Instructional Lessons

For your convenience you may register your child for swim lessons by age not by level. Children will tested on the first day of lessons and placed in the appropriate levels according to their ability.

We teach all National YMCA Swim Lesson program levels, but now you don’t have to know which level to sign up for! Please feel free to contact the Aquatics Department with any  questions @ 439-4394 ext. 1430.

Lesson Groups 

Parent/Child Swim Programs (ages 6 - 36 months)

This class is a great way to get an early start on acclimating young   children to the water. We focus on creating a special, fun time for  parents and children to interact through water games, songs, and basic movements. This class will not teach children how to swim, but will teach you how to work with your toddler in the water. Children must wear swim diapers under their swim suits. (30-minute class)

Preschool Lessons (3-5 years)	School Aged Lessons (6-12 years)
Pike: This class is for beginners with little experience in the water. Children may be uncomfortable swimming/moving through the water independently. Children will work on water adjustment and basic skills including blowing bubbles, the front and back float with support, and paddling on the front, back, and side. Swim belts will be used. (30 minute class)	Polliwog: This class is for the beginner who has little or no experience in the water. Children will be work on water adjustment and basic skills including bubble blowing, front and back floats, jumping in, getting their faces wet, and paddling on the front, back, and side. Swim belts or noodles will be used. (40 minute class)
Eel: Completion of the pike level is recommended. This class is for children who are comfortable in the water. Children will continue to develop skills learned at the Pike level, and will begin putting their faces in the water, floating, jumping in, and paddling without support. Swim belts and noodles may be used. (30 minute class)	Guppy: Completion of the Polliwog level is recommended. This class is for beginners who are comfortable in the water and deep end. Introduction of beginner levels to the front and back crawl, sidestroke, the breast stroke, and elementary backstroke. Rhythmic breathing, kneeling dives, and somersaults are also introduced. Noodles will be used. (40 minute class)
Ray: Completion of the Eel level  is recommended. This class is for swimmers who are moving through the water independently, and are ready to be introduced to a beginning level of front and back crawl strokes, sidestroke, and breast stroke. Rhythmic breathing, kneeling dives and somersaults are introduced. Noodles will sometimes be used to build endurance. (30 minute class)	Minnow: Completion of the Guppy level is recommended. This class is for swimmers who have been introduced to the five basic strokes and who are ready to begin developing those strokes. Rotary breathing, standing drives, and the resting stroke are introduced. Noodles will sometimes be used to help build endurance. (40 minute class)
Starfish: Completion of the Ray Level is recommended. This class is for swimmers who have been introduced to the five basic strokes taught at the ray level, and who are ready to continue to develop those strokes. Noodles may be used. (30 minute class)	Fish: Completion of the Minnow level is recommended. This class is for swimmers who are continuing to develop the five strokes taught in the guppy and minnow levels, and who are ready to be introduced at a basic level to the butterfly stroke. Open turns and surface dives are introduced. (40 minute class)
	Flying Fish: Completion of the Fish level is recommended. This class is for advanced swimmers who have developed the front and back crawl strokes, the side stroke, the breast stroke, and who are ready to continue to develop the butterfly stroke. Flip turns are introduced for the front and back crawl strokes. (40 minute class)