/01/2025

Last minute reschedule -
Have 11 and 11:30 openings for our next session 8/4 - 8/14

Send a message to learn more