Q: You can’t help but notice the bright blue signage of the Big Blue Swim School that is opening at the North Bridges Shopping Center in Johns Creek. Can you tell me about it?
A: The Big Blue Swim School was founded by former competitive swimmer Chris DeJong in 2009 and is expanding its first location into Georgia to Johns Creek.
DeJong was swimming competitively by the time he was 8. But his introduction to the sport was not remembered fondly.
“I was about five years old and I remember being in a class with 20 other kids at the local university in my hometown. The water was freezing cold and I think I was the only kid who wouldn’t get off the ladder,” DeJong said. “Everyone else was jumping in the pool and I was hanging on for dear life.
“It’s a really common experience to have a bad learn-to-swim memory for most people. It’s very hard to learn when your teeth are chattering and curriculum have never really been updated in the last 50 years,” he said.
Classes at the Johns Creek location are offered from 6 months up to 12 years old. The classes are small and weekly. The teachers have over 100 hours of initial training plus on-going instruction. The pools are shallow and the water is kept at 91 degrees.
Consistency is key – not only with weekly lessons but seeing the same instructor over-and-over each week.
“It’s really important that we establish a positive, trusting relationship between our swim instructors and the kids taking swim lessons from us,” he said.
DeJong said there are different age groupings, and in each group there are different skill and ability levels.
“Our general philosophy on the best way to become a safer swimmer is to be able to swim from point A to point B, so if you did happen to fall off a dock, boat or side of the pool our lessons focus on being able to independently propel yourself to safety,” he said. “We really focus on propulsion and to be able to go places: be able to move around the pool, swim opposite and down and sideways through the water.”
For parents, Big Blue’s software platform provides ease of scheduling and billing. The parent viewing area is set up with families in mind and offers free WiFi.
“I really see swim lessons as one of the first real fears that kids have to overcome completely on their own. It’s a really big moment because mom and dad can’t do that for them,” he said.
The school is hosting a free family event April 18 to visit the facility and meet the staff.
Location: 10955 Jones Bridge Road, Johns Creek (770-308-8227).
www.bigblueswimschool.com
New to town or simply have a question about this place we call home? Email your request to atlactualfact@gmail.com
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