Goldfish Swim School - Okemos

Goldfish has gone above and beyond in regards to making sure their facility is clean and up to CDC guidelines. The system in place (having lane assigned chairs, signs on changing huts, entering facility a few minutes before class, masks wearing, ect) is great! And I believe it has been communicated very well through emails, social media, signs in the facility. I know what to expect and I like that! And the staff has only been positive and friendly through all of this!We just really appreciate what Goldfish has done to be able to be open. The few months that it was closed was hard for my daughter. She loves going to her swim lesson each week and adores her teacher. It’s a special environment that we do not take for granted!

I am editing my review as my comments did not show.You are the ONE place we feel safe bringing our kids to during this pandemic! Your incredible attention to detail and sanitation goes above and beyond, this coming from a strict covid family due to many health issues. Its not just about the sanitation though, we have been to many places for swim lessons and by far our kids have learned the most and been the happiest here! Thank you for giving our kids a wonderful way to be out and about in these crazy times!!!

Goldfish Swim School - Okemos has done an incredible job of ensuring the safety of its students and families. Expectations for families is clearly posted and areas to ensure social distancing are clearly marked off. I see staff constantly sanitizing the parent viewing area, bathrooms, pool deck, and changing rooms. All instructors wear a shield in the water and are strict about ensuring students remain socially distanced while in the pool. I feel very comfortable sending my children here for lessons.

I cannot thank Goldfish Okemos enough for everything that they do. Operating during the pandemic is not easy and they are doing a great job! Everything feels safe and the staff is so kind and friendly! We loved Goldfish before but love it even more now. Thankful to have a place to take our son (2 years old) for something to do. The nitty gritty- the pool is WARM which is great for infants. We tried other school pools when our son was an infant and the water temp alone makes Goldfish worth it. Their class sizes are small and feel like one-on-one. Absolutely recommend.

So well organized and well prepared for safely reopening. The in and out of the building process and arrows makes sense and is easy to follow. The labeled and spaced out chairs are helpful. Teachers seem to be keeping themselves and the kids safe, while still having and promoting fun. I appreciate the cleaning of bathroom and changing stations after each use.

Goldfish Swim in Okemos is great. My 10 year old daughter has been going there on and off for 6 years. The class sizes are small. The coaches are awesome and the pool is always immaculate and warm.They are taking all of the necessary precautions to keeps staff, parents, and the kiddos protected during Covid.

Love the staff at Goldfish Swim School in Okemos. Very friendly and helpful, great safety measures in place during this pandemic!

At my workplace as part of a team exercise, we had to talk about a business that went above and beyond expectations. I used Goldfish Swim School as my example. Their brand promise is already high, but they surpass it effortlessly, going out of their way to accommodate for things like trying to get siblings in different age groups scheduled at the same time, for the sake of our convenience. I have one son who is significantly behind his peers in the water, and the teachers are so good at working with him gradually, handling his difficult days, and giving him the one-on-one attention he needs, all without neglecting the other kids in his group. After trying other swim schools, this is the golden standard.

How do you rate an experience where the teachers were absolutely fantastic but the admin side of it was so disappointing? After giving it some thought I go with two stars. Heres why:My two kids had attended the Okemos location for one month in July. We made it clear that they would only be attending one month and signed a withdrawal form for both of them on the day we signed up since 30-day notice was required.After an amazing 1-month experience, we ended our time there. However a week later I found that my credit card was charged for one student ($84). My wife had to go back to the Okemos location and show the withdrawal form and have the charge cancelled. We were willing to consider this an honest mistake.HOWEVER, TODAY, in SEPTEMBER, I get a notification that $84 has been charged yet again to my credit card!! We will have to go down to the location AGAIN to cancel this change. I am very disappointed this is happening after my kids had a wonderful experience here!The teachers are definitely amazing and an upgrade from the teachers you may encounter at cheaper options. However, be on the look out for any erroneous charges being made to your card after quitting.

*Update* a manager at Swim school called and offered accomodations that should resolve the situation. Thank you, Sarah.I asked a few times if staff could put up on the baby changing bathrooms for patrons to please be courteous and cognizant of the parents with infants and are pregnant (as I am 7 months along, swimming with my little one). This saturday morning, still nothing done or said, apparently because there is still the same woman using them for her fully walking capable daughters and getting them fully clothed with winter boots, coats and all - while we wait fully wet in the cold air in the entrance. Lady even cut ahead a couple weeks back while we waiting for the parent ahead of us to make her decision with her kids. She took the one, and that parent decided to take the other when she was originally being courteous. It should be the staffs position to say something. Guess we will stop coming being that its already getting quite difficult to walk and stand. Great teachers. Nice staff.

Goldfish does an excellent job at creating a calming, fun, and immersive experience for children of all ages. I’ve had my kids at age 1 to 5 participate in Goldfish swim classes and they’ve benefited greatly. The staff are kind, patient, knowledgeable, and informative.

I was very hesitant to sign my kids up for Goldfish swim school, price being the main factor. But I thought we’d try it for the summer just to see if it was worth pursuing and was it ever! Kids don’t just learn to swim at Goldfish they learn all the survival techniques behind it as well. My kids were captivated with great teachers and a caring staff who truly believes in each child they teach. On top of all of that the facility is amazing! It’s truly worth every penny and you will see results. As a parent I can’t express my gratitude enough for really pushing my kids to Set new goals for themselves and then celebrating with them as they achieve them!

We LOVE Goldfish-Okemos! Our little fish cant wait for class each week! Everyone is so friendly and knowledgeable!

The teachers are wonderful!! They are all so patient, always showing enthusiasm and excitement with every student hour after hour. My child LOVES to go to class and even through she is only 3 is independently swimming on her own. Wonderful for me to see.

Unfortunately the quality has declined and they have gone from a golden experience to horrible experiences. Not a good place for children.Admin is terrible and the samme with some of the new teachers. Huge turnover with the swim staff. We were loyal customers for many years but not any more.

I came in to check out the facility for my 6 year old. It seems like a great place to take my child aside from one small problem. My child and I were heartbroken to see the pet turtle in such a small enclosure. That size tank is good for a baby turtle but not an adult. He had no room to swim or move around. My sons first reaction was to ask my why he was kept in such a small tank. I hope a bigger tank is bought soon. I would even be happy to put money towards it and I know others who would as well!! I understand no one is meaning to hurt the turtle and it’s great to teach kids about animals but in the right way.

My son had his first lesson, ever, and within minutes he had the confidence to put his face under water and try for himself. I was amazed watching how well the instructors worked with the children at their level and focused on specific techniques that were effective. The children easily related to their instructors, were given age appropriate instructions and were happy and smiling. This was an incredible experience and my son cannot wait until his next lesson. Very clean facility, wonderful staff.

I feel every step has been taken to ensure social distancing and cleanliness. The process for turning over each class is amazing and the work being done is fabulous. I also like that any team member I have spoken with has been helpful and reassuring that all safety measures are being followed. From the time we enter the building to the time we leave, I feel that the Goldfish team has our backs and is being safe. Thank you for your hard work!

This is a great place for kids to learn to swim. My kids have been taking lessons here for the past several months. First and foremost, I LOVE that they have SEVERAL lifeguards on duty at all times - and that theyre watching the kids, not their cell phones (no cell phones in sight). And, the kids really learn how to swim. My kids have made huge progress.There are just a few kids per teacher, sometimes even just 1 or 2 kids per teacher. And all of the teachers and staff are really friendly, which is wonderful. And, the place has really fun decor for the kids. The pool area is beautiful, and the rest of the facility is great, too. The school costs a bit more than other places, but to me, its well worth it when I see how quickly theyre learning. I highly recommend this swim school.

Goldfish is amazing. We love the teachers, the facility is well-attended and clean. Everyone is kind and safety is key here. My daughter has learned how to swim safely and effectively in the best and quickest way! My son is learning a love of water, adores his teachers, and loves the games. A great experience for families and young children.

We love Goldfish! My kids are becoming great swimmers and look forward to lessons each week!

The Goldfish instructors and staff are all very kind, and clearly enjoy spending time with children. I particularly appreciate their make-up lesson policy and flexibility with changing your regular lesson times, especially since the littlest littles are frequently sick or have changing nap schedules.

We love the staff and swim school! Max has been instrumental in our son Andrew learning to swim and overcome his fear of water. The difference from day one to now is a NIGHT AND DAY difference! We couldn’t be happier with Goldfish Swim School in Okemos!

Youre doing EVERYTHING right! My son was recently diagnosed with ASD and Goldfish swim has been an amazing way for him to have a fun and fully structured activity year round while learning an important life skill! Youve been able to provide him with a great balance between socializing with a peer group and getting individual attention, our family cannot thank you enough for your wonderful staff of instructors and life guards!

This place is great! Clean, friendly, well equipped with things like diapers and a toy area (if you have little ones). The teachers do a great job, the classes are consistently good. This is a great place for young swimmers to start!

The staff and instructors are so good with the kids and the kids really respond to it.

I havent been there but i will on all Thursdays and I already think it will be great.

Truly amazed at how much my young daughter has learned! Great staff, well organized, clean, fun, and warm water temperatures. Cannot recommend this place enough. Worth every penny.

This place is safety oriented! I love it.

Amazing Instructors that genuinely care for your child & are very skilled swim instructors that can adapt to any child! The front desk staff is very friendly and helpful! The atmosphere is kid friendly, clean & definitely worth the money! I highly recommend this swim school!

My kids love coming to swim lessons and they have made huge improvements in their swimming skills since starting. The staff is super friendly and well trained and they create a fun environment for kids to learn and play. Its a bit pricey but you definitely get your moneys worth.

The staff is always friendly and very accommodating. The facility is well maintained, with nice changing areas that are always clean! They keep the pool temperature nice and warm, which is perfect for the kiddos and nice for mom and dad too!!

The instructors make swimming fun and exciting, even for the hesitant swimmer.

I love the small groups and pace. It keeps my child’s attention. Everyone’s been very helpful and nice to work with.

My kids love their swim classes here and I appreciate the staff willing to work with my son who is deaf. They have been so kind and patient.

Goldfish had been amazing for my kids & have always tried to accommodate our crazy life. In fact, today I showed up at 4:30 with 3 kids ready for lessons, which were at 4. They got all of them in the pool, even though it was totally my mistake!

This place can literally save your kids life. Both of mine were swimming like pros by age 4. Such an important skill in a state with water everywhere. Worth every penny!

Such a wonderful year round swim school! The temperature of the pool is great for young kids.The teachers are fantastic.

My son is autistic, fantastic experience 100% of the time!!

Patient teachers and my kids are becoming great swimmers. I love seeing the progress they are making!

Kids love to play in the water, havent been here long enough to see any results though.

Theres no going back to regular swim classes after you send your kids to goldfish. I have always loved to swim, but I dont know anything about teaching children how to swim, so I dont really know how to explain what makes their classes so much better than the others Ive tried... All I know is they had my toddlers swimming half of the width of the pool by their 4th lesson. Five months after my kids started classes here, I was able to start taking them to water parks and swimming pools by myself without worrying about what would happen if they fell in the pool or if they were out of my reach while we were in the pool. I cant even imagine how Id pull that off if it werent for goldfish (one adult with two wild 3 year olds, who cant swim, at a water park... Theres no way.) I didnt expect my toddler / preschoolers to be full-on swimmers. But, the goldfish swimming teachers made it happen. We love GF!

The water is warm. Cool place to bring the kids.

Amazing teachers that go above and beyond for your kids

Instructors are doing a great job and we are really impressed!!!

Best staff around!!

Outstanding program!