03/05/2024
👋 I'm Megan Tinney and I run ISR South Jersey Shore! I wanted to share a bit about me, Infant Swimming Resource, and lesson availability year-round in our area!
I’m a mom to 2 tornados (probably the most accurate way to describe my 6 and 8-year-old) who inspired me to become certified to teach these incredible skills.
After my first kiddo was born, I experienced massive water anxiety.
When I learned that drowning was the #1 cause of death in children 1-4, I was relentless in making sure she would not be a statistic. I knew about ISR from my mom friends around the country and I wanted to enroll her as soon as she was old enough (6 months!) - but I ran into a major roadblock....there were no instructors in our area (like not even remotely close to where I lived). I would check every few months on the ISR Locator (https://locator.infantswim.com/) but no success ☹️.
Fast forward 4 years and another kid later....I looked at the locator one spring day and woop! A traveling ISR instructor was offering lessons in our area that summer. Getting them to daily lessons required juggling and it was certainly a financial commitment, but I’d do it again in a heartbeat - it was the best thing I ever could have done to prepare them to survive if they ever reached the water alone (and help me sleep a little better at night).
When we moved to New Jersey in 2019, once again we were in a situation where there were no local instructors. Thank goodness I connected with Jade Van Gilder who was making her ISR shore debut that summer! When Jade moved to Florida last year, the stars aligned and I was able to complete the intensive ISR instructor training to become a certified instructor! I taught my first summer session in 2023 and it was a dream come true - I connected with awesome families and ensured that a few more kids had the skills necessary to save themself in an aquatic emergency.
Other things you should know: I don’t throw babies/kids in nor am I over here traumatizing anyone. Please read through my website and then ask around the community to those who have taken lessons with me to get an accurate, honest take. Some kids absolutely fuss or cry in lessons and it’s no one’s favorite part, including mine. But I don’t want anybody’s baby to drown more than I don’t want to hear them cry- it’s that simple. If you feel that way too, then I’m probably the instructor for you!
This a “dream job” and I can humbly say that I make lessons a pretty kickass experience for those who are willing to put their trust in me to teach their kiddo. I know it’s a significant commitment of time and money, but when we all do our part, your family walks away with something that is truly priceless.
I will be teaching at Five Star Swim School in Galloway this spring and have a few spots left in the Spring 1 session. I also just opened up registration for Spring 2 session running from early May till the end of June. Registration for summer lessons will open later this spring - BUT if you can get in to lessons before the summer, please don't wait! The sooner, the safer and you'll be ready for summer!
If you made it this far in the post, thank you for learning more about me and life-saving ISR lessons. I look forward to meeting you! ️💙💚
ps - I would be super grateful if you could share with your friends & post in local mom and township groups!
https://isrsouthjerseyshore.com/
https://www.facebook.com/isrsouthjerseyshore
