Everyone should learn how to swim. As "America's swim instructor," we teach children, teens, and adults of all skill levels and backgrounds that water should be fun, not feared. Gain confidence as you learn water safety, develop stroke technique, and discover the health benefits of swimming.
SWIM LESSONS & CLASSES
Nurture skills and build confidence in the water.
Swim lessons at the Y are about more than just techniques; they also help develop self-esteem, improve motor skills, and offer the opportunity to have fun in a safe environment.
Our swim instructors are ready to help anyone -- from infants to seniors -- find their love of water and become a strong, confident swimmer. As your confidence grows, you'll progress from learning basic water safety to swimming skills, including:
- How to tread and float in the water
- Proper breathing techniques
- Key swimming strokes (front crawl, backstroke, etc.)
- Safety and rescue skills
- Proper conditioning and personal fitness habits
Get Started
Swimming skills are progressive, so it's important to select a class that's appropriate for your swimmer's age and skill level.
Dive In
Private, semi-private, and adaptive swim lessons provide personalized instruction to meet your unique needs and goals in the pool.
We offer parent & child, preschool, school age, teen, and adult swim lessons on a monthly basis.
SWIM STARTERS
Children ages 6 months to 2 years develop swim readiness skills through fun experiences that build confidence while parents learn how to supervise kids in the water, prevent accidents, and plan for emergencies.
SWIM BASICS
Students become comfortable and confident in the water through practicing safe water habits, engaging in underwater exploration, and learning how to swim to safety if they fall into a body of water.
SWIM STROKES
Having mastered the fundamentals, students learn additional water safety skills, build stroke technique, develop skills that increase social-emotional and cognitive well-being, and foster a lifetime of physical activity.
Finding the right swim stage depends on both the age of the student and their skill level. All age groups are taught the same skills, but are divided according to their developmental milestones.
- Parent & Child Stages A-B (Ages 6 months-2)
- Preschool Stages 1-4 (Ages 3-5)
- School Age Stages 1-6 (Ages 6-12)
- Teen & Adult Stages 1-6 (Ages 13+)
Use the questions below to help you select the proper swim lessons for you or your child.
Can the student respond to verbal cues and jump on land? Not yet...
- SWIM STAGE A (Water Discovery)
Parents accompany children in stage A, which introduces infants and toddlers to the aquatic environment through exploration and encourages them to enjoy themselves while learning about the water.
Is the student comfortable working with an instructor without a parent in the water? Not yet...
- SWIM STAGE B (Water Exploration)
Parents work with their children to explore body positions, floating, blowing bubbles, and fundamental safety and aquatic skills.
Will the student go underwater voluntarily? Not yet...
- SWIM STAGE 1 (Water Acclimation)
Develop comfort with underwater exploration and learn to safely exit in the event of falling into a body of water. Stage 1 lays the foundation that allows for a student’s future progress in swimming.
Can the student do a front and back float on their own? Not yet...
- SWIM STAGE 2 (Water Movement)
Focus on body position and control, directional change, and forward movement in the water while also continuing to practice how to safely exit in the event of falling into a body of water.
Can the student swim 10–15 yards on their front and back? Not yet...
- SWIM STAGE 3 (Water Stamina)
Learn how to swim to safety from a longer distance than in previous stages in the event of falling into a body of water. Stage 3 also introduces rhythmic breathing and integrated arm and leg action.
Can the student swim 15 yards of front and back crawl? Not yet...
- SWIM STAGE 4 (Stroke Introduction)
Develop stroke technique in front crawl and back crawl and learn the breaststroke kick and butterfly kick. Water safety is reinforced through treading water and elementary backstroke.
Can the student swim front crawl, back crawl, and breaststroke across the pool? Not yet...
- SWIM STAGE 5 (Stroke Development)
Work on stroke technique and learn all major competitive strokes. The emphasis on water safety continues through treading water and sidestroke.
Can the student swim front crawl, back crawl, and breaststroke across the pool and back? Not yet...
- SWIM STAGE 6 (Stroke Mechanics)
Refine stroke technique on all major competitive strokes, learn about competitive swimming, and discover how to incorporate swimming into a healthy lifestyle.
You can easily search and sign up for programs online anytime, from anywhere. Our staff are also happy to assist you in person at your local branch or over the phone during business hours. All classes have min/max enrollment, so we encourage you to register early.
As a YMCA of Metropolitan Milwaukee member, you'll enjoy priority registration and program discounts. Join today and save up to 50% off non-member rates for monthly programs, summer day camp, personal training, and more.
The Y is for everyone, regardless of ability to pay, which is why we offer financial assistance for membership and programs. Please stop by your local branch or give us a call to help determine your eligibility.