Jennifer's Summer Swim School
Private East Moreland Pool and other locations, 5715 NE 25th Ave, Portland, OR 97211
About
Jennifer’s Summer Swim School offers swim lessons, private swim lessons, and swim workshops in both a pool and natural bodies of water. Students take part in river swimming and swimming in natural bodies of water, with small class sizes of about 2–3 students of similar skill level, with possible variation to 1 or 4 students. Students attend one 25-minute lesson per day for the length of each session, with sessions ranging from 3–5 lessons and a 2-day End of Summer Session.
• Schedule: Students attend one 25-minute lesson per day in sessions that range from 3–5 days, plus a 2-day End of Summer Session.
• Price: Classes are $30 per class per student; a 3-class session is $90, a 4-class session is $120, and a 5-class session is $150.
The program is led by Jennifer Mercede, who has taught swimming at the Multnomah Athletic Club since 2009. The instructor is CPR trained, First Aid trained, and Lifeguard trained and certified, and is a Level 3 certified Masters coach. The instructor states that they love working with kids and swimmers of all ages and abilities, from simply getting comfortable in the water to building endurance and refining stroke technique, and that they believe learning to swim and feeling at ease in and around the water can open doors to joy, confidence, and adventure.
Lessons are offered in rivers, including the Columbia and Willamette, as well as in a private pool. At river locations, there is a gradual decline into the water and mellow current in protected areas, and buoys are used in the water to mark the lesson area. Wetsuits are not required, and a short or long wetsuit can provide comfort in cooler river water; wetsuit use is optional and supported by a Wetsuit Share Board to help families share resources. Parents are encouraged to stay and possibly get in the water with their child to practice and play. Private lessons are available depending on the schedule if listed dates or times do not work, and example time slots include 10:00, 10:30, 11:00, and 11:30.
To sign up, families complete a registration form, provide a short video of the child in the water, sign a waiver, and submit payment. Payment is accepted via Venmo, PayPal (friends and family), or check. The home owner has offered the private pool for use, and everyone has been respectful of the space. Lessons are described as a low key community and friend offering rather than an official organization.
The instructor completed an official Ice Mile in January 2022, becoming the first woman in Oregon to complete one mile in water that is 41°F or colder. In September 2025, the instructor swam 13 miles across Riffe Lake and 7.5 miles across Yale Lake as part of the Mt. St. Helens Classic. The instructor also completed the Portland Bridge Swim, an 11-mile marathon swim passing under 12 bridges from Sellwood to St. Johns, in 2022.
Last updated March 30, 2026.
• Schedule: Students attend one 25-minute lesson per day in sessions that range from 3–5 days, plus a 2-day End of Summer Session.
• Price: Classes are $30 per class per student; a 3-class session is $90, a 4-class session is $120, and a 5-class session is $150.
The program is led by Jennifer Mercede, who has taught swimming at the Multnomah Athletic Club since 2009. The instructor is CPR trained, First Aid trained, and Lifeguard trained and certified, and is a Level 3 certified Masters coach. The instructor states that they love working with kids and swimmers of all ages and abilities, from simply getting comfortable in the water to building endurance and refining stroke technique, and that they believe learning to swim and feeling at ease in and around the water can open doors to joy, confidence, and adventure.
Lessons are offered in rivers, including the Columbia and Willamette, as well as in a private pool. At river locations, there is a gradual decline into the water and mellow current in protected areas, and buoys are used in the water to mark the lesson area. Wetsuits are not required, and a short or long wetsuit can provide comfort in cooler river water; wetsuit use is optional and supported by a Wetsuit Share Board to help families share resources. Parents are encouraged to stay and possibly get in the water with their child to practice and play. Private lessons are available depending on the schedule if listed dates or times do not work, and example time slots include 10:00, 10:30, 11:00, and 11:30.
To sign up, families complete a registration form, provide a short video of the child in the water, sign a waiver, and submit payment. Payment is accepted via Venmo, PayPal (friends and family), or check. The home owner has offered the private pool for use, and everyone has been respectful of the space. Lessons are described as a low key community and friend offering rather than an official organization.
The instructor completed an official Ice Mile in January 2022, becoming the first woman in Oregon to complete one mile in water that is 41°F or colder. In September 2025, the instructor swam 13 miles across Riffe Lake and 7.5 miles across Yale Lake as part of the Mt. St. Helens Classic. The instructor also completed the Portland Bridge Swim, an 11-mile marathon swim passing under 12 bridges from Sellwood to St. Johns, in 2022.
Last updated March 30, 2026.
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