Ms. Rachel’s Aquatic Adventures

05/28/2026

Three weeks ago, Maggie wanted absolutely nothing to do with the water.

She was scared to put her face in. Scared to roll onto her back. Nervous about almost every new skill we worked on. And honestly? That’s completely normal for a lot of kids.

This morning, her mom sent me this video because Maggie wanted to show me how brave she’s become while practicing on vacation with her family. I could not be more proud of her.

One of the biggest things I work on with kids is helping them understand that being scared does not mean they can’t do something. It just means it’s new. Confidence is built by trying anyway.

That’s part of teaching a growth mindset. Instead of saying “I can’t do this,” we teach kids to say, “I can’t do this YET.”

And little by little… that changes everything.

Swimming is an important life skill. But the confidence, resilience, and courage kids build in the process will help them far beyond the pool.

I teach infant and toddler water safety and survival through a trauma informed lens, and I also work with children ages 5 through adulthood on refining swim skills, stroke development, and swim team coaching.

I am a traveling swim instructor and currently travel to South Lafayette, Youngsville, and parts of Broussard. August openings are available.

If your child needs lessons or even a refresher course, feel free to reach out at 404-840-4368. You must have access to a pool.

02/03/2026

Stella turned 3 last year and at first she was terrified of the water. Through constant encouragement, teaching her that she can do hard things, and it’s safe to step out of your comfort zone… she is now able to successfully float on her back. I’m looking forward to working with her again this summer.

01/01/2026

🌊💙 Registration is NOW OPEN for returning families of Ms. Rachel’s Aquatic Adventures! 💙🌊

If your child swam with me in 2025, today’s the day to claim your spot for the upcoming season! I’m a traveling swim instructor—which means I come to your home pool, creating a familiar, calming environment where your child can truly thrive.

At Ms. Rachel’s Aquatic Adventures, I don’t just teach swimming—I teach water as safety through a trauma-informed lens. I work with each young person’s nervous system to build trust, confidence, and real skills in the water. Lessons are fun, soothing, and rooted in evidence-based youth development practices.

Here’s a little about me:

• I earned my Water Safety Instructor certification at 17 and went on to manage swim programs in New Iberia and at Red Lerille’s while in college.
• I helped rewrite the American Red Cross WSI training program while working at the national headquarters of Boys & Girls Clubs of America.
• I’m a certified trainer in youth work methods and a program quality assessor for the Weikart Center for Youth Program Quality.
• I’m also a certified Playworks trainer—an evidence-based approach that uses play to build social-emotional skills, cooperation, and joy.
•My lessons are infused with high-yield learning—meaning kids are having so much fun, they don’t even realize they’re learning. These activities are intentionally playful and engaging, designed to build confidence, curiosity, and real skills through joy and movement.
• Every session includes growth mindset coaching and positive affirmations, because I believe every child deserves to feel safe, seen, and celebrated.

This isn’t just swim instruction—it’s youth development in motion, and I’ve been doing this work for over 30 years.

✨ New client registration opens February 1st. ✨

Spots fill up fast, so if you’re a returning family ready to dive back in, send me a private message or comment “swim” below and I’ll reach out with next steps.

Let’s make waves—safely, joyfully, and together. 💦

12/25/2025

🎄✨ Merry Christmas from Ms. Rachel’s Aquatic Adventures! ✨🎄

I hope you and your family are enjoying a joyful, peaceful, and love-filled Christmas season.

As we look ahead to the new year, here’s a quick reminder about 2025 swim lesson registration:

🏊‍♀️ Returning clients: Registration opens January 1st
🏊‍♀️ New clients: Registration opens February 15th

If you have questions or would like more details, feel free to call or text me at 404-840-4368.

Thank you for trusting me with your swimmers. I’m so grateful for each of you and can’t wait to make more aquatic memories together in the year ahead.

❤️🎄 Very Merry Christmas! 🎄❤️

11/17/2025

Registration for swimming lessons opens for past clients on January 1st and for brand new clients on February 15th! Please message me for more details!

Send a message to learn more

08/09/2025

What This Summer Has Taught Me 💙

As I reflect on this season, I’m reminded how much can change in just a few years—and how much can stay rooted in purpose.

I’ve been teaching swim lessons for a long time. But three years ago, after living in Atlanta for 25 years, I moved back to Lafayette. At the time, I had a full-time job, and I began offering lessons part-time in the evenings. That first summer in Lafayette, I taught about seven students. It was a modest start, but I knew the work mattered—especially when it came to water safety and survival for infants and toddlers.

The following year, word began to spread. Families were looking for trauma-informed, emotionally aware instruction, and I ended up teaching 40 students. It was clear that this wasn’t just a side project—it was something deeply needed in our community.

This year, I anticipated a busy season, so I opened registration on January 1st. I wanted to be proactive. What I didn’t expect was to be 90% booked by the first week of April. By the end of August, I will have taught 128 children. That number represents more than growth—it reflects the trust families placed in me to guide their little ones through something that can be emotional, vulnerable, and life-saving.

What this summer has taught me is that parents are seeking more than swim lessons. They’re looking for someone who understands the weight of teaching water survival. Someone who sees their child’s fear, their courage, and their progress. Someone who teaches with intention, patience, and care.

I’ve watched toddlers go from panic to peace. I’ve seen parents cry tears of relief. I’ve felt the quiet responsibility of knowing that what I teach could one day save a life.

To every family who trusted me this summer: thank you. You’ve helped me grow something that started with seven students into a mission I carry with pride and humility. I’m already preparing for next summer—with even more structure, intention, and heart.

Featured swimmer :
Maggie, 3 years old

With gratitude,
Ms. Rachel

07/20/2025

🌊 **DROWNING DOESN’T LOOK LIKE DROWNING**

This week is National Drowning Prevention Week, July 20–26, and I want to focus on something deeply personal: keeping kids safe in and around water.

Families have shared summer memories—pool days, lake trips, vacations. School’s back in focus, but water safety doesn’t follow a calendar.

Drowning is the #1 cause of accidental death for children ages 1–4. It doesn’t look dramatic. No flailing. No cries for help. It’s silent. It happens fast—sometimes in just 30 seconds, even with others nearby.

Here’s what real drowning can look like:
- Head tilted back, mouth barely above water
- Eyes closed or distant
- No sound, because there’s no air
- Upright posture, appearing to “tread water”
- But they’re not okay

This isn’t just for parents. It’s for grandparents, babysitters, siblings—anyone near water.

**Today’s Tip: Assign a Water Watcher with overlapping shifts.**
Designate adults to take turns watching the water—fully focused, no distractions. For example:
- One person watches from **12:00 PM to 1:00 PM**
- The next starts at **12:30 PM to 1:30 PM**
This overlap ensures someone’s always alert, ready to respond.

Prevention isn’t seasonal. Awareness saves lives.

07/14/2025

This past Saturday wrapped up my final makeup lesson for the season — and Miss Maggie finished strong!

Over the past two years, I’ve had the absolute joy of teaching this determined little swimmer, and watching her grow in the water has been such a gift. This morning, her Deezy joined us for her last lesson so he could confidently support and reinforce all the skills she’s worked so hard to master.

Huge thanks to her mom, Katherine, and her Deezy and Blue for trusting me with their girl. Watching Maggie jump in, swim back to the wall, and float like a pro — all while beaming with confidence — is exactly why I do what I do.

Scroll through to see some sweet snapshots of her in action and floating side-by-side with her Deezy. 💙💦

07/04/2025

07/04/2025

🇺🇸💦 Fourth of July Fun — and a Reminder That Could Save a Life 💦🇺🇸

As we head into a beautiful weekend full of fireworks, cookouts, pool parties, and family gatherings, I want to take a moment to talk about something that’s easy to overlook in all the fun — water safety.

As I have said many times, drowning is silent and happens fast — especially with little ones. Most often, it happens when adults think someone else is watching. It’s the leading cause of accidental death for kids under 4. Let that sink in.

This week, I’m teaching swim lessons in New Iberia with a group of 16 amazing students. By the end of the week, many of these kiddos are swimming independently, floating on their backs, and showing real confidence in the water.

But here’s what really matters — on the last day of class, I invite a parent, grandparent, or guardian into the water with me. I show them exactly how to work with their child — how to hold them, support them, and reinforce what we’ve practiced all week.

So often, the child is ready… but the adult isn’t quite sure. And that hesitation is why some kids end up back in puddle jumpers or floaties.

That’s why this part of the lesson matters so much. I lead by example, then coach each adult as they do it themselves — hands-on, with real-time feedback, until they feel confident too. And it works. Weeks later, I often get texts and messages thanking me — not just for teaching their child, but for empowering them as caregivers.

Swipe through to see two incredible duos from this week:
💙 Lane (3 years old) and his mama, Katherine
💙 Gunner (3 years old) and his grandmother, Woo Woo

This is what water safety looks like. It’s love, trust, confidence, and education — all wrapped up in joyful, splashy moments.

Please enjoy your holiday — and if you’re around water, make sure someone is always on active watch. Better yet, jump in with them. Your presence and confidence might just make all the difference. ❤️