Kids ages 1, 2, and 3? Is there a rut season on the left coast?
I'm with the group of teaching kids to swim. My parents raised 3 boys with pools, lakes, rivers all around. A 'right of passage' was to swim across the Allegheny River which I did at 12 years old. My father in a row boat next to me. Talk about a confidence builder for a child.
Good luck with the project. Does look pretty cool.