Swim Lessons
Swim Lessons at the YMCA
Knowing how to swim can save your life — or even someone else’s. Taught by certified YMCA instructors, our swimming lessons develop lifelong skills that promote safety in and around the water. The YMCA in Canada has taught thousands of children, youth & adults to swim through our nationally-accredited YMCA swim programs since we offered the very first YMCA swimming lesson over 100 years ago.
Taking swim lessons at the YMCA is more than just learning how to swim. Building confidence and lifelong skills based on individual abilities help your children to thrive.
Swim lessons are included in YMCA Classic & Premium Memberships, with a maximum of 1 lesson per week, per person. From beginner to advanced classes, gain confidence in the water in a fun and engaging environment. Lessons are available for all levels of ability and age groups.
Infant & Preschool Swim Lessons
YMCA Parent and Tot Swim Lessons
Getting time to work out with your little one can be a challenge. YMCA Parent and Tot sessions’ give you time to play, move, and splash in the pool with your infant, toddler, or preschooler. A YMCA Swim Instructor will lead these sessions to ensure you and your child get the most from your time together.
- Prerequisite(s): There are no prerequisites for this program.
- Cost: Swim Lessons are included in YMCA Classic and Premium memberships.
Preschool Program
You’re never too young to enjoy the water! The YMCA Pre-School program will introduce your toddler or preschooler to the basics of swimming. Each level in the Pre-School program has been designed with your child’s natural growth and development in mind. There are eight levels in the YMCA Pre-School program: Splashers, Bubblers, Bobbers, Floaters, Gliders, Divers, Surfers, and Jumpers. YMCA Swim Instructors will ensure that we find the right level for your child.
- Prerequisite(s): There are no prerequisites for this program.
- Cost: Swim Lessons are included in YMCA Classic and Premium memberships.
Children & Youth Swim Lessons
Learn to Swim Program
Learn foundational swimming skills that will be applied through future activities in and around the water. Improve body awareness and motor skills as they submerge, kick and jump in the water. Core Skills include:
- Otter: Introduction to pool safety, submersion and glides.
- Seal: Focus on kicking and rolling.
- Dolphin: Participants learn and focus on coordination for front and back crawl.
- Swimmer: Skills include a focus on front and back crawl.
YMCA Star Program
Continuing swimmers will learn elementary backstroke, breaststroke, and side stroke while increasing their swimming distance to 350 metres. Swimmers will also have opportunities to explore competitive swimming, synchronized swimming, water polo and AquaFit. Core Skills include:
- Star 1: Focus on back glide and whip kick.
- Star 2: Emphasis on front glide and whip kick.
- Star 3: Elementary backstroke skills.
- Star 4: Introduction to breaststroke and sidestroke.
- Star 5: Includes boating safety, self-rescue, butterfly basics, and a 500m swim.
- Star 6: Covers first aid, victim rescue, 600m swim, and advanced strokes like waltz crawl and inverted breaststroke.
- Star 7: Prepares for Star Patrol Award, enhances stroke techniques, builds endurance to 700m, and introduces leadership/lifeguard skills.
Important Registration Information
- If your child was registered in swim lessons previously, you will need to re-register them for the next swim lesson sessions. Unlike previous years, registrations will not roll over between sessions.
- Children are required to have a membership to enroll in swim lessons, which are included in the cost of a Child Classic Membership. The parent/guardian does not need a membership to enroll the child in swim lessons.
- Please remember that your child must have reached their 3rd Birthday to register in our 3-5 year old lessons, or their 6th Birthday to register in our 6-12 year old lessons.
- If you are unsure what level to register your child in, please review our Swim Lesson Placement Guide, or call your local YMCA and a staff member will be able to assist you.
- Once swim lessons begin, instructors will take the first 2 weeks for introductions and skill level assessment to ensure everyone is in the correct level. This may carry over into the second week as we ALL acclimate back to swim lesson routines. We thank you in advance for your patience!
Swim Supervision Policy
Our policy applies to all Open Swims, Family Swims, Special Events & Birthday Parties.
Children under 6 years of age must be directly supervised in the water by a parent/guardian, who is at least 16 years of age, at a ratio of 1:2. All children must be within arm’s reach of the guardian in the shallow end.
Children 6 to 9 years of age must be directly supervised in the water by a parent/guardian, who is at least 16 years of age, at a ratio of 1:4.
Children 10 and up are welcome to swim in the pool as appropriate to their swim ability. Children will be asked to perform the facility swim test. Those who cannot yet pass the swim test will be required to remain in the shallow end.