SWIM LESSONS
The Y pioneered the practice of swim lessons over 160 years ago and has taught generations of families how to swim. Our nationally certified instructors teach progressive, skills-based swim lessons for all ages, from infants to seniors. Water safety is our main focus, along with swim readiness, stroke development and establishing a lifelong, healthy approach to water, exercise and fun.
All of our lessons instructors are certified under the YMCA Swim Lessons Instructor Training, hold current CPR/AED, First Aid, and Emergency Oxygen certifications, and undergo at least one session of on-the-job shadow training.
Swimming is a fundamental life skill.
Register HERE for a Y swim lesson today!
Group Cost: $105 member / $125 nonmember ($13.13 / $15.63 per lesson)
Private Cost: $145 member / $185 nonmember ($36.25 / $46.25 per lesson)
Preferred Private Cost: $400 member / $500 nonmember ($40 / $50 per lesson)
Do I have to be a member to enroll my child in swim lessons?
How do I enroll?
Enrollment is easy. Call or stop in to either location or register easily here.
If you have never been a member or participated in a program at the YMCA of Alaska, registration is only available online or in person. First time registrants are unable to register over the phone.
What does my child need to bring to the lesson?
1. Appropriate swim attire such as a bathing suit or swimming trunks. Children who are not potty-trained must wear a swim diaper as well. Click here for more information on what to wear.
2. Goggles that cover the eyes only. No snorkles or goggles that cover the eyes and nose.
That’s it! No floaties, life jackets, or any other flotation devices will be used.


What is Priority Registration?
Priority registration gives families who are currently registered in swim lessons an earlier window to register before the general public in order to encourage a continuous progression through our program. Priority registration only guarantees a spot in the exact same day, time, and level as your currently registered lesson. If you wish to change the day, time, or level of your lesson, you may do so starting at 7:00 pm after all other families have had a chance to claim their guaranteed spot. This still gives you priority over the general public.


SWIM LESSON PROGRAM

STAGES OF LEARNING

SAFETY & CHARACTER TOPICS
SWIM STARTERS PROGRAM
PARENT/CHILD | AGE 6 MO-3YRS
Working with a parent, infants/toddlers learn to be comfortable in the water and develop swim readiness skills through fun, confidence-building experiences. Parents learn about water safety, drowning prevention and proper supervision around water.
STAGES
- A – Water Discovery: Introduces infants and toddlers to the swim environment while practicing basic assisted skills.
- B – Water Exploration: Parents work with their children on exploring body positions, floating, blowing bubbles, and fundamental safety and swim skills.
Stages A & B are combined and covered fully in our “Swim Starters” class.
Session:
Lessons are 1x/week for 4 weeks
SWIM BASICS PROGRAM
PRESCHOOL AGE 3-5 | SCHOOL-AGE 6-12 | TEEN/ADULT AGE 13+
Students learn personal water safety and achieve basic swimming competencies through activities, games and drills. Instruction focuses on two benchmark skills: 1) swim, float, swim and 2) jump, push, turn, grab. Other skills include safe water habits, underwater exploration, and self-rescue swim sequences.
STAGES
- 1 – Water Acclimation: Students develop comfort with underwater exploration and learn basic self-rescue skills performed with assistance.
- 2 – Water Movement: Students focus on body position, control, directional change, forward movement in water, and practice how to safely exit in the event of falling into a body of water.
- 3 – Water Stamina: Students develop intermediate self-rescue skills performed at longer distances than in previous levels. Students are introduced to rhythmic breathing and integrated arm and leg action.
Stages 1, 2 & 3 are combined and covered fully in any of our “Swim Basics” classes.
Session:
Lessons are 2x/week for 4 weeks
SWIM STROKES PROGRAM
PRESCHOOL AGE 3-5 | SCHOOL-AGE 6-12 | TEEN/ADULT AGE 13+
Having mastered the fundamentals, students learn additional water safety and rescue skills. Swimmers build stroke technique, developing skills that prevent chronic disease, increase social-emotional and cognitive well-being and foster a lifetime of healthy living. Students are also introduced to the four competitive swimming strokes: freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly.
STAGES
- 4 – Stroke Introduction: Students are introduced to basic 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.
- 5 – Stroke Development: Students work on stroke technique and learn all major competitive strokes. An emphasis on water safety continues through treading water and sidestroke.
- 6 – Stroke Mechanics: Students refine stroke technique on all major competitive strokes, learn about competitive swimming, and discover how to incorporate swimming into a healthy lifestyle.
Stages 4 & 5 are combined and covered in our “Stroke Introduction” class.
Stages 5 & 6 are combined and covered fully in our “Stroke Mechanics” class.
Session:
Lessons are 2x/week for 4 weeks
