YMCA Swim Lessons promote children’s health and safety. The program supports parents and encourages their participation in teaching kids valuable life skills.

Registration Dates

Winter 2025:

January Lessons: Jan. 13 - Feb. 6; Member registration begins Dec. 9; non-member Dec. 11
February Lessons: Feb. 10 - Mar. 6; Member registration begins Feb. 3; non-member Feb. 5
March Lessons: Mar. 17 - Apr. 10; Member registration begins Mar. 3; non-member Mar. 5
April Lessons: Apr. 14 - May 8; Member registration begins Apr. 7; non-member Apr. 9
May Lessons: May 12 - Jun. 5; Member registration begins May 5; non-member May 7

Choosing the Correct Swim Lesson

Follow the chart below to find the right level for your child, then register by clicking on the link to the right. Remember, placing a child in the incorrect level will be a disservice to both the child and the other class members. If you are not sure which level to place your child in, request a YMCA Swim Level Lesson Placement and Evaluation by contacting our swim lesson coordinator at [email protected]. A swimming instructor will be available to evaluate your child’s skills for placement into the appropriate swim lesson level.

If your child is between 6-18 months of age and can NOT yet respond to verbal cues and jump on land.
Level Description Here

If your child is between 12-36 months of age and is NOT comfortable working with an instructor without a parent in the water.
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If your child is 3-5 years of age and will NOT go under water voluntarily.
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If your child is 3-5 years of age and can NOT yet do a front or back float on their own.
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If your child is 3-5 years of age and can NOT yet swim 10-15 yards on their own but can submerge their head.
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If your child is 5 or older and will NOT go under water voluntarily.
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If your child is 5 or older and can NOT yet do a front or back float on their own.
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If your child is 5 or older and can NOT yet swim 10-15 yards on their own but can submerge their head.
Level Description Here

If your child is 4 or older and can NOT yet swim 15 yards of front and back crawl.
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If your child is 5 or older and can NOT yet swim front crawl, back crawl and breaststroke for 25 yards.
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If your child is 5 or older and can NOT yet swim front crawl, back crawl and breaststroke 50 yards.
Level Description Here

Information regarding expectations, responsibilities and frequently asked questions can be found HERE.

Lesson Category Descriptions

Swim levels along with a description of skill requirements and development are described below. The lessons will be broken into three main categories:

Swim Starters

Recommended age range: 6 months to 3 years

Develops water enrichment and aquatic readiness in children.

In the two stages that make up this parent-child category, children learn to be comfortable in the water. Rather than teaching children how to survive in the water or become accomplished swimmers, Swim Starters focuses on developing swim readiness skills through fun and confidence-building experiences. Parents also learn essential skills in Swim Starters. Close supervision is the best way to prevent drowning. Parents learn how to supervise children in the water, how to prevent accidents, and how to plan for emergencies.

Stage A: Water Discovery (6 months - 3 years)

Parents accompany children in this stage, which introduces infants and toddlers to the aquatic environment through exploration and encourages them to enjoy themselves while learning about the water. The goals of this stage include the following:

Encouraging parents to set developmentally appropriate expectations for infants and toddlers enrolled in swim lessons
Introducing and emphasizing basic water safety to parents and providing a positive family aquatic experience
Building relationships among and between parents and children by providing opportunities for fun and interaction in the water

Stage B: Water Exploration (1-3 years)

In this stage, parents work with their children to explore body positions, floating, blowing bubbles, and fundamental safety and aquatic skills. Children should be able to walk before taking this class. The goals of this stage include the following:

Encouraging children to move purposefully in the water in response to visual and verbal cues and using toys and flotation devices
Emphasizing basic aquatic safety to parents
Building relationships among and between parents and children by providing opportunities for fun and interaction in the water.
Preparing children to independently take lessons in a small group

Swim Basics

Classes offered for Preschool (3-5 years) & School Age (5-12 years)

Develops personal water safety and basic swimming skills in students of all ages.

Stage 1: Water Acclimation

Students develop comfort with underwater exploration and learn to safely exit in the event of falling into a body of water in stage 1. This stage lays the foundation that allows for a student’s future progress in swimming. Students in this stage focus on the following:

Exploring the aquatic environment and personal skills with instructor help
Developing basic skills to propel and glide through the water with instructor help
Learning basic aquatic safety and accepting some of the responsibility for safe practices
Comfortable putting eyes, ears and nose in water

Stage 2: Water Movement

In this stage, students 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. Students in this stage focus on the following:

Exploring the aquatic environment and personal skills without instructor help
Developing basic skills to propel and glide through the water without instructor help
Proficiency in floating on front and back
Learning basic aquatic and boating safety and accepting some of the responsibility for safe practices

Stage 3: Water Stamina

In this stage, students learn how to swim to safety from a longer distance than in previous stages in the event of falling into a body of water. This stage also introduces rhythmic breathing and integrated arm and leg action. Students in this stage focus on the following:

Integrating arm action, leg action, and rhythmic breathing in back and front glides
Developing forward movement on the front and back
Practicing skills and safety techniques in deep water
Able to swim 10-15 yards on own

Swim Strokes

Offered for Preschool (Stage 4 only) or School Age

Introduces and refines stroke technique in advancing students.

Stage 4: Stroke Introduction

Students in this stage 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. Students in this stage focus on the following:

Developing the front crawl and back crawl
Introducing components of the breaststroke and butterfly
Learn rotary breathing
Practicing safety techniques in deep water

Stage 5: Stroke Development

Students in this stage work on stroke technique and learn all major competitive strokes. The emphasis on water safety continues through treading water and sidestroke. Students in this stage focus on the following:

Developing stamina in the front crawl and back crawl
Developing the breaststroke and butterfly
Introduction of turning techniques for competitive strokes
Building endurance techniques for deep-water safety

Stage 6: Stroke Mechanics

In this stage, students refine stroke technique on all major competitive strokes, learn about competitive swimming, and discover how to incorporate swimming into a healthy lifestyle. Students in this stage focus on the following:

Developing endurance in the competitive strokes
Developing skills related to competitive swimming like flip turns
Enhancing skills and building endurance in deep water
Preparation for competitive, leadership or recreational swimming opportunities

Adult/Teen Beginner Lessons

For learning swimmers age 13 and up, we offer weekly lessons in a small group setting. Class instruction will be designed for the needs of the students in attendance with an emphasis on safety. Please check our lesson schedule for days, times and prices.

Click here to register now

Beyond Level 6

Swimmers are encouraged to pursue aquatics in three different ways:

Competition

We offer swim team for children ages 5 to 18 years at our State College branch.

Leadership

We offer certification and employment opportunities for lifeguards and swim instructors ages 16 and up.

Find a lifeguarding certification class here - Bellefonte - State College
Swim instructors need CPR/AED/First Aid certification - find a class here - Bellefonte - State College
Already certified? Fill out an application linked below and return to your nearby YMCA of Centre County branch.
Employment Application

Recreation

We offer lap swimming times at our State College and Bellefonte branches so you can turn swimming into a lifelong fitness activity! Pool schedules are HERE FOR STATE COLLEGE and HERE FOR BELLEFONTE.

Adaptive Lessons

Swim lessons are available to children with special needs in our therapy pool. Instructor to student ratio is low. A water wheelchair and ramp into the pool are available. Since adapted lessons meet on Friday or Saturday, the session schedule will follow the Saturday scheduled dates. The Friday evening classes are one-to-one instructor/client and the Saturday class is one-to-three instructor/client. We recommend the Saturday classes for those who are capable of working in a small group.

Private Lessons

Our private swimming lessons are a very popular alternative to our group lessons. Private lessons are 30 minute, 1 to 1 lessons with an experienced swim instructor. Lessons are designed specifically for your swimmer's needs and can be scheduled at a time that is convenient for you. Adults are welcome! Lessons can be scheduled one at a time or as packages of four.

Please fill out the private swim lesson request form linked below and submit either to the front desk of the YMCA or online to [email protected] so that we may match you up with an instructor who meets your skill and availability needs. You will pay for the lesson only after you have been contacted by the instructor to schedule your first lesson. Lessons can be rescheduled with enough notice. You may continue to schedule lessons with your matched instructor until you decide to stop.

Private Lesson Request Form

Cost:

Single Lesson: $41 for members, $61 for non-members
4 Lessons: $144 for members, $216 for non-members

One-On-One Classes

These special swim classes differ from lessons and are scheduled 4 at a time. They'll follow the same registration dates as swim lessons, and spaces are limited. If proof of illness or injury can be provided, a 50% credit will be issued for missed classes. Otherwise, no refunds or makeups will be issued.

For More Information

Contact Jessica Rettger ([email protected]) or Zach Smith ([email protected])

YMCA OF CENTRE COUNTY

State College Branch Swim Lessons