Jan Marie Smith – Aquatic Training Expert
Known for her compassion to her trainees and her unmatched enthusiasm for swimming, Jan Marie Smith is a much loved swim instructor throughout Colorado. Beginning her career as a competitive swimmer, she went all the way to Junior Olympics and other state competitions. By the age of seventeen, she signed up as a swim instructor with the American Red Cross and has never looked back since.
It is likely that over the course of her career, Jan Marie or ‘Miss Jan’ as she’s lovingly called, has taught more than a thousand children the essential life skill of swimming. Children throughout Denver, Grand County, and Mount Princeton Hot Springs Resort rely on Swim Harmony and Jan for expert swim lessons. This year alone, she has certified over a hundred and fifty lifeguards across Colorado and Red Cross. She maintains a special bond with all her trainees and has even taught several generations in some of her families.
Jan is currently certified to work with the American Red Cross, Swim America, and the Starfish Aquatic Program. She holds numerous other certifications including Lifeguarding and Water Safety Instructor for the American Red Cross. She is also a certified CPR/First Aid Instructor.
She is also a long-time water movement instructor, certified in both water yoga and water cardio. While her home-base is Mt. Princeton Hot Springs Resort and Greenwood Athletic Club in Denver, where she has been for more than 30 years; she frequently travels throughout Colorado certifying aquatic professionals and candidates.
Some of the districts, towns, and facilities Jan has worked in as well as certified the aquatic staff for are:
Hot Sulphur Springs Resort, Glenwood Springs Hot Springs Resort, City of Glenwwood Springs, Granby Recreational District, Fraser Recreational District, Breckenridge Rec Center, Silverthorne Rec Center, Gilpin County Rec Center, Clear Creek Rec District, YMCA of the Rockies, Town of Springfield Colorado, Town of Sterling Colorado, City of Yuma, Splashland, The Hooper Pool, Arapahoe Parks and Recreation District, Trails Recreation Center, City of Salida, River Run Ranch, Town of Aspen, Fountain Valley School, Villa Sport, Carbon Valley Recreation District, City of Florence, CO, Starr Pass Resort, AZ, Show Low, AZ Aquatic Center, City of Laramie, WYO, Camp Solomon Schechter, Olympia, WA.
She also specializes in working with special needs swimmers, those who are fearful of swimming, and just about anyone who’s interested in the art of learning how to swim. As she aptly puts it, “I am lucky enough to do what I love to do…”
Johnathan Nies – Aquatic Managerial Expert
Johnathan Nies has a diverse aquatics background, including indoor and outdoor operations, training and management as well as working for the National Swimming Pool Foundation.
While working with the City of Colorado Springs, US Air Force Academy, and with various private clubs, Johnathan learned pool operation and management. After his time in aquatic operations, he helped launch the Advanced Service Technician course at the National Swimming Pool Foundation, which trains residential service professionals on how to better manage their business and give the best service to their customers.
Johnathan maintains certifications as a Certified Park and Recreation Professional, Emergency Medical Technician, American Red Cross Lifeguard Instructor Trainer, Water Safety Instructor, and Certified Pool Operator.
Jeremy
You say his name “Jeremy,” but without the “J” sound. Arami gained a firsthand example of poor lifeguard skills at age ten, which caused him to start playing water polo a few years later in high school, despite not knowing how to swim. Arami eventually did two years in high school of water polo and three years of swim team.
After graduating from high school, Arami was trained under the Ellis and Associates lifeguard program and worked at a pool for a few short years. That facility made the switch during Arami’s time working there to the Red Cross lifeguard program. He was trained under Red Cross for both lifeguard and Water Safety Instructor (WSI) certifications before leaving for the Navy. Arami served for 4 years, mostly in Hawaii, and then honorably separated.
During his time in the Navy, Arami got married and had two daughters. The needs of his oldest child required him to return home. Arami ended up getting trained by Jan Smith as a lifeguard under the Red Cross and Jan saw his ability to teach during that class. Later that year, Arami was retrained as a WSI and trained as a lifeguard instructor. During 2018, Arami also received SCUBA and snorkel instructor training.
Arami has experience and a passion for teaching all levels of stroke development and competitive swimming techniques. Arami has experience with teaching young children as young as 3 to older children as old as 87. Adult students can expect clean song, movie, or television references and other humor.
2018 PARENT CHILD SWIM CLASSES at Mount Princeton Hot Springs Resort
This it the American Red Cross Parent and Child Swim Lesson dedicated for children between the ages of 6 months and about 3 years, and their parents. The purpose of the course is to make children comfortable with the water and teach them skills to prepare them for swimming in the future. Resort also offers “Big Fish Little Fish” classes – an interactive swim class for parents and children alike. If you have a child 6 months or older who doesn’t mind going under the water (and the parent or guardian doesn’t mind going under with them) this is the class for you ! You will learn water safety, breath control, basic front and back glides, jumping in and dolphin swimming with your little on your back. Come introduce your child to the joys of underwater exploration 4 with this fun, progressive swim lesson.