Age appropriate Programs
Get on Board
Blue Ridge Swim-Float-Swim, LLC is a comprehensive Infant Aquatic Survival program that teaches children through muscle memory to learn to swim and float when needed. Our classes combine hands-on experience with knowledge-based teaching - take a look at our offerings and contact Blue Ridge Swim-Float-Swim, LLC to learn more.
4 Week Floater Course
Ages 6 months-12 months
Infants six to twelve months can learn to:
hold their breath in the water
roll from a face-down position to a face up back float
float, relax and breathe until rescued by an adult
perform these skills fully clothed
3-6 Week Swim-Float-Swim Course
Ages 14 months & up
Children who are walking (1-6 years) can learn to:
hold their breath in the water
swim with their face in the water to the steps, side, or parent
roll over onto their back when they need to breathe
flip back onto their tummy to continue swimming until reaching their destination, or roll to their back should they need to breathe again
perform these skills fully clothed
Group Maintenance Lessons
Beyond Survival Swimming
Once your infant, toddler or child has completed our aquatic survival swimming program, we encourage you to continue with age-appropriate group classes. Each class is designed to enhance previously learned skills, bring your child to the next swimming level, and achieve our goal of safe, happy, technically sound swimmers.
More About Us
Blue Ridge Swim-Float-Swim, LLC is a comprehensive Infant Aquatic Survival program. Our mission is to ensure the safety of your child (age 6 months - 6 years and up) in and around the water.
My name is Kelly Mello. I moved to Charlottesville in 2009 after graduating from The Savannah College of Art and Design with a B.F.A. in Furniture Design. I worked as an in-house packaging designer for several years before settling into married life and deciding to be a stay at home mom. At this time I was exposed to the concept of survival swim. After discovering there were no options available for my son to learn these vital skills locally, I began looking into training.
In 2016, I traveled to Colorado for my 6 week program of intensive training with Judy Heumann, founder of Infant Aquatics. It was one of the best decisions I could have ever made. As the mother of an active three year old boy and newborn baby girl at the time, I knew the value of safeguarding them when it came to the threat of drowning. My children were my motivation for becoming a certified Infant Aquatic Survival Specialist, and I am so excited to continue sharing these life saving skills with my community. The skills your child will learn through this aquatic survival program can and do save lives. It is the next best safeguard to effective supervision which should always be your priority around water.
The Infant Aquatic Survival program is unlike any other swim program in our area. Within 3-6 weeks I will teach your infant, toddler or young child the age appropriate skills they need to survive an unexpected encounter with water. Infants (age 6 months until walking) will learn to roll back into a survival float from fall-in or face-down submersion within 4 weeks of training. Children who are walking take 6 weeks to learn the Swim-Float-Swim sequence, allowing them to swim to safety while using their survival float to rest and breath as needed. Children 4 and up can handle 20 minute lessons, and can typically complete the program in 3 weeks. Lessons are every day Monday-Thursday and last 10 for children under four and 20 minutes for those 4 and up. Through the process of learning these survival skills, your child will have a foundation for a lifetime of enjoyment, respect and safety around water!