Beard Swim Co. is owned by Former World Champion / 7-Time Olympic Medalist Amanda Beard and operates in a private facility that was designed and built for teaching our proven curriculum. We are swimming experts and our product is excellent swimmers.
Please read through our swim lessons and swim levels to get a better idea of the product you are looking for, then submit an online registration request and a member of our team will contact you to complete the registration process. If you have questions and would prefer to speak to one of our team members immediately, please give us a call us or stop by.
We highly recommend introducing children to the water as early as possible but please ask your physician prior to making a decision. The first level of our Group Swim Lessons is available for babies over 6 months of age. Adult participation is required for the first three levels of Group Lessons but not Private Swim Lessons.
Because we are capable of teaching all skill levels, from babies to Olympic hopefuls, the answer really depends on each swimmer’s ability, and goals. If your main concern is safety, we highly recommend making swimming a part of your child’s lifestyle. This means year-round lessons and frequent recreational swimming up to at least the age of 9. Risk of injury is never eliminated but it can be greatly reduced through continued education and development of skills.
It is very normal for children to experience stress when entering a new environment and when meeting new people. While removing them from lessons may alleviate their immediate anxiety, the result can end up being a lifetime of anxiety. Usually, the best solution is to provide children with repeated positive swimming experiences until they realize there is nothing to fear. Some children take longer than others to acclimate but, since swimming is potentially a life saving skill, the results are worth the wait.
We require a commitment to eight lessons due to the need of many students to acclimate to the new environment and their instructor before showing progress.
Group and Private customers receive four lessons per month. If an individual receives less than four lessons due to facility closures, their account will be prorated accordingly.
We do offer makeup lessons. Please read our makeup policies page for details.
If your child is vomiting, has diarrhea or a fever please wait at least 24 hrs. after symptoms have ceased before bringing them in to swim. A common cold is usually not a problem but always consult your physician before making a decision and please let our team know so that curriculum adjustments can be made if necessary.
A swimsuit (a cloth diaper for children 3 years of age and under), a towel and goggles. That's it! We have a selection of cloth diapers and goggles in our boutique if you need to purchase them.
Children 3 years of age and under, potty trained or not, are required to wear a cloth diaper at all times in our pools. Disposable diapers will clog our filters and can cause pool closures.
Our deck supervisors have a roster and keep a head count in each class so they know exactly who is in the natatorium at all times. When the pool deck doors are opened without our knowledge, there is a potential for children waiting in the lobby or shower area to walk on deck unnoticed. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD. Additionally, when the pool deck doors are opened in the middle of lessons it can be distracting to our deck supervisors, lifeguards, instructors, and students.
If your child is in the natatorium and you need assistance please speak to our front desk team. They will gladly help with any needs you or your child may have.
We do not close the pool during lightning storms unless the power goes out. If there is a potty accident in the pool, we will stop classes until the pool is sanitized. If your child's lesson is cancelled due to a power outage or a code brown, a makeup lesson will be credited to your account.
We do not close the pool due to snow unless the main roads are closed by the city and/or county however, if you are unable to attend a lesson due to heavy snow in your neighborhood, just let us know you will be absent and a free makeup lesson will be credited to your account.
Registering swimmers is almost as labor intensive as teaching them how to swim and this fee allows us to provide you with an excellent onboarding experience. Once registered, the time of our instructors and our facility space is reserved for you. Your swimmer is occupying a spot that another swimmer cannot fill.
We cannot put a hold on your account but if you need to give up your reserved space and time and know when you would like to return, we will gladly keep you updated with current lesson availability.
If you would like to give up your reserved lesson day / time, please contact our front desk team 30 days prior to the lesson you wish to be your last and they will provide you with a link to our Farewell Form. Once you have submitted your paperwork, we will confirm your request and open your spot for other customers to reserve.
Want to learn more about the ages and skill level of swimmers that we offer classes for? Check out our skill levels page. We have classes for babies (infants, toddlers from six months to thirty six months old) and we also work with teenagers and adults. We’re the go-to swimming instructors serving Gig Harbor, Tacoma, WA, and the surrounding area.