Swim Lessons for children and adults

There’s no place like the Y for learning to swim. With lessons tailored to parents of infants and toddlers, preschoolers, school-age children, teens and adults, the Y is the largest provider of swim lessons and water safety programs in the United States. 

Find Lessons
Swim Skill Assessments
How do YMCA swim lessons work?
  • Starting January 2027, swim lessons are offered in six-week sessions where swimmers meet once per week for 30 minutes.
  • Registration opens on the 1st of the month, two months before lessons begin (Example: swim lessons that start in January open on November 1 and swim lessons that start in February open December 1.)
  • Choose your swimmer’s age category, then select the day of week and time of day that fits your family’s schedule. These schedules will be the same year round, giving you consistency while you’re enrolled in swim lessons. (Additional times will be available during the summer months when school is out.)
  • On your swimmer’s first lesson, a YMCA-certified swim instructor will assess your swimmer’s skills and group them into a swimming pod so that swimmers can develop new skills together. Each week, your swimmer will continue learning with their pod.
  • Swim instructor to swimmer ratios:
    • Parent/Child Lessons (age 6 months to 36 months) - 10 parent/child pairs per instructor (parent is in the water with the child)
    • Preschool (age 3-5 years) - 3 preschool swimmers per instructor
    • School Age (age 5-12 years) - 5 school-age swimmers per instructor
    • Teen/Adult (age 13+) - 5 swimmers per instructor
  • Swimmers are in the water for at least 25 minutes of each lesson.
  • Skills are taught progressively, allowing swimmers to learn to swim safely while developing confidence in the water. You’ll receive a progress report with your swimmer’s development.
    If the Y has to cancel a lesson due to inclement weather or instructor illness during your session, you’ll receive a “Splash
  • Cash” credit for the amount of the lesson, valid toward a future session.
  • Classes may be canceled or combined if enrollment is low, and we'll keep registered participants informed of any changes.
Activities
Child treading water in swim skill assessment at the Y

Sea Where You're At Saturdays

Come see where you are at for a lesson, for a swim test, for an aquatic certification prerequisite, or to have any aquatic questions answered. Reservation is recommended but not required.

Y employee swimming

Preschool Swim Lessons

For Ages 3 to 5

Children will participate without a parent in the water. A low student-teacher ratio allows participants to safely develop skills and confidence in the water.

Multi ethnicity school age kids jumping into pool

School-Age Swim Lessons

For ages 5 to 12

Children are taught progressively, starting with fundamental swim skills in Stage 1, with each following stage building on skills taught in previous stages. A low student-teacher ratio allows participants to safely develop skills and confidence in the water.

swim team

Adult & Teen Swim Lessons

Ages 13 and up

Whether overcoming fear of the water or refining your swim stroke skills for better fitness, it’s never too late to enjoy the fun and health benefits of swimming. In Adult & Teen swim lessons for ages 13 and older, instructors tailor lessons to meet each student's abilities and goals.

a personal training session in a pool with a senior and trainer

Private/Semi Private Swim Lessons

Private and Semi-Private swim lessons are for individuals who want one on one or small group instruction from a swim lesson instructor. 

 

USA Swimming logos

kid swimming

Test. Mark. Protect.

Our number one priority is the safety of members and guests. We are continually evaluating our protocols and best practices to ensure that everyone enjoys our aquatic venues and remains safe at all times. "Test, Mark and Protect" ensures the best level of protection and acts as our benchmark swim test.

Swim Test Requirements