Donna’s Dolphins: Colorado Springs Swim School

Finding a good swim school is not always easy. A parent can find out all too quickly that bad instructors or disorganized programs are a waste of time and money. Children can quickly become discouraged or disheartened. I was lucky enough to stumble upon a Colorado Springs swim school called Donna’s Dolphins. Their goal is to give results quickly while still engaging a child in an encouraging and motivating environment.

All About Donna’s Dolphins

Their program provides lessons from infant to adult. Cost for a half hour private swim lesson will run you $35. If you have a baby or toddler, you can take advantage of the group sessions at the cost of $70 for 4 lessons. Booking lessons is simple with the use of a convenient online appointment system. Small discounts are offered for special needs children or for booking lessons online. Donna’s Dolphins also gives specials from time to time. For instance, a recent end of the summer special was publicized in which 10 lessons could be purchased for the price of 8.

Donna’s Dolphins can also boast a top-notch brand new facility. Located at Research and Powers, the swimming area is inviting and nicely decorated with a whimsical beach mural. There are 2 restrooms and 3 changing rooms as well as a shower for rinsing off. The air temperature is set at a comfortable 82 degrees and the water temperature in the pool is also warm at 90 degrees. There is plenty of seating for the adults while lessons are in session and even a play area for siblings.

Children are allowed to choose a ‘prize’ at the end of a session and if a student makes significant progress, a sticker can be placed in a colorful booklet as a motivating tool. Children will walk away feeling a sense of accomplishment and pride.

The highly trained instructors are swimmers themselves with CPR and Lifeguard and First Aid Certifications. Their warm personalities and genuine interest in teaching children makes them a huge asset to this swim school.

Why I Chose Donna’s Dolphins

Initially, I chose this swim school because they can teach special needs children. My 5 year old daughter, who has sensory issues, was terrified to put her head in the water. My husband and I had no luck in helping her overcome this intense fear and the meltdowns that would ensue. Within one evaluative lesson, the instructor had her head under the water. Now 12 lessons later, she is nearly swimming the freestyle and learning the butterfly stroke. Her confidence and self esteem has soared since starting lessons with Donna’s Dolphins. Her excitement has rubbed off on my younger daughter who now also takes lessons.

On a scale from 1 (lowest)-10 (highest), I highly recommend Donna’s Dolphins and give it a solid 9. As with any business, there is some room for improvement. Although a minor issue, Donna’s Dolphins does not typically give notification if a requested instructor is not available at the scheduled time. However, they do try to mitigate this by training all the instructors in the same exact techniques and approaches. Nevertheless, a child may not be a good fit ‘personality’ wise with a different instructor so it is good to know ahead of time. Another suggested improvement for Donna’s Dolphins is to add at least 5 minutes at the end of sessions for a quick discussion between instructors and parents before the next session starts. Sometimes it can feel rushed when trying to discuss a child’s progress. However, if you are a vocal parent you can usually get in a few words with the instructor during the lesson.

Contact Info:

Donna’s Dolphins

5470 Powers Center Point #130

Colorado Springs, CO 80920

719-487-SWIM


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