Meredith's Minnows: Swim Safely

07/19/2026

Now that the kids are swimming more independently, you can use your new found freedom to get in a quick cardio session while supervising in the pool! There are so many easy exercises you can do in the water that provide a healthy amount of resistance to give you a good workout 🌊

07/17/2026

For those near Columbia, there is a coral reef encounter happening this weekend at Jeffers Hill Pool (Columbia Association owned pool but anyone can participate). The Coral Reef Encounter is an immersive art and science installation that is used to enable both children and adults to learn more about saving our coral reefs while appreciating their beauty. As a certified scuba diver, I may be biased but this is a great way to get kids to appreciate the art of swimming and see neat things along the way!
🐠🪸🐡🐟

https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/coral-reef-encounter--2026

07/15/2026

Now that we are in the dog days of summer, are you or your kids suffering from "pool toe"? It is caused by a combination of prolonged contact with the rough pool bottom and duration in water. The bottom of your feet can become red, sore, and possibly bleed if left untreated. My favorite hack is using a roll-on petroleum jelly stick at night to help protect the skin between days at the pool. Reducing the time your feet spend in contact with the bottom of the pool might be challenging in the interim, so water shoes are always a great alternative outside of swim lessons to protect the feet!

06/24/2026

Swimming is a necessary safety skill! For those close to Columbia, Columbia Association is participating in the World's Largest Swim Lesson tomorrow and offering a free swim lesson in the evening 🏊‍♀️

06/21/2026

Tomorrow looks to be a severe weather afternoon! Make sure to stay informed and be safe if you plan to be at a pool 🏊‍♀️

⛈️ Watching Monday closely: More than one round of strong to severe storms possible, with damaging wind gusts over 57 mph the primary threat. A few tornadoes can't be ruled out, along with flooding downpours in spots.

Timing: An isolated morning shower possible as a warm front passes, then storms likely sometime after 2 p.m., potentially continuing into the evening. Storms move west to east across the entire region.

Humid highs Monday in the mid-80s to low 90s — sunnier areas warm up most and carry the highest severe storm chances.

Confidence is low-medium for now. We'll have more detail tomorrow, including where any threat of a few tornadoes may focus.

➡️ Full forecast and storm briefing at CapitalWeather.com - including tonight's mild and more humid conditions.

06/03/2026

Congrats to the graduating class of 2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣6️⃣! From Pre-K, K, Elementary School, Middle School, High School and beyond, I love celebrating everyone's accomplishments! This school year, I was busy finishing up my BSN requirements and officially graduated recently 🎓 🎉 I can't wait to hear what everyone accomplished this school year as summer gets underway! 🌊

05/20/2026

When it comes to pool safety, being weather aware should be a priority. For those who don't know, I am a meteorologist by education and profession, which is why I am able to provide additional peace of mind when it comes to knowing when pools are safe to be in or not for swim lessons. I love using WeatherBug for their free lightning data in addition to following the forecast provided by US National Weather Service Baltimore/Washington. I also rely on the local radar to provide real time updates of storm location to make informed decisions regarding safety. Here are some snapshots of the current severe weather, stay safe and weather aware as this cold front passes through!

03/13/2026

After a crazy week of weather with a brief preview of summer, it is time to start building the summer 2026 schedule! I have started to send emails out to current/past families, but please reach out in case I have missed you. After I schedule current families, I'll have a better idea of my availability to add new families. Happy (almost) Spring! 🌞 🏊‍♀️🎉

10/31/2025

Happy Halloween from Wilma Flinestone, a little old lady, and a pineapple! 🎃👻🕷🕸

10/19/2025

After a chilly end to August, we got lucky with a relatively warm September and October that extended the summer pool season. Today was a gorgeous fall day to wrap up the outdoor lesson season 🌞 I hope everyone has a productive school year, and can't wait to start tackling new swimming goals with you all come the spring! 🍂🍁🍂