Making Waves Swim School

Making Waves Swim School is a Northfield, Minnesota-based institution devoted to teaching children (ages 3-10+) the essential skills of swimming in a safe, fun, and nurturing environment. Founded in 2002 by Bob Hauck and Cindy Varley, the school has grown to become a vital part of the community, providing over 43,000 lessons to eager students. With a curriculum built on the expertise of two Northfield swimming families and a team of experienced, college-age teachers, Making Waves Swim School continues to help children develop confidence, skill, and a love for swimming.

Our Services: A Three-Season Lesson Program

Making Waves Swim School offers a comprehensive three-season lesson program, serving a wide range of ages and skill levels. Our staff is made up of talented young adults from St. Olaf College who are not only skilled swimmers but also experienced teachers. Parents are welcome to enjoy on-deck seating during their child's 30-minute swim lesson in our 90-degree warm water facility. With small class sizes and a unique, innovative curriculum, we proudly teach water safety skills and develop all four swimming strokes in a creative and sequential manner.

Our lesson program covers three sessions:

1. Spring Session: Spanning 6 weeks on Sundays, the Spring Session begins on April 7 and ends on May 12. Spring Session 2024 will have classes on April 7, 14, 21, 28, May 5, and 12.

2. Fall Session: Registration for the Fall Session starts on July 22, 2024. The Fall Session begins on September 15, 2024, and continues through December 10, with a total of 10 classes.

3. Winter Session: Held from January 7 to March 17, the Winter Session includes 9 classes.

Lesson Levels and Details

Making Waves Swim School offers a progressive approach for all ages and skill levels, from beginners to advanced swimmers. Our small group settings allow for individualized instruction and skill development based on each student's ability. Here's a glimpse of the skills required for each level:

• Level 1: Introduction to Water - Students learn water familiarization, breath control, and basic kicking skills.
• Level 2: Beginning Swimmer - Students develop independent floating and front and back glides, along with arm movements.
• Level 3: Developing Swimmer - Students enhance their coordination by learning combined arm and leg actions for swimming and refining breathing techniques.
• Level 4: Intermediate Swimmer - Students work on improving their proficiency in all four competitive strokes, diving, and turns.
• Level 5: Advanced Swimmer - Students perfect their skills and gain increased endurance in preparation for joining a swim team or engaging in other aquatic activities.

Registration and Discount Information

Register online or download a registration form from our website. We offer discounts for families enrolling three or more children! For the third child, families receive a $2 discount per lesson; for the fourth child, $4 per lesson; and for the fifth child, $6 per lesson. These discounts will be automatically calculated during registration.

Please note that all lessons take place at the FiftyNorth swimming pool located at 1651 Jefferson Parkway in Northfield, MN. Should you have any questions regarding swim levels or our program, please contact us at makingwavesmn@gmail.com. We are happy to help!