About Siouxland Aquatics

In 1977, Karen Taylor Burton, founded Mac Tay Aquatic School in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois and developed a learn-to-swim program that provided an effective alternative to traditional swim programs. Through the years, the Mac Tay program became regionally recognized for its self-motivating approach to swimming instruction by using positive reinforcement, praise, and rewards to help students learn. Mac Tay offered superior swimming instruction to more than 7,000 families in the Champaign-Urbana area. In September of 2003, Karen and Siouxland Aquatics' staff began to provide the same quality swim instruction for the greater Siouxland area.

Siouxland Aquatics' Mission Statement says Our aim is not to produce a champion, but to provide an atmosphere where champions are inevitable. Swimming, however, is a means to an end -- it builds self-confidence, self-discipline, integrity and courage for life.


Siouxland Aquatics, its staff and the children of Siouxland and surrounding communities are making a "BIG SPLASH!" Swimming is alive and well in the greater Siouxland area thanks to the Sioux City Community School District administrators and its School Board.