Our Mission
"I have always trusted a faith-based passion of answering the call to meet a need within the community. Crawfish Aquatics meets a great need that many individuals have by being positive, encouraging and supportive while also challenging the boundaries of physical achievement. Our Crawfish family embraces the faith-based philosophy that says 'actions speak louder than words.' The desire to return blessings, to count others as greater than oneself, to understand the power of gratitude in one's personal walk, and to selflessly sacrifice, is what fuels the energy and fulfillment of the Crawfish Aquatics experience. The most joy-filled spirit that overcomes me personally is when I get to witness the genuine, unconditional love for one another at Crawfish Aquatics."
—Dr. Steven Ripple, co-founder/owner, Crawfish Aquatics
OUR MISSION
The mission of Crawfish Aquatics is a total swim experience offering high quality instruction and focused on overall development. We value integrity, teamwork and the fulfillment of potential for personal health, family fun and community impact.
MILESTONES
- Began 1st practices at Ketcham Fitness Center, January 1999
- Membership doubles in a year, August 2004
- Outdoor pool opens, May 2005
- First LC State Title, July 2005
- First SC State Title, February 2006
- Established Lafayette location, August 2009
- Launched out Outreach Lessons program, June 2012
- Established Thibodaux location, February 2013
- Established Crawfish Agape International, the nonprofit arm of organization, March 2015
- Athletes competed at USA Swimming Olympic Trials 2008 and 2016
- Crawfish debuts new logo branding, September 2016
- Crawfish Swim School opens in Baton Rouge, January 2017
- Crawfish Swim School opens in Prairieville at Bayou Oaks 73, May 2018.
GIVING BACK
“The heart of our owners, Dr. Steve and Jan Ripple, is seen throughout our programs at Crawfish Aquatics. Their hearts to impact, touch, and change lives flow through our year-round swim lessons and our outreach lessons programs, alike. This passion to make a difference in young lives and families is displayed in the instructors we have each summer. They truly love and care for every child that comes into our program. One of the greatest joys is to watch these young swimmers go from fear to confidence in the water. That confidence carries over to other parts of their lives.”
—Nan Fontenot, Lessons Director at CA-BR
In addition to the programs described below, Crawfish has provided financial assistance, offered free camps and opened our facilities to families in need during natural disasters in the south Louisiana region. We love supporting our members and the community at large in these ways and more:
Crawfish Agape International
Crawfish Agape International was founded in 2015 and functions as the nonprofit arm of Crawfish Aquatics. It supports Louisiana communities with water safety education presentations in area schools, outreach swimming lessons, swimming scholarships, water safety education materials that are distributed for free, and engages the community in many other areas through aquatics and educational programming. More Info
Outreach Lessons Program
By partnering with area churches and nonprofits such as RocketKidz Foundation, Crawfish has helped provide free lessons to more than 4,000 participants since 2012.
Water Safety Presentations
Each Crawfish provides free water safety presentations to schools and camps with a certified instructor and our friendly mascot Carl the Crawfish teaching young students how to be safe around the water.
Promoting & Supporting Aquatics in south Louisiana
In 2013 Crawfish Aquatics established a swim team site at Nicholls in Thibodaux with the goal of reinvigorating aquatics in the surrounding areas and providing new opportunities by way of our USA Swimming team programs, CA branded swimming lesson program and providing local high schools a new competition venue.
Through Crawfish Agape we are able to continue extending this goal by providing:
- Resources to local high school athletics Thibodaux
- Assistance to Lorio Foundation helping improve Nicholls State University
December Meet - Community Outreach
Each December since 2009, Crawfish Aquatics hosts a swim meet where all participants bring a gift donation in place of paying an entry fee. Each year we have been able to donate over 300+ gift items to organizations like Brave Heart Children in Need and Toys for Tots.
