Swim Lessons
For over 100 years, the YMCA has been one of America’s favorite swim instructors and a leader in water safety. Our proven curriculum and friendly environment enhance skills, all while having fun.
- Swimming
- Swim Lessons
Programs
At the Y, swimming is a life skill. We offer a wide selection of parent & child, preschool, school-age, teen, and adult swim lessons that build strong and confident swimmers. It uses a problem-solving, guided-discovery teaching approach in a positive, caring environment. All age groups are taught the same skills but divided according to their developmental milestones.

PROGRAM SESSIONS
Fall 1: September 5 – October 21
Swim Starters
Parent Child Swim Lessons (AGES 6mo – 3yrs) Accompanied 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.
Swim Basics
Students 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 – PRESCHOOL and SCHOOL AGE
Preschool: Ages 3-5 years
School Age: Ages 5-13 years.
This class is designed for youth not yet comfortable going underwater voluntarily. Children will develop comfort with underwater exploration and learn to safely exit a body of water, in the event they fall in.
Stage 2 – Water Movement – PRESCHOOL and SCHOOL AGE
Preschool: Ages 3-5 years
School Age: Ages 5-13 years
This class is designed for youth who submerge independently. Students focus on body position and control, directional change, and forward movement in the water while continuing to practice how to roll from front to back.
Stage 3 – Water Stamina PRESCHOOL and SCHOOL AGE
This class is designed for preschoolers age 3 – 5 years. Children should be able to float on their front and back independently. Students learn to swim to safety from a longer distance. They are introduced to rhythmic breathing and integrated arm and leg action.
Preschool: Ages 3-5 years
Preschool stage 3 is for children who are able to swim 5 feet on their front and back, and use the swim-float-swim sequence for 5 yards.
School Age: Ages 5-13 years
School age stage 3 is for youth who are able to swim 10 feet on their front and back, and use the swim-float-swim sequence for 5 yards.
Swim Strokes
Having mastered the fundamentals, students learn additional water safety skills and build stroke techniques, developing skills that prevent chronic disease, increase social-emotional and cognitive well-being, and foster a lifetime of physical activity.
Stage 4 – Stroke Introduction
This class is designed for children ages 5-13. Youth entering Stage 4 should be able to swim 15 yards on their front and back independently, and swim-float-swim for 25 yards. Youth will develop stroke technique in front and back crawl and learn the breaststroke and butterly kicks. Water safety is reinforced through treading water and elementary backstroke.
Stage 5 – Stroke Development
Youth entering Stage 5 should be able to swim 15 yards of front crawl with rotary breathing, and 15 yards of back crawl. Youth will work on stroke technique and learn all major competitive strokes. Emphasis on water safety continues through treading water and side stroke.
Stage 6 – Stroke Mechanics
Youth entering Stage 6 should be able to swim 25 yards of front crawl, back crawl and breaststroke. Students will refine stroke technique on all major competitive strokes, learn about competitive swimming, and discover how to incorporate swimming into a healthy lifestyle
Private Lessons
Private Swim Lessons
Private lessons are one on one 30-minute lessons, available for all ages and levels, and are arranged to fit your scheduled based on pool and instructor availability. Participants work on swimming skills appropriate for their ability and in-line with their goals.
Contact: Chelsea Klutterman at 715-818-6014 or klutterman@swcymca.org for more information.
Member: $60/3 lessons or $100/5 lessons
Non-Member: $75/3 lessons or $125/5 lessons
Semi-Private Swim Lessons
Semi-private lessons are designed for two students with one instructor. The Y does not match individuals for lessons. 30-minute lessons, available for all ages & levels, arranged to fit your schedule based on pool and instructor availability.
Member: $90/3 lessons or $150/5 lessons
Non-Member: $120/3 lessons or $200/5 lesson
More Swimming

Chelsea Klutterman
Aquatics Director
(715) 818-6014
klutterman@swcymca.org
Our mission is to put Christian principles into practice through programs that build a healthy spirit, mind, and body for all.
RESOURCES
Wisconsin Rapids Hours
Monday- Friday: 5:00 AM- 8:00PM
Saturday: 7:00 AM- 3:00PM
Sunday: Closed
Adams Hours
Monday- Thursday: 8:00AM- 7:00PM
Friday: 8:00AM- 5:00PM
Saturday- Sunday: Not Staffed
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