SWIM LESSONS

CONFIDENCE STARTS IN THE WATER.

LEARN TO SWIM. BUILD SKILLS. STAY SAFE.

Swimming is more than a fun activity — it's an important life skill.

At the Limestone Family YMCA, swim lessons help children develop comfort in the water, learn essential water safety skills, and build swimming ability at their own pace.

From a child's first splash to refining advanced strokes, our progressive swim lesson levels help swimmers continue learning as their skills grow.

Every swimmer starts somewhere. Let's take the next step together!

FIND YOUR SWIM LESSON LEVEL

A LEVEL FOR EVERY STAGE

Our swim lesson program progresses from early water exploration to advanced stroke development. Placement should reflect your swimmer's abilities and experience.

PARENT & CHILD LESSONS

WATER DISCOVERY — LEVEL A - Parents or guardians accompany their children in the water, helping them become comfortable and enjoy early water experiences.
WATER EXPLORATION — LEVEL B - Parents and children explore body positions, fundamental aquatic skills, and water safety together.

LEARN TO SWIM

WATER ACCLIMATION — LEVEL 1 - Build comfort in the water, practice underwater exploration, and learn how to safely exit the water if you fall in.
WATER MOVEMENT — LEVEL 2 - Develop body position, control, directional changes, and forward movement in the water. This level is listed for ages 3–12.
WATER STAMINA — LEVEL 3 - Build endurance and learn to swim to safety over longer distances while developing coordinated arm and leg movements.

STROKE DEVELOPMENT

STROKE INTRODUCTION — LEVEL 4 - Develop front crawl and back crawl technique while beginning to learn the breaststroke kick and butterfly kick.
STROKE DEVELOPMENT — LEVEL 5 - Improve stroke technique across the major competitive strokes and practice additional water safety skills, including treading water and the sidestroke.
STROKE MECHANICS — LEVEL 6 - Refine technique across the major strokes, explore competitive swimming, and build skills for a healthy, active lifestyle.

2026 SWIM LESSON SESSIONS

PLAN YOUR NEXT SESSION

Swim lessons are offered in sessions throughout the year. Registration windows and lesson dates vary by session.

Session 1

Registration: December 19–January 2
Lessons: January–February

Session 2

Registration: February 13–February 17
Lessons: March–April

Session 3

Registration: April 17–May 1
Lessons: May–June

Session 4

Registration: June 12–June 26
Lessons: June–August

Session 5

Registration: August 7–August 21
Lessons: August–September

Session 6

Registration: October 2–October 16
Lessons: October–November

Lessons are scheduled on Mondays and Wednesdays, depending on the session. Please contact the YMCA to confirm exact lesson dates, times, fees, and availability.

WHAT TO BRING

Help your swimmer arrive ready to learn!

Swimsuit
Towel
Goggles (recommended, but not required)

Please have your child arrive dressed and ready to enter the water at least 5 minutes before class. Check in at the front desk when you arrive, and our team can help you find the locker rooms.

PARENTS & GUARDIANS

YOU'RE PART OF THE JOURNEY.

We encourage parents and guardians to watch lessons from the designated viewing areas.

For everyone's safety and to help swimmers focus, spectators should remain behind the glass doors or use the designated party-room viewing windows. Please remain seated and quiet while observing.

If you have questions about your child's progress, instructors are happy to speak with you briefly before or after class.

WATER SAFETY MATTERS

SWIMMING SKILLS LAST A LIFETIME.

Swim lessons are an important part of water safety, but they are not a substitute for supervision.

Remember to:

Actively supervise children in and around water.
Keep young children within arm's reach.
Swim only where a lifeguard or responsible supervising adult is present.
Use a properly fitted, Coast Guard-approved life jacket when appropriate for inexperienced or non-swimmers.
Teach children to ask permission before entering or approaching water.

The Y also encourages learning the “Reach, Throw, Don't Go” approach to helping someone in trouble in the water.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What does my child need for lessons?

A swimsuit and towel are required. Goggles are recommended but not required.

Can I watch my child's lesson?

Yes. Parents and guardians are encouraged to watch from designated viewing areas, while keeping noise and distractions to a minimum.

What if the pool closes because of weather?

If lightning is detected within 10 miles or thunder is heard, the pool deck closes for at least 30 minutes after the last lightning strike or sound of thunder. The current policy states that lessons are not made up or refunded because of weather.

How do I know which level is right for my child?

Review the level descriptions and contact the YMCA if you need help identifying the best starting point for your swimmer.

Water Safety Tips

Teaching your children to be water smart is the first step in water safety – be sure they understand the importance of asking permission before going in or near the water.

When children are swimming, make sure they are actively supervised at all times. Teach your children that they should only swim in locations where a lifeguard is on duty, or where a responsible adult agrees to watch the children in the water without distractions.

Whether it’s bath time or taking a dip in a pool or waterfront, make sure your children are within arm’s reach at all times.

Both adults and children should not hold their breath for a prolonged amount of time while swimming, as this can be dangerous.

Inexperienced or non-swimmers should always wear a Coast Guard-approved life jacket while in or around the water.

If an adult or child finds their friend in deep water unexpectedly, their natural reaction may be to jump in the water to try and save them. Even if they are a great swimmer, a panicked person will overpower them, pulling the rescuer underwater. The Y’s Safety Around Water program teaches the “reach, throw, don’t go” concept of using a long object to reach for them, and pull them to safety. By using this technique, an adult or child can help their friend without compromising their own safety.