My name is Nykia Hunter. I am the owner of Lake Dragon Aquatics, PLC, which provides swim instruction and pool-based occupational therapy (OT) services.
I am a transplant to Vermont from the San Francisco Bay Area. My swimming career began at age 10 when I would volunteer my time at local pools. At 16, I began working for the YMCA as a lifeguard and swim instructor. In my late teens, I began working for Sutton Swim School as a swim instructor and supervisor. In my mid 20’s I entered graduate school to become an occupational therapist with the dream of running my own swim school and aquatic therapy program. I used to joke that I would call myself an “aquapational therapist.” In 2011, I moved to Vermont with my husband and began my career as a school-based pediatric OT. I have volunteered as a coach for the Chittenden County Special Olympics swim team, and I have occasionally provided pool-based therapy services when needed.
In March 2016, I was fortunate to become a mom to a wonderful kiddo named Ryland. In an effort to teach my own daughter to swim, I began voluntarily providing swim instruction to her and other local families. In doing this, my love for teaching rekindled and I decided it was time to pursue my dream of running a swim school and pool-based therapy program.
My training as a swim instructor, which includes specific coursework in infant and toddler instruction through the United States Swim School Association, and my experience as an OT, which includes multiple trainings in pool-based therapy, make me particularly well-suited to this task.
Thank you for checking out Lake Dragon Aquatics. I look forward to swimming with you and your child!
Links:
Swim School, Adaptive Swim, OT 