Today we’d like to introduce you to Carol Ann Redfield.
Carol Ann , we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I retired from the Army on Dec 31, 2008, and I stayed home for two years with my kiddos. While I was at home with them, I trained 22 women for their first sprint triathlon, and I had friends ask me to give their children swim lessons in our neighborhood pool. I was a collegiate All-American swimmer at the United States Military Academy, so swimming was in my blood. As a high school kid, I taught swim lessons, and I was a lifeguard. Teaching people to swim is my superpower and I taught my cadets how to swim when I assigned to NC State in the ROTC department in 1995 -1998 and 2005-2008. I helped my soldiers learn to swim and when I went back to work as a JROTC High School instructor in Johnston County I taught all of my students drown proofing at our summer training camps. My 92-year-old mom swims every day, and all my siblings and I swam in college and competed in triathlons. In 2019 my older brother, Kevin, was diagnosed with ALS and my entire outlook on life changed. During COVID I was able to teach high school virtually from CA and that allowed me to help take care of my brother. As the disease progressed one of the only places, he could feel a little like himself was when he was in the water. During COVID I took over the water aerobics program at my neighborhood pool and I started a masters swim program. In 2021 after my brother died I decided to retire and then I took over the swim lesson program at our neighborhood pools, The Club at Sunset. The programs grew and I had to start my own business to keep up with the demand. After management changes at the local pool, I decided to build my own pool so that I could offer lessons to everyone who needed them, not just club members or those who could afford them. I am currently working to get the pool operation running smoothly as a non-profit organization and working with the Town of FV to ensure that we are able to teach lessons to all.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has not been a smooth transition even though building my own pool seemed like a no brainer. We offer lessons privately and in a small home-based setting and we are the perfect setting children with special needs, easily distracted children (ADD and ADHD). I also specialize in working with adults with a profound fear of swimming. Everyone we teach becomes family. The current issue is that Fuquay Varina is the only municipality that limits our home business to 6 total people in a 24-hour period. There is no HOA, all our clients park in our driveway and with the fencing you cannot even hear what is happening in the pool. Trying to work with the town and our complaining neighbor because we are not running a swim factory, but we are providing a needed community service.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I teach swim lessons, and I help people love the water. The water is a lifelong fitness option, and I want people of all ages to be safe and embrace the water safely. I teach water aerobics, train triathletes, help people work through their fear of the water. Come to me if you want to learn how to swim.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
I think the most important quality that has contributed to my success is the fact that I never give up and I am a really good swim teacher. I am loyal and committed to serving my community. It is what my family does and so it is what I do.
Pricing:
- Private Swim lessons: $60/30 minute lesson
- We offer scholarship lessons
- water aerobics $10/class
- Swim workouts/ monthly charge
- water fitness training
Contact Info:
- Website: https://pointmetothewater.com
- Instagram: @pointmetothewater
