Madison · Morgan County Aquatic Center
Swim lessons that teach courage first.
Private and two-swimmer lessons with adult instructors, for ages 2 and up, in the indoor pool at the Morgan County Aquatic Center in Madison, Georgia.
$47.50 a lesson for semi-privateBilled monthly on the 1st of the month, so a four-lesson month is $190 a child for semi-private.
Already know you want private lessons? Book a private lesson and start right away.
- Private and two-swimmer classes
- Adult instructors
- Lessons all year in an indoor pool
- A parent beside every child
What parents say
5.0 stars on Google. In parents' own words:
"I cannot say enough praise about Popsicle Pier! Our son started 18 months ago- we came for the swim skills, but stuck around for the life skills developed along the way. Coach Jamey does an amazing job of weaving important principles into each lesson- he coaches kids on concepts like resilience, recovering from failure, developing your strengths, and not being afraid of hard things. He also takes the time to learn each kid and figure out what motivates them. He realized my son loves animal facts, so now he always does animal trivia and coaches him to swim like a dolphin, a whale, etc. And along the way our son has become an incredible swimmer. Popsicle Pier lessons are well worth the money and a highlight of our week! 🩷🏊♂️"
"Absolutely wonderful! Recommend for anyone needing swim lessons. Coach Jamie is great with kids and staff is so kind. I am a mom who gets nervous around water and do not want my son being the same. My son is doing great with swimming and I am way less nervous."
"Coach Jamie is phenomenal. He really gets the way kids learn and has taught me a few things too! My son made absolutely zero progress with other swim teachers, but has learned so much and made such great progress at Popsicle Pier."
"We’ve had a wonderful experience with Coach Jamey. He has worked with our daughter starting at age 3 and she has learned to confidently swim and he emphasizes safety at every step as well. Highly recommend!"
"Absolutely recommend for all of your swim lesson needs! My grandson did 2 months of lessons & is now able to swim in the deep end & do cannonballs off the side of the pool! Coach Jamie is so good at what he does!"
"My kids look forward to seeing Coach Jamey every week! He is great and helps them build confidence in so many different ways."
"Morgan County is so lucky to have Popcycle Pier & Coach Jamie teaching kids to swim! I love how important teaching water safety is to the kids! Coach Jaimie does a great job keeping the kids engaged, having fun, and learning new skills in the pool at all levels! Both my 4 year old and 7 year old always look forward to their time in the pool with Coach Jamie!"
"Cannot say ENOUGH good things about coach Jamey!!!!! Our 3 year old son LOVES his lessons!!! We always learn so much, not just about swimming.. but also great tools to go home with general toddler knowledge and ways to talk to your child."
"Coach Jamie is a FANTASTIC. I used to teach 1 on 1 music lessons for years and I have a very high bar for teachers, especially for private lessons, and Jamie has exceeded all of my expectations and then some. Can’t recommend them enough. 💯 …"
Days and hours
- Monday to Thursday1:00 to 7:30 pm
- Saturday8:30 am to 2:30 pm
Hours may vary. All lessons are scheduled by appointment.
Great for nervous kids. Great for the ones who jump right in, too.
Many of our swimmers arrive afraid of the water. No child is forced, rushed, or put under the water. Your child's coach waits until they're ready, then asks for one small try, and the next lesson builds on it. We call it the Brave Equation: a little scared + a little try = brave.
If your child jumps right in, there's plenty to work on: floating, strokes, distance and the water rules. And the same question that helps a scared child try helps a bold child stop and think: "Hard or hurt?" A child who is too cautious learns to try; a child who is reckless learns to check first. Every child needs both.
Why so few children with a coach? In a class of four, a 25-minute lesson gives each child about 6 minutes with the coach. In our 27-minute semi-private, each child gets about 13, more than twice as much; in a small group of three, about 9. Every child also gets a moment between turns to take in what they just did. That's coaching, not managing a crowd.
How we teachMadison prices
To simplify payments for lessons, we offer automatic monthly billing on the 1st of the month. Rates are based on a four-lesson month and prorated accordingly. Semi-private and small group are for ages 3 and up. Under 3, private lessons only, with a parent in the water, except that a child under 3 can share a semi-private with a brother or sister.
Semi-private
Two swimmers of similar age and level with one coach.
$47.50 per swimmer per class
$190 a month (four lessons)
Private
One swimmer, one coach. Semi-private and small group are for ages 3 and up. Under 3, private lessons only, with a parent in the water, except that a child under 3 can share a semi-private with a brother or sister.
$71.25 per class
$285 a month (four lessons)
Small group
Three swimmers with one coach, by special request.
$40 per swimmer per class
$160 a month (four lessons)
Semi-private is our recommended class, and private lessons are always available. Small Group is by special request. 27-minute lessons in a 30-minute slot, once a week, at the same day and time, all year. Billed monthly with no contract. To stop lessons, email us at least two weeks before your next billing date. Madison families: admin@popsiclepier.com. Madison's closed dates, Thanksgiving and the December break included, are on our Closures page.
Do you have other fees?
- Registration fee: $35 a child or $50 a family, once a year. A registration fee is yearly: if your family pays one, it is charged with your first bill and again on each anniversary of your enrollment.
- Facility fee for families outside Morgan County: $25 a quarter per family.
Semi-private without a partner yet
If your child enrolls in a semi-private class before we have matched a partner, your child starts at the semi-private rate while we work to fill the class. If we can't find a partner within a month of your child's first lesson, we'll tell you before anything changes, and your child moves to the private rate from the next billing period.
Billing and scheduling
When do I have to pay for the lessons?
Tuition payments are due on the first of each month for the upcoming month. All payments go through Jackrabbit, our registration and billing system. You enter payment information when you register.
What is month-to-month scheduling?
Our month-to-month scheduling allows you to maintain your preferred lesson day and time without a long-term contract. This system provides the flexibility to tailor your swim lessons to fit your needs. To stop lessons, email us at least two weeks before your next billing date. Madison families: admin@popsiclepier.com.
Can my child swim more than 1 time per week?
Absolutely! Please note that the standard per-lesson fee will apply to any additional weekly lessons you choose to add.
Do you offer make-up lessons?
We don't do make-ups for a lesson you miss, but you can join the open-spot list, and we'll email you when your instructor has an opening in a similar class the week after. If a lesson doesn't happen for a reason that isn't yours, we make it up.
Details
Missed lessons. Your child's lesson is a standing appointment with their own instructor. That connection is most of what we're building, so we can't drop your child into just any class, and we don't do make-ups. If your instructor has an opening in a similar class in the week after a missed lesson, we'll fit your child in: tell admin@popsiclepier.com you'd like to be on the open-spot list, and we'll email you when one comes up. Openings are first come, first served, and some weeks there won't be one. And sometimes you win: if your child's semi-private partner is out, your child gets that lesson as a private at no extra charge. If a lesson doesn't happen for a reason that isn't yours, we make it up. If your instructor is out and there is no workable slot for the make-up, we credit that lesson instead.
To come off the open-spot list, write to admin@popsiclepier.com.
What if I need to take a break from swim lessons?
To stop lessons, email us at least two weeks before your next billing date. Madison families: admin@popsiclepier.com.
What happens in the event of an unplanned pool closure?
If a lesson doesn't happen for a reason that isn't yours, we make it up. If your instructor is out and there is no workable slot for the make-up, we credit that lesson instead. Madison's closed dates, Thanksgiving and the December break included, are on our Closures page.
Your first step
A free first lesson
Your free first lesson is a short session at the pool where your coach meets your child and finds the class that fits. No charge and no obligation. Under 3, it's a short private session with you in the water. Already know you want private? You can book a paid private lesson right away; that's what we suggest.
How to start
- Send the form.
- We reply within 24 to 48 hours, Monday through Thursday, with a time for the free first lesson and your registration link.
- Register before the lesson. Registration includes the recording release and asks for a card on file; the free first lesson is never charged.
Your first visit
- WhereMorgan County Aquatic Center
1151 East Ave
Madison, GA 30650Get directions - ArrivePlease arrive 10 minutes early.
- ParkingPark in the lot just outside the building and come inside.
- InsideSet up by the stairs.
- LifeguardA lifeguard is on duty during every lesson.
- ChangingDressing rooms and bathrooms are available on-site.
- ParentsA parent or guardian stays for the whole lesson, watching on deck or in the water with your child.
- Swim diaperToilet-trained is our goal, not a requirement, at both pools. A snug swim diaper is at your discretion, and we encourage one for the youngest swimmers. For children under 3, the reusable one we like is Splash About's Happy Nappy. We get a small credit from Splash About when you order through this link.
- GogglesNot required, but most kids prefer them
- WetsuitSuggested for little ones who get cold easily
- TowelsPlease bring your own; towels are not provided
Why we teach
Hard is okay. Hurt means stop.
It's okay to be scared. Being scared can protect you, and the same feeling shows up for something hard and for something that hurts, so it's hard to tell which one it is. That's what our one question is for: "Hard or hurt?" Hard means scary, and I can try. Hurt means stop. Your child makes the call.
No child is forced. We want children authentic enough to say no and to trust their own judgment; even when they're wrong, it's still their judgment. The water rules are ours to keep; the try is theirs. From the very first lesson, every child learns that "stop" is their superpower here.
"What I strive for is a place where a child feels secure enough to fail. Every child needs that place, and an adult they trust. It starts with a parent. That's why you're right there at every lesson. Your presence matters."
Why you're at the edge of the pool
At most swim schools, parents watch from behind a wall of glass, and a scared child is on their own. Here, you're at the edge of the pool, close by, watching. You don't have to do anything. Your being there is what makes your child feel secure enough to try. If they need a break, they can get out and give you a hug, then go back when they're ready. And some days "not today" is still the answer. That's okay too. (Under 3, you're in the water with your child.)
What that means in every lesson
- When a child says stop, we stop.
- You're right there at every lesson, close enough for a hug.
What we will do: teach your child to swim, with one coach and one or two children in the water (three in a Madison small group, by request); keep you close by your child, every lesson: at the edge of the pool, or in the water with them if they are under 3; tell you where your child is and what comes next; stop when your child says stop; and tell you the truth about how each lesson went.
Who teaches
Jamey Myers, founder and working coach
- A parent first.
- Red Cross certified lifeguard.
- Tens of thousands of lessons since 1995, many of them with children who were afraid of the water.
- University of Alabama: team captain, SEC champion, 11-time NCAA All-American and Olympic Trials qualifier.
- SwimAmerica program director.
Your child has the same teacher every week. We hire adults who love this work, and we pay them to stay, so your child's teacher won't change from week to week or leave halfway through the year.
Read Jamey's storyEvery lesson
Where your child is, and what comes next
You'll always know where your child is, what they're working on, and what comes next. Your coach tells you at the pool, every lesson.
What you'll always know
- Where your child is today
- The one thing they're working on right now
- What comes next, and what it takes to get there
- How you'll hear it: from your coach, at the pool
Madison questions
What ages do you teach?
We teach ages 2 through adult, with the majority of our students being between 2 and 12 years old. Semi-private and small group are for ages 3 and up. Under 3, private lessons only, with a parent in the water, except that a child under 3 can share a semi-private with a brother or sister. Every child we teach has a parent beside them.
How long are lessons, and how often?
Lessons run 27 minutes in a 30-minute slot, once a week, year-round. Our schedule is finalized one month in advance, so early registration is recommended.
What's the difference between private, semi-private, and small group lessons?
Private is one swimmer with one coach, with fully personalized pacing. Semi-Private pairs two swimmers of similar age and ability with one coach, our most popular option. Small Group is three swimmers with one coach, available by special request. All formats use the same coaching, the same approach, and the same 27-minute lesson. Semi-private and small group are for ages 3 and up. Under 3, private lessons only, with a parent in the water, except that a child under 3 can share a semi-private with a brother or sister. Your child's free first lesson is how we place them in the right class.
Can my children share a class?
Yes, when their ages and swimming levels fit together; it takes both. The free first lesson shows us. If they don't fit, each child gets the class that fits them. One parent can watch more than one child from the deck. At our Madison pool, a child under 3 can also share a semi-private with a brother or sister, with you in the water.
What if my child won't get in?
That's okay. "Not today" is a fine answer, and so is "not yet." Your child decides when to get in: no child is ever put in the water or pushed past their no. Your child's coach works with them where they are and waits for one small try. The lesson is still billed, because your child's spot is held for them every week.
Are lessons recorded?
We record every lesson, the free first lesson included. Recordings also let our coaches review lessons and keep getting better at teaching children who feel scared. They are for our coaches and for you, and we keep them long-term; we never post your child online without your permission. You sign the recording release when you register, before the free first lesson; it explains how recordings are used and the choices you have about sharing.
Why do you recommend semi-private over private?
Semi-private is our most popular format. Children get built-in rest between turns, and they get to watch a peer try something hard.
What's your cancellation and make-up policy?
To stop lessons, email us at least two weeks before your next billing date. Madison families: admin@popsiclepier.com.
We don't do make-ups for a lesson you miss, but you can join the open-spot list, and we'll email you when your instructor has an opening in a similar class the week after. If a lesson doesn't happen for a reason that isn't yours, we make it up.
Details
Missed lessons. Your child's lesson is a standing appointment with their own instructor. That connection is most of what we're building, so we can't drop your child into just any class, and we don't do make-ups. If your instructor has an opening in a similar class in the week after a missed lesson, we'll fit your child in: tell admin@popsiclepier.com you'd like to be on the open-spot list, and we'll email you when one comes up. Openings are first come, first served, and some weeks there won't be one. And sometimes you win: if your child's semi-private partner is out, your child gets that lesson as a private at no extra charge. If a lesson doesn't happen for a reason that isn't yours, we make it up. If your instructor is out and there is no workable slot for the make-up, we credit that lesson instead.
To come off the open-spot list, write to admin@popsiclepier.com.
Do I need to be a Morgan County resident?
No, we welcome families from anywhere. Families outside Morgan County: $25 a quarter per family.
How do I reach you?
Email is the way to reach us: admin@popsiclepier.com. We respond within 24 to 48 hours, Monday through Thursday. In Madison, we are closed on Fridays and Sundays.
Start with a free first lesson.
All lessons are scheduled by appointment. Send the form or email us at admin@popsiclepier.com. We will respond within 24 to 48 hours, from Monday to Thursday.
Book a free first lesson