Swim Lessons for Children and Adults
At the Y, we believe everyone should learn to swim! It's why we introduced group swimming lessons over 100 years ago.
Swimming skills are progressive, so it’s important to pick the right level for you. Our YMCA-trained and certified instructors offer swimming classes for babies, kids, teens, and adults. We cover swimming skills, stroke technique, and water safety in a friendly and encouraging environment. Whether in a group or private swimming lesson, all ages can learn with our six (6) stage program.
Swim Lesson Selector
Not sure which class you or your child should register for? Answer the questions below to find the swim lesson that fits your needs.
Can your child respond to verbal cues and jump on land?
Is your child comfortable working with an instructor without a parent in the water?
Can your child swim 5 feet on their stomach with their face in the water?
Can your child swim 15 feet on their stomach with their face in the water and float on their back for 10-20 seconds?
Can your child swim on their stomach and their back for 15 yards without assistance?
Can your child swim on their stomach and their back for 25 yards, and tread water for 1 minute?
Can your child swim front crawl and back crawl 25 yards with proper technique, and swim breaststroke and butterfly 15 yards?
Can your child swim 25 yards of all competitive swim strokes including front & back crawl, breaststroke and butterfly?
Your recommendation is ready!
Parent/Child - Water Discovery
- Parent & Child
Parents accompany children in this stage, which introduces infants and toddlers to the aquatic environment through exploration and encourages them to enjoy themselves while learning about the water.
Your recommendation is ready!
Parent/Child - Water Exploration
- Parent & Child
In this stage, parents work with their children to explore body positions, floating, blowing bubbles, and fundamental safety and aquatic skills.
Your recommendation is ready!
Stage 1 - Water Acclimation
- Preschool
- School Age
- Teen & Adult
Students develop comfort with underwater exploration and learn to safely exit in the event of falling into a body of water in stage 1. This stage lays the foundation that allows for a student’s future progress in swimming.
Your recommendation is ready!
Stage 2 - Water Movement
- Preschool
- School Age
- Teen & Adult
In this stage, students focus on body position and control, directional change, and forward movement in the water while also continuing to practice how to safely exit in the event of falling into a body of water.
Your recommendation is ready!
Stage 3 - Water Stamina
- Preschool
- School Age
- Teen & Adult
In this stage, students learn how to swim to safety from a longer distance than in previous stages in the event of falling into a body of water. This stage also introduces rhythmic breathing and integrated arm and leg action.
Your recommendation is ready!
Stage 4 - Stroke Introduction
- Preschool
- School Age
- Teen & Adult
Students in this stage develop stroke technique in front crawl and back crawl and learn the breaststroke kick and butterfly kick. Water safety is reinforced through treading water and elementary backstroke.
Your recommendation is ready!
Stage 5 - Stroke Development
- School Age
- Teen & Adult
Students in this stage work on stroke technique and learn all major competitive strokes. The emphasis on water safety continues through treading water and sidestroke.
Your recommendation is ready!
Stage 6 - Stroke Mechanics
- School Age
- Teen & Adult
In this stage, students refine stroke technique on all major competitive strokes, learn about competitive swimming, and discover how to incorporate swimming into a healthy lifestyle.
Swim Lesson Age Groups
Parent/Child
arrow_forward 6 months - 3 yearsThese lessons are for parents to participate in alongside their child.
Stages: Water Discovery, Water Exploration
Preschool
arrow_forward 3 years - 5 yearsThese lessons are for preschool children who are just learning how to swim.
Stages: 1-4
School Age
arrow_forward 6 years - 12 yearsThese lessons are for school age children who are learning to swim at all experience levels.
Stages: 1-6
Teen/Adult
arrow_forward 12+ yearsThese lessons are for teens & adults who are learning to swim at all experience levels.
Stages: 1-6
Swim Lesson Stages
Swim Starters
Parent & ChildAccompanied by a parent, infants and toddlers learn to be comfortable in the water and develop swim readiness skills through fun and confidence building experiences, while parents learn about water safety, drowning prevention, and the importance of supervision.
Stage A - Water Discovery
6 months - 18 monthsParents accompany children in stage A, which introduces infants and toddlers to the aquatic environment through exploration and encourages them to enjoy themselves while learning about the water.
Stage B - Water Exploration
18 months - 3 yearsIn stage B, parents work with their children to explore body positions, floating, blowing bubbles, and fundamental safety and aquatic skills.
Swim Basics
Preschool, School Age, Teen & AdultStudents learn personal water safety and achieve basic swimming competency by learning two benchmark skills: - Swim, float, swim— sequencing front glide, roll, back float, roll, front glide, and exit - Jump, push, turn, grab
Stage 1 - Water Acclimation
3+ yearsStudents develop comfort with underwater exploration and learn to safely exit in the event of falling into a body of water in stage 1. This stage lays the foundation that allows for a student’s future progress in swimming.
Stage 2 - Water Movement
3+ yearsIn stage 2, students focus on body position and control, directional change, and forward movement in the water while also continuing to practice how to safely exit in the event of falling into a body of water.
Stage 3 - Water Stamina
3+ yearsIn stage 3, students learn how to swim to safety from a longer distance than in previous stages in the event of falling into a body of water. This stage also introduces rhythmic breathing and integrated arm and leg action.
Swim Strokes
Preschool, School Age, Teen & AdultHaving mastered the fundamentals, students learn additional water safety skills and build stroke technique, developing skills that prevent chronic disease, increase social-emotional and cognitive well-being, and foster a lifetime of physical activity.
Stage 4 - Stroke Introduction
3+ yearsStudents in stage 4 develop stroke technique in front crawl and back crawl and learn the breaststroke kick and butterfly kick. Water safety is reinforced through treading water and elementary backstroke.
Stage 5 - Stroke Development
5+ yearsStudents in stage 5 work on stroke technique and learn all major competitive strokes. The emphasis on water safety continues through treading water and sidestroke.
Stage 6 - Stroke Mechanics
5+ yearsIn stage 6, students refine stroke technique on all major competitive strokes, learn about competitive swimming, and discover how to incorporate swimming into a healthy lifestyle.
Private & Semi-Private Swim Lessons
Prefer to have 1-1 instruction for yourself or your little one? Our certified Y swim instructors provide private and semi-private lessons for any age. Students learn the basics of swimming, refine current skills, and perfect stroke mechanics with personalized lesson plans. Private swim lessons are for 1 participant, and semi-private is for 2-3 participants.
30-minute lessons are scheduled with an instructor and participant(s).
Members who are interested in lessons should contact the Y for more information or talk to a membership service representative at their local branch. Private and semi-private lessons are only available at select branches.
Private Swim Packages:
Five Session
- Members: five lesson package - $185
- Non-members: five lesson package - $370
One Session
- Members: one lesson package - $45
- Non-members: one lesson package - $90
Semi-Private Swim Packages:
- Members: five lesson package - $140
- Non-members: five lesson package - $280
Session Dates
Late Fall Program Session
Late Fall Program Session
Session Dates: November 2, 2026 – December 20, 2026
Registration: October 14, 2026 – November 15, 2026
Browse Programs Starting: October 5, 2026
Priority Family Registration Opens: October 12, 2026
Winter Program Session
Winter Program Session
Session Dates: January 4, 2027 – February 21, 2027
Registration: December 16, 2026 – January 17, 2027
Browse Programs Starting: December 7, 2026
Priority Family Registration Opens: December 14, 2026
Early Spring Program Session
Early Spring Program Session
Session Dates: March 1, 2027 – April 18, 2027
Registration: February 10, 2027 – March 14, 2027
Browse Programs Starting: February 1, 2027
Priority Family Registration Opens: February 8, 2027
Late Spring Program Session
Late Spring Program Session
Session Dates: April 26, 2027 – June 13, 2027
Registration: April 7, 2027 – May 9, 2027
Browse Programs Starting: March 29, 2027
Priority Family Registration Opens: April 5, 2027
Summer Program Session
Summer Program Session
Session Dates: June 21, 2027 – August 15, 2027
Registration: May 26, 2027 – July 11, 2027
Browse Programs Starting: May 17, 2027
Priority Family Registration Opens: May 24, 2027
Early Fall Program Session
Early Fall Program Session
Session Dates: September 7, 2027 – October 24, 2027
Registration: August 18, 2027 – September 19, 2027
Browse Programs Starting: August 9, 2027
Priority Family Registration Opens: August 16, 2027
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