LEARN TO SWIM

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.

Parent & Child Classes Offered: 1 instructor to 10 children ratio

• A / Water Discovery
• B / Water Exploration

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Preschool Age
In these stages, students develop a high level of comfort in the water by practicing safe water habits, engaging in underwater exploration, and learning how to swim to safety and exit if they fall into a body of water. By the end of this series of stages, students 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

Preschool Classes Offered: 1 instructor to 4-6 children ratio

• 1P / Water Acclimation - Increases comfort with underwater exploration and introduces basic self-rescue skills preformed with assistance (Beginner)
• 2P / Water Movement - Encourages forward movement in water and basic self-rescue skills performed independently (Advanced Beginner)
• 3P / Water Stamina - Develops intermediate self-rescue skills performed at longer distances than in previous stages (Low Intermediate)

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School Age
In Swim Basics, students learn personal water safety and achieve basic swimming competency by learning two benchmark skills: Swim, Float, Swim & Jump, Push, Turn, Grab. In Swim Strokes, having mastered the fundamentals, students learn additional water safety skills and build stroke technique, developing skills that prevent chronic disease, increase social-emotional and cognitive well-being, and foster a lifetime of physical activity!

School Age Classes Offered: 1 instructor to 6-8 children ratio

• 1S / Water Acclimation – Increases comfort with underwater exploration and introduces basic self-rescue skills preformed with assistance (Beginner)
• 2S / Water Movement – Encourages forward movement in water and basic self-rescue skills preformed independantly (Advanced beginner)
• 3S / Water Stamina – Develops intermediate self-rescue skills preformed at longer distances than in previous stages (Low Intermediate)
• 4S / Stroke Introduction – Introduces basic stroke technique in front and back crawl and reinforces water safety through treading water and elementary backstroke (High Intermediate)
• 5S / Stroke Development – Introduces breaststroke and butterfly and reinforces water safety through treading water and sidestroke (Low Advanced)
• 6S / Stroke Mechanics – Refines stroke technique on all major competitive strokes and encourages swimming as part of a healthy lifestyle. (High Advanced)

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If you haven’t yet learned how to swim or wish to improve your skills as a beginner, this is the class for you. Strokes will be introduced and developed, as well as endurance. Safety skills will also be a focus of this class.  Adult lessons focus on learning to increase your comfort around water and then working on specific strokes and developing them. Our Swim Instructors will tailor the class to the individual and will work with you to increase learning.

Contact the Aquatics Office at your home branch for information regarding adult group and private lessons. 

Downtown Duluth YMCA: 218-722-4745 ext. 131

YMCA at the Essentia Wellness Center: 218-241-8008 ext. 524