Frequently Asked Questions

Whether you're curious about our lessons, policies, or just need a little extra information, we've gathered all the answers to your most common questions right here. If you don’t find what you're looking for, feel free to contact our team!

faq
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Where are you located?

Pacific Flow Swim School is located at the Siltanen Pool in Siltanen Park at 147 Vine Hill  School Road, Scotts Valley, CA 95066. The best way to access our school is parking in the park  parking lot across from the park entrance. Alternatively, you could park at Vine Hill  Elementary School on the same road when school is not in session, or the Glenwood East  Preserve lot on Glenwood Road. From the park entrance on Vine Hill School Road follow  the paved path past the field (on your left), past the pre-school/snack shack/gazebo (on  your right), and past the playground (on your left) to the gated Siltanen Pool. 

What is the pool temperature?

Our target teaching temperature is 90 degrees. On hot summer days this usually means  we start the pool at 87 in the morning and the pool quickly reaches 90 or even a bit higher  by mid-day. This warm water allows for distraction-free learning for even the smallest of  our infants, warmth when a breeze picks up, and comfort for our instructors who are in and  out of the water for hours.

Do you offer trial lessons?

We do not, BUT if you’d like to come and watch a class from the pool deck, take a tour, and  ask us any and all questions in person, we’d love to have you!

How much do lessons cost?

Tuition is $135/month for our Perpetual program, one class per week, billed around the 25th of each month. Tuition remains the same whether there are 4 or 5 classes in a month, and will average out over the course of the year. 

Jumpstart program sessions (every day for 1 week, M-F, during the summer) are $157. 

Scotts Valley residents, military, and first responders pay an adjusted tuition of  $125/month Perpetual and $145/week Jumpstart.

How do I know what level to sign up for?

Two Ways: 

  1. Give us a call or email describing your child’s swimming experience and ability, or
  2. Visit the Parent Portal to view descriptions of each class.
What should my child bring to lessons?
  • Towel 
  • Goggles (optional, see below) 
  • Flip flops, shoes, Crocs for pool deck 
  • 0-35 months and non-potty trained must wear two layers of swim diapers. Examples of options: 
    • Disposable swim diaper (e.g. Pampers Splashers, Huggies Little Swimmers) underneath a reusable swim diaper 
    • Tight-fitting reusable swim diaper (e.g. Happy Nappy) underneath  standard reusable diaper (e.g. Finis diaper) 
    • Reusable double-layer diaper (e.g. Happy Nappy Duo). 
  • 36 months and up should wear a properly fitting swim suit. Remember that baggy  and looser fitting suits and rash guards will make learning to swim more difficult.
Should we bring goggles?

When starting lessons, we recommend that your swimmer does not wear goggles. Learning to comfortably put their entire face in the water and to keep their eyes open are important safety and comfort skills. As comfort with opening eyes underwater progresses, goggles (not snorkeling masks) are recommended to improve comfort and accelerate learning. Instructors will periodically have “no goggle time” to ensure there isn’t any unsafe reliance on goggles.

When will my child learn how to swim?

This depends on multiple factors including first and foremost what we’re considering  ‘swim,’ how often they’re swimming, and personal characteristics such as fears, age,  when they started lessons, and learning style. 

Children who swim multiple times per week will typically see quicker progress, and  children who swim year-round will see a more consistent learning pattern and retention of  skills for the long run.0o 

A few major benchmarks of swimming include:

  1. Big breath eyes in for 10 seconds
  2. Independent tummy float for 10 seconds
  3. Fall in the pool > roll to back > return to the wall
  4. Swimming freestyle across the pool
  5. Swimming all 4 competitive strokes
What should I expect the first day of class and how do I check in?

We recommend arriving 10 minutes early to allow enough time to get oriented before class. This will ensure you find parking, change if you need to, check in at the desk, ask any questions, and get accustomed to the pool area.

You’ll check in at the window, we’ll confirm your class and instructor, confirm you’ve signed updated terms on the Parent Portal, and give your child a colored wristband so that it’s easy to find their instructor.

Each instructor is teaching in a “Cove” with a bright colored milk crate nearby which matches the color on your child’s wristband. When it’s time for your child’s lesson have them walk slowly to the instructor’s milk crate, and the instructor will show them how to safely enter the pool.

What are the advantages of your curriculum? Why is Pacific Flow different?

Pacific Flow is a locally owned US Swim School Association accredited swim school. We use a proprietary way of teaching which has been crafted over the course of 40+ years. The curriculum is a culmination of the combined experience of the owners, collaboration with the best swim schools in the US and internationally, and through research from a wide range of aquatics including competitive swimming, Red Cross lifeguarding, triathlon, infant swimming, and even SCUBA diving. 

Being owned and operated by local parents versus being a franchise or corporate means that we get to update our curriculum as often as we see fit based on research and best practices and that we get to tailor our programs to the local community. 

Our instructors each have hours of training, shadowing, teaching, and demonstrating our 15+ curriculum philosophies, which we’re happy to share with you in more detail.

Tell me about your pool and disinfection processes.

The Siltanen Pool uses solid (briquette) calcium hypochlorite for disinfection, hydrochloric acid for pH balance, UV filtration to eliminate unwanted contaminants, glass activated filter media (AFM) for filtration down to 3 microns, and a 450,000 BTU heater. 

Where can we change and rinse off?

Siltanen Park has bathrooms with multiple stalls and diaper changing stations just across the grassy area from the pool. You’re also welcome to discreetly “deck change” on the pool deck, and many families opt to arrive in swimsuits and “wrap and go” at the end of class. We have two heated rinse-off showers on-site with the full line of TriSwim anti-chlorine products for purchase.

What if my child cries?

First, don’t stress! This is not uncommon and as we know, crying is often a typical child’s response to fear of strangers, separation from parents, and water. Next, know that our instructors are totally prepared to handle this through calming and distracting techniques to ease your child into their new aquatic classroom. We always 

have extra help available if needed and we’ll come find you if we need additional information from you that may be helpful or if we need your assistance.

What if my child doesn’t want to get in the water?

Just like our students who may cry and exhibit other signs of apprehension for swim class, this is totally normal and something we’re well-prepared for. Think about it: since birth, you’ve been appropriately teaching your child to stay away from water and strangers and now you’re asking them to go to both at the same time!

We’ll do whatever it takes to get your child in the water and happily participate in lessons. Typically that means:

  • A slow, warm, gentle introduction to us as instructors, assuring them we’ll go slowly and listen to their needs
  • Showing them how shallow and warm the water is
  • Easing tension with simple songs/games/toys that they can participate with just from the deck or steps
  • Using extra instructors as needed
  • Several other techniques

For the first day, our goal will be to get their feet in the water, play with toys, and give the teacher a high five. We like parents in the water to be the last resort, but if a parent sitting on the deck next to them, or with feet in the water, or all the way in the water turns out to be what they need then that’s what we’ll do—and we’ll let you know. 

Every child is different, and we’ll discuss with you what the best approach might be. Children with a known fear of water or who have had a bad experience typically benefit from going SLOWLY and building up trust with our program and instructors and with mom/dad/caregiver nearby. Other children who are totally comfortable in the water and benefit from immediate assimilation into class may do better with an extra instructor gently scooping them up and whisking them into songs/games.

My 2-year-old is a super swimmer—can s/he sign up for a class without me in the water?

A Pacific Flow Parent and Me class is most likely the best bet for you and your 2-year-old. These classes are better suited to a two-year-old’s attention span, classroom development, and height. Not only that, but they’re better value. As we know, 2-year-olds developmentally may have big swings in willingness to participate, and majorly benefit from parent involvement, making the 1:1 ratio you get in a Parent and Me class (with you being the teacher) the best and most consistent learning experience. 

For 30-35 month old grads of Pacific Flow’s Parent and Me program, we do offer the next step in our overall Infant/Toddler program called Seal Pups. This is a highly specialized class with a low ratio, parents in the water who already know who to teach their children, and students who are accustomed to our program. The goals of Seal Pups are: assimilation into a class without parents.

Do you have a swim team?

We do not. Not only do we not have the right type of facility for competitive swim, but as a school our focus is technique and efficiency versus speed and competition. However, when ready, your child will learn all 4 competitive strokes which will not only prepare them for swim team, but will also act as a great supplement once they’re on swim team. In Orcas and Blue Whales, students will learn proper starts, turns, DQs, all 4 strokes, IM order, streamline, use of dead water, common workout drills and much more which is applicable to swim team.

How do I reserve the gazebo?