Once upon a time...We had a dream

Happy times Nursery School 1942 - 1975 and

Carol Shoop Carlstrom

Assistant Manager

(Co-Owner)

Certified Pool Operator

STAFF

Bev Ackermann Shoop

(Co-Owner Manager

& Husband DeVere Shoop

Michael Shoop

(2nd Generation)

(3rd Generation)

Now doing business as "Ackermann's Swim Camp. The swim program is continuing as "Mrs A, as we all referred to Mrs. Ackerman wanted it to be. It is co-owned and run by Bev Shoop and son Michael Shoop with the help of daughter Carol Shoop Carlstrom.

Alice and Al's three children, Beverly Shoop, Janet Zucker and Al Ackermann Jr., al taught and helped Alice run the camp until janet and Al moved out of state and began their careers. After a short time Bev moved back to Kirkwood and continued to help Alice run the camp. Bev, husband DeVere and their children Carol and Mike Shoop also grew up working at camp and continue to be a part of the camp today. Carol as the assistant manager and Mike Co-Owner,CPO and teacher and pool maintaince with their mom Bev Ackermann Shoop.

Many who took their first strokes at Ackermann's Happy Times Swim Program Llc are currently or have competed at the high school, local teams and collegiate levels. Several of them went on to set national records including son Albert at the Olympics.

Over the years the camp became known as Ackermann's Happy Times Swim Program where there have been thousands of children who learned water safety along with the fundamental swimming strokes.They have come from near and far. Children and grandchildren of past campers have also found a wonderful, rich learning experience at Ackermann's Happy Times SwimProgram.

One special area of concern that Alice had for the children was water safety, so in 1949, Happy Times Swim Program came into being. It stared off very small with just one inflatable pool. Soon after with the help of her husband. Al Ackermann Sr.,they started digging and building an in-ground pool, with another soon to follow.They built the first two pools one by one and expanded the playground to provide the children with plenty of exercise along with many educational games and toys.

Following in her mother's footsteps as a teacher, Alice Ackermann founded Happy Times Nursery School for children ages 2 to 5, on the second floor of her home in 1942. Only the second nursery school in St. Louis County. Kindergarden teachers and parents praised her work with children. She continued the school until 1975 when her husband retired, but activity continued with the summer swim campwell into her 90's.

Alice's love and passion was all the children should have the life skills of water safety and the freedom to develop as individuals, at their own pace, while building self-esteem and confidence

Alice F. Ackermann Founder

With the help of her husband Al Ackermann

Ackermann's Happy Times Swim Program 1942 to now in Kirkwood, Mo.

2020 Ackermann's Swim Camp

Our dream for the near future is to replace our last

above ground pool with an in ground pool!