Evo Swim School

When people think of Arizona, they think of hot and dry weather. While this weather may be uncomfortable on land, these conditions are perfect for aquatic recreation of all kinds, from backyard pools to fishing and boating on one of Arizona’s beautiful lakes. As a result, it is even more important to invest in quality swimming lessons for your children. This will not only help them be safe but will also give them a lifetime of real enjoyment around the water.

Many people ask why we have an indoor facility in Arizona. The simple answer is that we have taken into account how miserable it can be for parents to sit on the deck and watch their child swim in the blazing heat. Additionally, outside of the summer months, it does get cold enough for backyard pools to be out of commission for 6 months out of every year. Because of the central location of our facility, we are able to offer premiere swimming lessons to the residents of Mesa, Gilbert, Queen Creek and Chandler.

There is no doubt our instruction is effective in any pool but the facility design gives us an even better edge on other programs in the east valley. Here are just a few examples…

The air and water temperature are set to a constant 90 degrees. This keeps our students from getting cold, which can be a great distraction if a child starts to shiver during a lesson. We also have specialized rim flow gutters that allow the water to spill right over the edge of the pool deck to reduce water turbulence. This is most important for our youngest students who are still gaining their confidence in the water. Getting a mouth full of water while floating on their back isn’t conducive to building trust with a new student.

EVO Swim School also offers the latest technology when it come to water chemistry. We are the first swim school in Arizona to offer the clean, clear water provided by a special balance of chemicals from the WesTronic Water Corporation based in Canada. This special blend of water chemistry won’t leave burning eyes or itchy skin.

At the end of the day, our indoor facility will provide a comfortable place for your child to learn a lifesaving skill. Oh yes, and they will have some fun, too. Check out our new slide!

Q: At what age do you recommend babies start swim lessons, and why?

A: This question is something all parents should be asking themselves. At the EVO Swim School we recommend that children start with a parent/tot lesson as early as 9 months old. We do have some children as young as 6 months however we want to make sure they are alert and can support their own head before they take an organized lesson.

Starting lessons at such an early age will accomplish two basic goals. The first goal is to accomplish a level of comfort in the water. Each child will have a unique opportunity to work with Mom or Dad in a controlled environment as they “take” to the water. They will learn basic (and instinctive) skills such as muscle relaxation and the ability to hold their breath. They also have a much easier time transitioning from Mom or Dad to an actual inst ructor. The parent/tot classes at EVO Swim School are part parent instruction and part instructor instruction. The child will have the opportunity to be handled in a class setting by someone other than Mom or Dad without the normal separation anxiety babies often experience when introduced to new people or places.

The second goal of swimming lessons at an early age is to get a head start on adapting to the skills necessary to not only enjoy the water but also save one’s own life if necessary. It is not uncommon to see babies learn to float on their back by themselves or spontaneously kick their feet when submerged in the water.

The bottom line is when early aged swimming lessons are applied; children get a head start on developing independent swimming skills by the age of 2 or 3 years old. At EVO Swim School we can always tell which 2 and 3 year old children went through our parent/tot course and which did not. We see children as young at 2 with the ability to jump in the water, float on their back for a breath and then swim back to the wall for safety (and it’s fun too).

Every day at the EVO Swim School we get the privilege of seeing kids both young and old break through the challenge of learning to swim and/or over come their fear of the water. When this happens swimming takes on a whole new meaning. For parents it is the peace of mind that comes with knowing their children are safer around water. For the kids it is a whole new world of excitement and fun every time they get in the water! We love seeing it happen on a daily basis at our swim school.

EVO was the first of its kind to offer year round swimming lessons in the town of Gilbert, opening its doors in April of 2007.  We have enjoyed getting to know the people of Gilbert, Mesa, Chandler and Queen Creek.  The east valley is filled with great families who stay active and want the best for their children.

If your family is anything like ours, you understand what it means to be busy! While swimming year round works great for some, swimming 365 days per year is not always best for everyone’s schedule.  There are spring and fall sports, music and dance lessons among other activities children participate in. That’s why the staff at EVO makes it easy, and is here to accommodate your schedule. Many of the fall sports will soon be coming to a close which makes the wintertime ideal for swimming lessons – especially at an indoor facility like EVO.  So give us a call! The water is warm and the instruction is the best in town. 

Amazing things happen every day at EVO Swim School. We believe our lesson program is the best in all of Gilbert, Mesa, Chandler, Tempe and Queen Creek. We want to prove it too! Our goal at EVO Swim School is to have any child age 2 or 3 become independent in the water as soon as possible.

This requires a consistent approach to lessons over a six to ten month period of time. Parents need to remain committed to their child’s progress. With this commitment you will have the peace of mind knowing your child can swim and be safe (not to mention it’s fun and a great form of exercise!).

Our lessons are generally once per week and those parents that are consistent over time can easily see the benefit in this approach to swimming lessons. Your child’s lessons shouldn’t just be a seasonal one or two month affair. Young children forget physical skills learned in a matter of weeks if not maintained. Practicing new skills on a weekly basis is an excellent way to maintain their skills and also continue learning new ones. This allows you time in your schedule for swimming lessons on a long term basis. THE SECRET TO LASTING RESULTS IS CONSISTENCY OVER SIX TO TEN MONTHS. We realize kids need a break from time to time but don’t underestimate the power of long term consistency.

We invite you to view the videos below. These are great examples of what our students are capable of. Our teaching style matched with your consistency is a winning combination!

Olivia started her lessons when she was 2 and a half years old. The videos below were taken just before her 3rd birthday and display her independence in the water after taking a solid six months of lessons. She cried through her first 2 or 3 lessons but caught on quickly (as you can see!).
Andrew is a 3 year old who has displays exceptional swimming ability for his age. He has outstanding use of his arms and he is seen here swimming in our third lesson level (Sea Lion class) with other children 2+ years older than he is. Check out his freestyle “big arms”.

“Just want to let you know that your instructors are terrific and the program is great. My kids, Madison and Jacob, have really progressed and enjoy going to their weekly swimming lessons; eventhough, we have to drive all the way from Queen Creek. Thank your team and keep up the great work.”
-Genny Hogan (February 2010)

“I am so amazed and grateful for the progress Ava has shown.  She started lessons at just barely two years old, and quite fearful of the water.  The instructors at EVO are first class and the reason that we didn’t give up.  Although at times it seemed as though she would never get through a lesson in Starfish (parent-tot) without crying, the EVO instructors were always calm and reassuring, while still helping her gain skill.  After months of perseverance, and letting Ava set her own pace, she turned a corner and seems to have left any fears behind.  After only a few months in the Otter class with Jennifer, she is now in Seal and loving her swim lessons each week.  Instead of “no swim” with tears, I now hear “yeah, swim class!”  I can’t tell you how proud I was the first time I saw her go from one end of the pool to the other all on her own.  She is doing amazing things at only 2 years old because of the EVO staff.  Thank you so very much.”
-Jeanine Borger (February 2009)

“Amazing! That is how we would describe Taylor’s progress at EVO. She got a slow start in the pool, age wise, due to the tubes we had put into her ears when she was younger. After the tubes came out and she could go under water, we started trying to teach her how to function in the pool so that at summer camp she would be able to hang out with her friends in the deeper areas of the pool. Well, we could not get her to keep from holding her nose with one hand. So, we started her at EVO.We would like to thank you and Lorraine for being the early influences that have helped her, we think excel, at swimming in such a very short eight (8) months. We believe she has had every instructor at least once and all of them have been nothing short of excellent in their support and praise. The support and praise, we feel, are the things that encourage her to continue to strive to really learn swimming.Things we will always remember about these first eight months: (1) The smile on her face when you gave her a high five the first lesson. (2) The smile on her face when she passed two levels in her first advancement test after her 3rd week. (3) The smile on her face, and the proud look she had shown, when at one lesson, Lorraine moved her from third in line to first in line for a backstroke drill, and said “Taylor, go ahead. Now, everybody, watch how she does it”. Lorraine may not remember that, but we do, and Taylor talked about that all the way home that night. (4) The amazement of the instructor when she did the dolphin kick perfectly the first time, with the comment to me, “she’s a natural”. And then in the same lesson, the “oh my” thought we had when she did her first butterfly stroke excellently. (5) The “oh my gosh” look she gave me, and how much she talked and text messaged about it to friends and family, when you asked to do the video and blog about her. (6) The huge smile and the “Yes! attitude” she had in her eyes after passing Dolphin to move to Advanced, and how she was talking and laughing with her classmates afterward.”
-Kurt Gries (January 2009)

“We originally enrolled Dillon at Evo with a concern for his safety since we had numerous family and friends with swimming pools and we own a boat. Working with Jennifer, Dillon met our original expectations of being able to float, tread water and safely reach the edge of the pool sooner than we expected. I can also say I honestly didn’t expect to see Dillon cross the entire length of the pool with full arm strokes and no coaching at three years old but with Lorraine’s training, that is what he did Tuesday.

I have been impressed with the instructors understanding of the different personalities and the different approaches required for the individual children. I have watched children begin their program and cry the entire class but eventually become relaxed with their surroundings because of the extra attention given by the instructor. Other children, one in particular that I know, can get too comfortable with their surrounding and require a different form of “extra attention” which is also handled very professionally by the instructors. We have been very pleased with Evo Swim School and the progress that Dillon has made.”
-Jason Strange (January 2009)

“Clara started just after her 2nd birthday and was already really into swimming, but no where near an independent swimmer. Sometimes progress seems slow, but I have to remind myself that she’s barely 3 ½ and can independently swim across the pool and has been able to for a year (with the instructor needing to be less close over the year). On vacation last summer just before her 3rd birthday, we got lots of stares, questions asking how old she was, etc. as she happily swam between mom and dad in the Disneyland pool loaded with much older kids and their floaties.

The consistency and routine has been good for Clara. With other swim lessons we have taken, you sign up for a “session” and then often start over at the start of a new lesson. At EVO, the routine is consistent and consistent between levels as well, so that when you move to a new level, you just add a skill, but continue with the same routine.

The American Academy of Pediatrics says that kids are not developmentally ready to swim until at least age 4, given what I’ve seen at Evo, I don’t think this is the case.”
-Beth Pekala (January 2009)

“We love EVO and the top -notch instruction that our kids receive there. Andrew has so much fun, loves the teachers, and has learned so much. We couldn’t believe it the first time we saw him do freestyle and backstroke – he was only 3 years old! It is exciting to see what he has accomplished at such a young age under the instruction of highly qualified teachers. It’s amazing to watch him grow. We owe it all to EVO Swim School.”
-Beth Richardson (January 2009)

“EVO Swim School has worked with Christopher for 1 year now and they have shown the firm guidance with compassion that Christopher requires. They have listened to his parents and learned how best to work with Christopher so that he can give his very best. He loves the praise that EVO is good about giving the kids.”
-Anne Field (January 2009)

“I wanted to express my enthusiasm in having Olivia enrolled at EVO Swim School. As a first time Mom, I researched every swim school in the east valley -literally- looking for the right mix of fun and structure. We tried a few of the well known schools, the results were disastrous. With the constant chaos of kids screaming and instructors yelling, forget learning to swim, she would no longer even get in the pool. About to give up, I learned EVO had opened and, after only 2 or 3 lessons (she had learned to trust again) I saw a marked improvement not only in her level of swimming, but most importantly in her confidence and overall desire to learn. Understated, she simply can’t wait until her next lesson! EVO Swim School is a first-rate operation. From its hands-on owner who clearly cares about making a difference, to the hand-picked teachers who treat each child like they were family, the beautifully designed pool/viewing room and the progress blogs – all carefully designed to help each child develop a life-long love of swimming. I can’t wait for my newborn twins to begin classes! Now isn’t that what it’s all about?”
-Karin Parente (January 2009)

“I just wanted to tell you I recently have taken swim lessons with Jennifer. She had taken the task of teaching me the freestyle stroke. I have taken lessons in the past and have never progressed as much as I have under the watchful eye of Jennifer. She is patient, skillful and explains each level of training in such a way that makes it easy to grasp. The whole staff at EVO has been more than helpful and they all seemed concerned that I achieve my goals in the water. You have what I deem a great swim school that is staffed by perhaps the best and most likeable instructors, I have experienced. I hope to have the opportunity to recommend your swim school in the future as I most certainly will do. Thanks you!”
-Rocky Landato, adult student (October 2008)

“I wanted to take a moment to reply and tell you how thrilled I am that I discovered EVO! I am continually impressed with everyone’s professionalism, level of care for the kids, and ability to deal with even the most difficult new swimmer. EVO is a treasure in the world of activities for kids and I’m honored to have my children attend.”
-Kathi Baker (August 2008)

“We want to thank the staff at EVO and specifically Lorraine, Jennifer, and Jordi for giving our girls such a fantastic and positive learning experience. These ladies displayed patience, knowledge, and positive feedback on a continual basis with our daughters. EVO Swim School is a class act with a clean and welcoming environment. Additionally, we enjoyed the “share link” as a fun way to help celebrate each child’s success. Our family is moving out of state but we will miss this place dearly. Keep up the great work and EVO will continue years of success:) THANKS AGAIN!”
-The Birgen’s (July 2008)

“I just wanted to let you know how happy I was with your lessons at EVO. Ben started out very uncomfortable in the water and now he’s able to swim several laps on his own. Now I’ll be able to relax a little more around the pool this summer. : ) Thanks for a great program!”
-Nancy Schutz (May 2008)

“We love EVO swim school. Our four year old daughter Ria enjoys the swim classes and looks forward to them every Friday. She loves her instructor David who is gentle yet firm enough to challenge and get the best results out of her. We had our daughter in other swim school in Chandler and we found that EVO swim school is the best around town. Based on our wonderful experience we are referring EVO to many of our friends and family.”
-Sunitha Cheruvu (May 2008)