Who we are
"Jackie and Kelley strive to be on the cutting edge of current research, methodologies and practical instruction..."
Kelley Robinson, Director/Owner
SWIMBABES Director is Kelley Robinson. Kelley has been teaching infants and toddlers for the last 41 years. Kelley directs the SWIMBABES™Program, the Instructor's Training Program and heads up the SynchroBabies.tm and SynchroBabies™ Infant Program at SWIMBABES™.
Kelley began teaching babies and survival in 1982 under the mentoring of her mother. She went on to earn her Bachelor’s Degree in Education in 1987 from Oregon State University and then taught grades 3-8 in the Public School system for 10 years. Her background in teaching has added even more depth to the program. In 1996, Jackie invited Kelley in to assist in running the Milwaulkie SWIMBABES™ Training Center as her business associate.
Kelley is the proud mom of 3 children; all who were trained to swim as infants beginning at the ripe old age of 12 weeks old!
Kelley traveled to Nagoya, Japan in November of 2008 with the Nagoya Stars, SWIMBABES™ first International Travel Team. She has also co chaired the SWIMBABES™ International Workshops. The most recent SWIMBABES™ International Workshop was hosted in Portland, Oregon. It was focused on Special Abilities and attendees represented 5 countries!
Jackie and Kelley strive to be on the cutting edge of current research, methodologies and practical instruction while maintaining the time proven method of survival training for infants and toddlers.
Jackie Young, Founder
Jackie Young holds the prestigious honor of being inducted in to the Swimming School Hall of Fame in 2009! This award is given to a handful of individuals who have been in the business for over 20 years and have made significant contributions to their communities and the association.
Jackie taught infant and toddler swimming for 49 years and is a second generation trainer in a family that has been committed to training Infant Swim Survival techniques for more than 8 decades. Jackie created the SWIMBABES.tm Team in 1979 to demonstrate to the world the incredible skills that babies and toddlers can achieve as well as to promote and educate the public about keeping children safe around the water. Jackie has produced 30 swim shows featuring baby swimmers ages newborn - 3 years old since 1979. She also formed Blue Ribbon Infant Swim Inc. as a company for the purpose of training instructors and later formed SWIM BABES inc. She personally trained instructors for management positions and directed 5 centers for 7 years in Oregon, Washington, and Hawaii.
In addition to continuing to teach classes in the SWIMBABES™ center, Jackie traveled extensively as an international speaker on Infant/Toddler Swim Survival Safety. Her speaking engagements took her as far as Norway, Sweden and Austria.
In October 2006 Jackie hosted International Baby Swim professionals from all over the world: World Leaders in Baby Swim from Africa, Europe, South America, North America, Asia, and Australia gathered right here in Portland, Oregon as guests of SWIMBABES™ to share education and give their support for worldwide commitment to Baby Swimming! The most recent SWIMBABES™ International Workshop was hosted in Portland, Oregon in October 2015. It was focused on Special Abilities and attendees represented 5 countries!
The SWIMBABES™first International Travel Team just returned from Nagoya, Japan in Nov. of 2008. This was an incredible experience for us and our traveling families. Please click on Videos to see our slide show!
SWIMBABES™ is a charter member of the World Aquatic Babies Congress. Through her travels and commitment to the international community, she brings back a wealth of research, information and insights to the SWIMBABES.™ program.
Personally, Jackie is the mother of 5 children and 9 grandchildren.