The YMCA has a long and rich history of teaching people how to swim. The YMCA pioneered group swim lessons. 

Swim Lessons
YMCA Swim Lessons are taught by nationally certified instructors who have additional safety training in CPR, First Aid, AED and 02 administration.  Certified lifeguards are on duty.

Parent/Child

• Shrimp/Kippers/Inia - Ages 6 months to 18 months.  Classes require a parent to participate with the child and the child wear a swim diaper.
• Perch - Ages 9 months to 36 months.  Children participate with a parent.  A swim diaper is required. 

Preschool Swim Lessons (3-5 years)

• Pike -This class is for the child with little or no formal instruction.  Child must be toilet trained.
• Eel - Child can float on their front and back while unassisted, willing to put their face in the water and be able to swim 3-5 feet unassisted on their front and back.
• Ray –Child must be able to jump away from the pool side, paddle to surface and swim back to the wall with face in the water without a flotation device and swim 25 yards on their front and back.
• Starfish –Child must be able to swim 25 yards on their front, back and side without flotation device and demonstrate ability to do rotary breathing while swimming.  Must be comfortable in deep water.

School Age Progressive Swim Lesson Levels (6-13 years)

• Polliwog - For non-swimmers or beginners.  Students will be taught water adjustment, front float and glide, back float and glide as well as front and back crawl.
• Guppy - Advanced beginners.  Child must be able to float on back unassisted and swim half the length of the pool on both front and back.  Deep water work begins at this level.
• Minnow - Intermediate.  Child must be able to tread water for 20-30 seconds in deep water without flotation device, swim 25 yards of front crawl with rotary breathing, back crawl and perform elementary backstroke.  Breaststroke is introduced at this level.
• Fish - Advanced intermediate.  Child must be able to tread water for 1 minute using a variety of different kicks, swim 50 yards of the front crawl with rotary breathing, back crawl, elementary backstroke, breaststroke and have basic knowledge of sidestroke.  Butterfly is introduced at this level.
• Flying Fish - Advanced.  Child must be able to float and tread for 3 minutes, swim 75 yards of front crawl with rotary breathing, back crawl, elementary backstroke and breaststroke.
• Shark - Advanced.  Endurance and technique are the main focus at this level.  Skills are perfected including inverted breaststroke, starts, turns and sidestroke.
• Teen and Adult lessons are also available.  Contact your local YMCA for times and dates.

Private Lessons (4 years and older)
These lessons are designed to fit you.  Whether it's learning how to swim, perfecting your technique or simply needing a little extra help, then private lessons might be the answer for you.

Adult Aquatics
Arthritis Water Exercise- Offered in collaboration with the Arthritis Foundation.  Focus is on alleviating pain and improving the range of motion and to assist in pain management.
Water Fitness-  Designed to improve your endurance and tone muscles. They are also designed for a variety of skill and fitness levels.

For more information on our Aquatics programs, please check with your local YMCA.

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