Bear Paddle Swim School, Lake in the Hills

As soon as one walks in, they can tell Bear Paddle Swim School was designed to welcome children. The colorful walls are painted with cartoon bears dressed in flippers and swim trunks evoking a welcoming environment. Then there's the 90-degree saltwater pool, perhaps the most exciting feature of all. Offering eight swim levels, the year-round swim lessons accommodate a wide range of ages and abilities with small class sizes, covering skills from beginner all the way through competitive swim strokes.

Most importantly, each swim lesson is taught by a trained teacher who is CPR-certified and 16 years of age or older. Teachers employ story-based lessons and use small class sizes to help keep children engaged. Children are encouraged to learn at their own individual pace and are rewarded with iron-on skill patch rewards for their achievements.