About
I started TakeGuard Aquatic Services after I was approached by families who were looking for private swim instruction at their home pools. Through the waves of COVID-19, swimming lessons at public pools became vastly overwhelmed by the number of people who were looking to get their children in the water. People felt more comfortable if their children learned in their home environment. With 7+ years of instruction experience, I decided to put my knowledge to use in teaching private lessons. I find swimming lessons extremely rewarding to teach. Educating kids on water safety and giving them the skills to keep themself safe when swimming is crucial when you live in the Okanagan. Whether you are swimming at the beach, your backyard, or a public pool, the ability to swim is absolutory necessary.
Why our lessons are different
TakeGuard lessons are designed to allow adaptation to the specific needs of the student. Everyone has strengths and weaknesses in their skills and abilities in the water. Our instructors know how to recognize them and provide specific drills, games, or activities that will aid in swimming progression. While the simplest of activities might seem irrelevant to the development of a person's swimming ability, they are key parts in a sequence of progression to swimming greatness. For example, an activity as mundane as blowing bubbles will eventually translate into rhythmic breathing and breath-holding when swimming with your face underwater. Each student will be given specific and individual activities depending on the level of progression they are at for each skill.
Swimming Builds Values
A picture of my childhood swimming momentos
It doesn't matter what kind of swimming programs you're involved in, they help shape whom you are growing up. I took all the Red Cross Swim kids lessons before transitioning into Lifesaving Society programs. This is where I built one of my strongest personal values: helping others whenever possible. I really enjoyed the water-safety aspects of these lessons which is why I became a lifeguard, with some additional motivation from my mentors. I also took Padi Seal Team scuba diving lessons, quickly becoming involved in the training of other students in the water. Spending countless hours at the pool over the summer eventually led to me becoming a Lifeguard and Instructor at the Grand Forks Aquatic Centre. If it wasn't for the programs I was enrolled in at a young age, I'm not sure where I would be right now, definitely not operating a swimming lesson company.
Relevant Certifications
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Lifesaving Society’s Swim for Life Instructor (2 Years Experience)
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Lifesaving Society Instructor (1 Year Experience)
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Former Red Cross Water Safety Instructor (7 Years Experience)
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National Lifeguard Pool (8 Years experience)
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National Lifeguard Waterfront (2 Years experience)
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Parent and Tot Swim Program Leader
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CPR C
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Standard First Aid
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Pool Operator 1
Josh Nickiford, Owner
TakeGuard Aquatic Services
