From Joanne Macher, owner and founder:

            Welcome to Macher Swim School, where we successfully teach swimming and water safety to all ages and ability levels.  Swimming is an important and enjoyable part of family activities.  And, the water is the perfect place to discover the health benefits, fun, and wonders of swimming.

As wonderful as swimming is it needs to be taken seriously.  Drowning statistics make this point very clear.  In Missouri drowning is the second leading cause of death for pre-schoolers.  Many of those occur in the backyard pools, lakes, and streams of our state.  About 75% of all drownings occur when a person did not intend to go swimming…they are wearing their street clothes.  Information like this demonstrates that being a good swimmer is not a luxury, but a necessity and a parent responsibility.

Safety, fun, and results are the central concepts of Macher Swim School philosophy since its conception.  In Columbia, MO in 1967 I founded Macher Swim School to share my love and knowledge of swimming and of water safety to all. Our knowledgeable and caring approach has taught hundreds of people how to swim and be safe in and around the water.

Basic goals for all swimmers

1. Be able to swim 500 yards or more
2. Be able to stay afloat or tread water 15 minutes or longer
3. Be able to swim at least 2 self-rescue strokes (elementary backstroke, side-stroke, breaststroke) 250 yards or more
4. Be able to demonstrate the knowledge and skills to use swimming as a fitness tool and self-rescue skill

Swimming is a wonderful and fun skill, but must be approached with the know-how to make it safe.  Achieving the above goals should enable your child to use swimming as a life skill, fitness tool, and be able to survive most aquatic situations that might present a fatal challenge to the average person. 

            At Macher Swim School we strive for excellence in swimming and water safety.  I hope you decide to take advantage or our experience, knowledge, and compassion for the sport of swimming and water safety.