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.

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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.

Aquatics Levels YMCA

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

Chelsea Klutterman

Aquatics Director

(715) 818-6014

klutterman@swcymca.org

Wisconsin Rapids

601 West Grand Avenue
Wisconsin Rapids, WI 54495

(715) 818 9622

Port Edwards

211 Wisconsin River Drive
Port Edwards, WI 54469

(715) 818 9622

YMCA Camp Alexander

1053 Camp Road
Wisconsin Rapids, WI 54494

(715) 818-9622

Adams

393 N Pine Street
Adams, WI 53910

(608) 472.5400