Candis’ Swim Lessons

The holiday weekend is officially in full swing! I hope you and your family enjoy a safe, fun Fourth of July!

Whether you’re at the pool, the lake, or simply spending time together, please remember that water safety always begins with supervision and preparation.

What a way to kick off the summer!

Because of the support and generosity of Iron Wolf GCC, 16 families were able to participate in the first small group swim lessons this month, helping build the foundation for their little ones learn-to-swim journey.

A huge thank you to Kara and Owen for serving as our lifeguards and demonstrating the importance of active supervision, one of the five layers of protection that help prevent drowning.

We have one more session at Iron Wolf, and a few spots just opened up! If you’d like to join us beginning July 8, complete the interest form here:
https://forms.gle/x7AWC1gyakhX8SMa6

👇 I’d love to hear from our community…

If programs like this were offered throughout the year, would your family participate? If yes, comment “YES!” below. If you know a family who would benefit, tag them in the comments!

Stop by London Bridge Beach tomorrow, 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., for a FREE life jacket giveaway while supplies last.

The Best vacation souvenir?
Life-saving skills.

This weekend, I had the opportunity to travel and work with a family who made water safety a priority during their vacation.

Karson is 4½ years old and absolutely loves the water but only when wearing her life jacket. Without it, much of her confidence disappeared. Instead of focusing on what she couldn’t do, we built on the skills she already enjoyed and felt successful doing independently.

Through games, encouragement, and plenty of practice, her confidence started to grow.

In just two days, one eager little swimmer made a whole lot of progress. Karson is now:

✅ Jumping into the pool independently
✅ Swimming with her face in the water without goggles
✅ Rolling onto her back independently
✅ Rolling back to her tummy to continue swimming and find the wall for safety

The best part? I wasn’t just working with Karson. I spent time helping the entire family understand how to support her progress (and her little sister’s) while creating safer habits around the water.

Because swim lessons are about more than learning to swim. They’re about building confidence, creating safer habits, and opening the door to a lifetime of memories in and around the water.

I’m so proud of Karson and grateful her family trusted me to be part of their journey. I can’t wait to see them again this fall.

There’s something special about a community coming together to learn how to save lives.

For over 20 years, my passion has been helping people stay safe in and around the water. But safety doesn’t stop at the pool. Emergency preparation is one of the layers of protection against drowning. Empowering our community with how to respond with lifesaving skills like CPR is important and I’m incredibly grateful to be part of opportunities like this.

A huge thank you to Kaylee for volunteering her time to teach, and to Maggie at Elite Medical Training Academy for partnering with me to bring these free CPR classes to our community.

As I looked around the room today, I couldn’t help but smile. We had children, parents, grandparents, and community members from all walks of life spending part of their Sunday learning a skill they hope they’ll never have to use but one that could one day save a life. Each person showed up for their own reason, but all left with greater confidence and knowledge.

Days like today remind me how fortunate I am to call this “work,” and to do it alongside incredible people who share the same passion for making a positive impact in our community.

Missed today’s class? We have ONE final FREE CPR Class of the summer!

📅 July 26, 2026
⏰ 3:00–5:00 PM

Register here: https://forms.gle/Fx2GvuVv4s7ZDDvw8

What an honor it was to speak with the London Bridge Rotary Club during !

Moments like these matter because every time I share, someone shares a story back. And that’s how awareness grows.

One thing that really stuck with people today: Children can and will find ways to access water, including through dog doors.

Kids are naturally drawn to water. Whether it’s climbing over fences, slipping through unlocked doors, or using anything nearby to gain access… if there’s a way, they’ll find it.

Drowning happens fast and it’s often silent. But the more we talk about it, the more we can prevent it.

Thank you for giving me the space to educate, advocate, and continue working toward the goal of zero childhood drownings in our community!

I got to kick off in the BEST way… with my neon pink twin 💕

This moment with Addy totally set the tone for the week, and I just loved it.

Moments like this are fun, but they’re also a time to highlight that what your child wears in the water matters.

Bright, high-visibility colors consistently perform best in both pools and lakes.
Think: neon pinks, oranges, yellows, and greens.

Colors to be cautious with: low-contrast tones like blues, purples, whites, and creams as they tend to blend in and disappear underwater.

Keep in mind, visibility can change depending on water clarity, pool or lake bottom color, lighting, and surface movement. I always recommend testing swimsuits underwater so you can see for yourself what stands out best.

The goal is simple:
make your child as easy to see as possible at all times.

Choosing a high-visibility swimsuit is helpful but active, engaged adult supervision will always be the most important layer when it comes to keeping our little ones safe in and around the water.



SUMMER REGISTRATION UPDATE:
This summer is already shaping up to be a busy one, and I truly appreciate your patience while I finalize schedules. If you haven’t heard from me yet, I’ll be connecting with everyone over the next few days.

Group Swim Lessons at Iron Wolf are BACK!

Registration is officially OPEN for June & July, and I’m offering two full sessions so more families can participate. Don’t wait to reserve your spot.

This program is designed for children just beginning their swim journey, with a strong focus on building water safety, confidence, and foundational swim skills from the very start.

Created with those most at-risk in mind:
• Parent & Child (6–35 months)
• Preschool (3–5 years)
• Youth (6–9 years)

What sets this program apart:
💧Led by an instructor with 20+ years of experience
💧 Use of multiple teaching methodologies to meet each child where they are
💧 Small group structure for individualized attention
💧 A beautiful setting with minimal distractions
💧 Dedicated lifeguard on duty for added safety

Session Options:
📅 Session #1: June 3, 10, 17, 24
9:05–9:25 AM – Parent & Child
9:35–9:55 AM – Preschool
10:05–10:25 AM – Preschool

📅 Session #2: July 8, 15, 22, 29
9:05–9:25 AM – Preschool
9:35–9:55 AM – Parent & Child
10:05–10:25 AM – School Age

Spots are limited and will fill quickly. To submit an interest form click the link here 👉 https://forms.gle/x2oboSWcncGFjggq9