The YMCA of Greater Dayton offers swim lessons for all ages and capabilities all year long!
The Y strives to help all ages learn how to swim, so they can stay safe around water and learn the skills needed to make swimming a lifelong pursuit for healthy living. We're proud to offer a variety of swim lessons for people of all ages and abilities, both in group and private settings. We also offer Lifeguard certification courses at many of our locations. Click on a button below to view descriptions of classes in that category.
Parent/Child
6-36 Months
Pre-school
3-5 Years
Summer is fun at the Y!
YMCA Summer Camps
Looking to make your child’s summer memorable? Sign up for YMCA Summer Camps! Registration is open for Day Camp and YMCA Camp Kern.
Guide to Swim Placement
How Old Is Your Child?
Parent/Child Swim Lessons: 6 - 36 months
This program promotes water enrichment and aquatic readiness for children from six to 36 months. Parents will accompany their child in the water during the lessons and will learn ways to help their child become more comfortable in and around water.
Stage A: Water Discovery
Introduces infants and toddlers to the aquatic environment. A parent or guardian at least 16 years of age must be in the water.
Class Ratio: 1 Instructor: 10 Parent/Child Pairs
Stage B: Water Exploration
Focuses on exploring body positions, blowing bubbles, and fundamental safety and aquatic skills. A parent or guardian at least 16 years of age must be in the water. Children MUST pass Level A: Water Discovery to register for this class.
Class Ratio: 1 Instructor: 10 Parent/Child Pairs
Preschool Swim Lessons: 3 - 5 years
This progressive program teaches water adjustment and basic swimming skills for children ages three to five years of age. Children will progress through three levels as they develop skills.
Stage A: Water Acclimation
Increases comfort with underwater exploration and introduces basic self-rescue skills performed with assistance. Skills introduced: Bobs, front and back float, jump, push, turn, and grab, and swim float swim.
Class Ratio: 1 Instructor: 5 students
Stage B: Water Movement
Encourages forward movement in water and basic self-rescue skills performed independently. Participants must successfully demonstrate all Level 1 skills prior to moving to Level 2. New Skills introduced: Submerging to look at an object and treading water.
Class Ratio: 1 Instructor: 5 students
Stage 3: Water Stamina
Develops intermediate self-rescue skills performed at longer distances than previous stages. Participants must successfully demonstrate all Level 2 skills prior to moving to Level 3. New Skills Introduced: swim on front, swim on back, submerge and retrieve and object.
Class Ratio: 1 Instructor: 5 students
Stage 4: Stroke Introduction
Introduces basic stroke technique in front crawl and back crawl, nd reinforces water safety through treading water and elementary backstroke. Participants must successfully complete Level 3 prior to advancing to level 4. New skills introduced are swimming 25 yards of each stroke, rotary breathing, diving, breaststroke, resting strokes, and butterfly.
Class Ratio: 1 Instructor: 5 students
Youth Swim Lessons: 6 - 12 years
This student-centered program allows each child to progress at his or her own pace. Students are grouped by ability levels as follows:
Stage 1: Water Acclimation
Increases comfort with underwater exploration and introduces basic self-rescue skills performed with assistance. Skills introduced: Bobs, front and back float, jump, push, turn, and grab, and swim float swim.
Class Ratio: 1 Instructor: 6 students
Stage 2: Water Movement
Encourages forward movement in water and basic self-rescue skills performed independently. Participants must successfully demonstrate all Level 1 skills prior to moving to Level 2. New Skills introduced: Submerging to look at an object and treading water.
Class Ratio: 1 Instructor: 6 students
Stage 3: Water Stamina
Develops intermediate self-rescue skills performed at longer distances than previous stages. Participants must successfully demonstrate all Level 2 skills prior to moving to Level 3. New Skills Introduced: swim on front, swim on back, submerge and retrieve and object.
Class Ratio: 1 Instructor: 6 students
Stage 4: Stroke Introduction
Introduces basic stroke technique in front crawl and back crawl, and reinforces water safety through treading water and elementary backstroke. Participants must successfully complete Level 3 prior to advancing to level 4. New skills introduced are swimming 25 yards of each stroke, rotary breathing, diving, breaststroke, resting strokes, and butterfly.
Class Ratio: 1 Instructor: 6 students
Stage 5: Stroke Development
Introduces breaststroke and butterfly, and reinforces water safety through treading water and sidestroke. Participants must successfully complete Level 4 prior to enrolling in Level 5. New skills introduced: sidestroke and swimming 50 yards of each stroke.
Class Ratio: 1 Instructor: 6 students
Stage 6: Stroke Mechanics
Refines stroke techniques on all major competitive strokes and encourages swimming as part of a healthy lifestyle. New skills: flip and open turns, and swimming 150 yards of each stroke.
Additional Swim Lesson Options
Private & Semi Private Swim Lessons
A Y certified Swim Instructor could be just what you or your child needs to become comfortable in the water. Private swim lessons are designed to fit your specific goals and offer the flexibility that a busy schedule needs. Receive 1:1 instruction or bring a swim buddy for 1:2 instruction.
Adult Swim Lessons: 13 years +
Instructors will work with all levels of swimmers to increase their comfort and competency in and around water.
Adult Group Lessons
For swimmers ages 13 and older who need to improve their stroke, want to enter the world of swimming workouts or to overcome their fear of water.
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