Meet Janine Yoder of Kidz Aquatic in San Fernando Valley

Today we’d like to introduce you to Janine Yoder.

Janine, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I moved to the Los Angeles area in August 2003, from Leavenworth, Washington where I was born and raised. I come from a competitive swimming background; I started on the team at age 5, I have been swimming ever since!

I have been a swim instructor/lifeguard for over twelve years. Besides having extensive teaching experience, I also am trained for First Aid, CPR/AED, Lifeguarding, Infant/Toddler, Water Safety Instructor, Fundamental of Instructor Training, and Adaptive Aquatics Certification, Masters, L3 Coach, and much more.

When I was going to college at CSUN, I heard about kids and adults drowning in their pools and the ocean, where LAFD and LACoFD had to rescue them way too often. I wanted to be a part of the solution.

So in 2006, I opened Kidz Aquatic, LLC private swim school in the San Fernando Valley and surrounding areas. When we started, we specialized in traveling to people’s homes only. Now, we have expanded to having access to a few pools (Rancho- Simi Valley, West Hills only during certain times of the year).

Then just this year 2017 at CSUN we will be offering two brand new programs; Kidz Aquatic Swim Club and Kidz Aquatic Masters Club. The Youth Swim Club, the children, can start at the age of 5-years-old with no experience, and work their way up to regular Swim Club. The Adults can join Masters as long as they are least 18 years old.

I am hoping one day Kidz Aquatic will still be around, even after I am gone, either with family or someone who has the passion and values that Kidz Aquatic Stands for.

Has it been a smooth road?
There have been some ups and downs. Any industry has them I think. But we get through them. With my family far way, I count on my employees to help out when I need them the most, and they come through. I have had to overcome personal hurtles as well. Example, this last year, after a car accident, I was left with Neuropraxia in my right leg. Other things were much easier than this, in the long run. If it wasn’t for the skilled Kidz Aquatic employees that I have hired over the years and the few that have stayed with me over each season. I probably would have had to close Kidz Aquatic’s doors while I was recovering.

Instead, we have been earning awards for Kidz Aquatic many services throughout the years. I’m not sure how we got nominated for them. This year, we are in the Hall of Fame, now for five consecutive years in a row!

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Kidz Aquatic story. Tell us more about the business.
Kidz Aquatic, LLC specializes in work with infants as young as four months to adults, including elderly individuals and teaches them from learn to swim programs, to coaching competive strokes for swim teams. We teach private to group lessons for everyone. We have a 95% success rate in our learn to swim programs, in the 10-day program. We now offer monthly classes, and we cater to companies and individuals that need lifeguarding services.

I am proud to call Kidz Aquatic my own because I founded it. Sure at the beginning, I was Kidz Aquatic. It was just me. But now, the employees are the heart of the company. Without them, it would not be the same.

What sets us apart from other companies is this:
I think that Kidz Aquatic, LLC can accomplish these goals because we believe in making swimming fun, and letting the swimmer enjoy the water, not fear it. We look at the age of child or adult and discover what they are capable of achieving, whether it is swimming a few feet or the entire pool. We do not force children or adults underwater; they need to be ready to try it on their own.

“You will be swimming in no time!”

How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
The swim industry is always changing. There is always something new. New ways to teach a stroke, speed up the time, etc. Including Stop Drowning Now. I am a part of a few different organizations, to help me stay current with my industry. We just had the Olympics last year, and we will have it again four another four. Olympic years always make people want to swim.

Pricing:

• Masters Club is $50
• Pre- Team- Navy- $225
• Silver- $125
• Gold $150
• Aqua $175
• Senior 1 &2 $200

Contact Info:

• Address: 21431 Saticoy St
  Suite #310
  Canoga Park, Ca 91304
• Website: www.kidzaquatic.com
• Phone: (818) 671-1905
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kidzaquatic/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KidzAquatic06/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/KidzAquatic
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/kidz-aquatic-canoga-park-2
• Other: https://www.linkedin.com/company-beta/17874437

Image Credit:
The Pix with that Boy were professionally done by K Marie

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