About the Instructor:
Liz Freeman
As a mom of two young boys, water safety isn’t just important to me, it’s personal.
When I was three years old, I experienced a near-drowning. I won’t go into every detail, but what matters most is this: my mom saved me. That moment could have gone very differently, and I’ve carried that reality with me ever since.
According to the CDC, drowning is the leading cause of accidental death for children ages 1–4 in the United States. It’s a difficult statistic, but it’s also the reason I do what I do.
Saving lives, one float at a time.
Saving lives, one float at a time.
From Swimmer to ISR Certified Instructor
After my near-drowning, I was enrolled in swim lessons, and by age five I was swimming on my neighborhood recreational team. Water became a constant in my life. Over the years, I’ve swum for fitness, competed in triathlons, and even completed a swim beneath the Golden Gate Bridge. I swam throughout my first pregnancy—right up until eight months—and I still swim one to two times per week today.
In 2020, while pregnant with my first son, I discovered Infant Swimming Resource (ISR) while scrolling social media. Between my own experience and the fact that both sets of grandparents have pools, ISR immediately stood out. These weren’t typical kid swim lessons, they were infant swimming resource lessons focused on self-rescue and survival.
After researching further, I realized there were no ISR instructors in the Reno area. As a parent, that was heartbreaking. I wanted my child, and other children, to have access to skills that could save their lives.
Bringing ISR to Reno
In 2024, after years working in marketing, I found myself looking for something more meaningful—more purpose-driven, with more flexibility and time for my family. ISR kept resurfacing. There was still no local access, and I truly believed Reno needed it.
What started as an idea quickly became a calling. I committed fully, completed ISR’s rigorous training, and became an ISR certified instructor, bringing Infant Swimming Resource lessons to Northern Nevada.
Since launching ISR Reno, I’ve worked with hundreds of children, helping families build real water safety skills—not just confidence in the pool.
Keeping Lessons Effective—and Fun
As a mom, I understand that effective kid swim lessons only work if children feel safe, supported, and engaged. ISR lessons are serious in purpose, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be positive and encouraging.
I tailor every lesson to the child in front of me—sometimes that includes games, sometimes encouragement, and occasionally even a customized K-pop playlist if that’s what helps a child stay relaxed and focused.
My Mission
While saving lives is the goal, my approach goes beyond skilling alone. I see every child, every parent, and every family as a relationship built on trust, communication, and education.
I’m here to empower parents with knowledge, deliver high-quality Infant Swimming Resource lessons, and help make Reno a safer place for children around water.