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Otter Swim School

Get to Know Us

At Otter Swim School, we believe every child deserves to feel safe, confident, and strong in the water. Our program blends water safety, skill development, and fun in a structured, encouraging environment designed for long-term success.

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Whether your child is just starting or ready to refine their strokes, our proven curriculum builds swimmers step by step.

Otter Swim School

Swimming Lesson Scene

1

Local HOA Classes

Is your HOA an Otter Swim School participant? When you sign up, you'll be assigned to classes tailored to your neighborhood, ensuring a convenient and personalized experience. Our highly trained instructors provide low class ratios and a proven curriculum giving each student the attention they deserve. By completing our comprehensive program, students will acquire essential safety skills that will last a lifetime.

2

In-Home Classes

Do you have your own backyard pool? Do you want your children to learn swim safety for your own pool? Experience customized, in-home private swim lessons right at own residence. Our one-on-one sessions allow students to progress at an accelerated pace, ensuring personalized attention and focused instruction Enjoy the convenience and comfort of learning to swim in your own backyard. 

Otter Swim School Levels

In depth description of each level

Image by Kedar Gadge

Otternauts

(Mommy and Me)

Purpose:
Build comfort, trust, and positive water association.

Focus:

  • Water entry cues

  • Supported front & back positions

  • Parent education

  • Emotional regulation in water

Pass Standard:

  • Comfort is consistent

  • Child accepts supported positions

  • Responds to cues without distress

Image by David Clode

Sea Horse

(Preschool 1)

Purpose:
Introduce independent breath control and basic flotation.

Focus:

  • Bubble blowing

  • Assisted floats

  • Intro recovery to back

  • Body awareness

Pass Standard:

  • Independent bubble control

  • Assisted float comfort

  • Beginning recovery skills

Image by Bryan Walker

Puffin

(Preschool 2)

Purpose:

Build early independence and recovery skills.

Primary Focus/;

  • Front glide with face in

  • Rolling to back with assistance

  • Assisted kick propulsion

  • Elementary Backstroke intro

Pass Standard:

  • Glide with face in water

  • Recover to back with minimal assistance

  • Controlled bubble breathing

Image by Joshua Ryder

Penguins

Purpose:

Teach entry → recovery control.

Primary Focus:

  • Jump to back float recovery

  • Independent rolling

  • Elementary Backstroke development

  • Breath rhythm under stress

Pass Standard

  • Independent jump & recovery

  • Controlled rolling

  • Recognizable Elementary Backstroke

a narwhal with a long tusk is swimming on a white background in full view.jpg

Narwhal

Purpose:

Transition from survival skills to sustained swimming.

Primary Focus:

  • Freestyle introduction

  • Backstroke development

  • Distance foundation

  • Treading exposure

Pass Standard:

  • Recognizable Freestyle cycles

  • Sustained Elementary Backstroke

  • Intro Backstroke

  • Brief independent tread

Image by Sand Crain

Sea Lions

Purpose:

Develop endurance and independence.

Primary Focus:

  • Freestyle with side breathing

  • Backstroke distance

  • Streamline push-offs

  • 15-second tread

Pass Standard

  • Sustained Freestyle & Backstroke

  • Independent deep-water recovery

  • 15-second tread

Image by Bob Brewer

Walrus

Purpose:

Introduce technical accountability.

Primary Focus:

  • Freestyle efficiency

  • Backstroke refinement

  • Breaststroke introduction

  • 30-second tread

Pass Standard:

  • Recognizable Breaststroke

  • Improved stroke efficiency

  • 30-second tread

  • Controlled breathing under load

Image by Lachlan Gowen

Orka

Purpose:

Develop timing and technical endurance.

Primary Focus:

  • Breaststroke timing & glide

  • Butterfly introduction

  • Flip turns

  • 1-minute tread

Pass Standard

  • Recognizable Butterfly timing

  • Breaststroke timing integrity

  • Controlled flip turns

  • 1-minute tread

Polar Bears Swimming

Polar Bear

Purpose:

Full stroke integration and endurance maturity.

Focus:

  • All four strokes under fatigue

  • IM transitions

  • Legal finishes

  • 1:30–2:00 tread

Pass Standard

  • Technically sound four strokes

  • Endurance without collapse

  • Clean transitions

  • 1:30+ tread

At NDSS, graduates of the Otter Swim Prgram master all four strokes with correct technique, and complete extended distances without form collapse and illegal transitions.  Graduates will have the ability to tread water for 1:30–2:00 minutes and have the confidence to safely maneuver in deep water. Lastly they will be prepared for competitive swim teams, water polo, and lifeguard training.

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