Get Confident and Stay Confident in the Water
The YMCA has been America’s leading swim instructor for more than 100 years. Swim Lessons encompass the YMCA’s philosophy of developing the participant’s spirit, mind, and body. Instructors focus on skill development, confidence building, increasing endurance, and instilling a sense of personal safety for each student.
At the Y, we believe that we should be teaching each child in our swim programs to swim at their own level in a fun, safe environment. With learn-to-swim programs available, the Y can help you get comfortable in the water no matter what age you are. The lessons at our YMCAs are for all ages and abilities. They are comfortable, supportive, and judgment-free zones.
Determine Your Student’s Swim Level
Swim Lessons at the Harrisburg Area YMCA group by skill level and age, but your child may need to do a short swimming test to assess their water competency to be placed appropriately. This way, the experience of our students crafts to their specifications, thus assuring the best aquatic experience possible. To assess where your student should start, please refer to the information below:
What age group does the student fall into?
Student Age | Swim Lessons Age Group |
---|---|
6 months to 3 years | Parent*/Child: Stages A-B |
3-5 years | Preschool: Stages 1-4 |
5-12 years | Youth: Stages 1-6 |
12 years & up | Teen/Adult: Stages 1-6 |
All age groups are taught the same skills but are divided according to their developmental milestones.
What stage is the student ready for?
Skill Level | Appropriate Stage |
---|---|
Can the student respond to verbal cues and jump on land? | Not yet → Stage A: Water Discovery |
Is the student comfortable working with an instructor without a parent in the water? | Not yet → Stage B: Water Exploration |
Will the student go underwater voluntarily? | Not yet → Level 1: Water Acclimation |
Can the student do a front and back float on their own? | Not yet → Level 2: Water Movement |
Can the student swim 10-15 yards on their front and back? | Not yet → Level 3: Water Stamina |
Can the student swim 15 yards of front and back crawl? | Not yet → Level 4: Stroke Introduction |
Can the student swim front crawl, back crawl, and breaststroke across the pool? | Not yet → Level 5: Stroke Development |
Can the student swim front crawl, back crawl, and breaststroke across the pool and back? | Not yet → Level 6: Stroke Mechanics |
If you feel that your student has mastered all the levels of YMCA Swim Lessons, we encourage you to explore our pre-competitive and competitive swimming opportunities HERE.
Swim Lesson Sessions
Swim Lessons at the YMCA follow a yearly session schedule. Sessions vary per location, so click below to find out what sessions are available at a branch near you.
East Shore YMCA
The East Shore YMCA offers swim lessons for 6-36 month-olds, 3-5 year-olds, 6-12 year-olds, as well as Adult Lessons and Private Lessons for ages 3 and up. For more information, email the Aquatics Coordinator.
Sessions | 2024 Dates | Member Enrollment | Open Enrollment |
---|---|---|---|
Winter | January 2–February 25, 2024 | December 4 | December 11 |
Spring I | February 26–April 21, 2024 | February 5 | February 12 |
Spring II | April 22–June 16, 2024 | April 1 | April 8 |
Summer | June 17–August 11, 2024 | May 28 | June 3 |
Fall I | August 26–October 20, 2024 | August 5 | August 12 |
Fall II | October 21–December 15, 2024 | September 30 | October 7 |
Friendship YMCA
The Friendship YMCA offers swim lessons for 6-36 month-olds, 3-5 year-olds, 6-12 year-olds, as well as Adult Lessons and Private Lessons for ages 3 and up. Classes meet once a week for 7 weeks; if a holiday occurs when your class is held, the fees will be prorated. For more information, email Bruce Matthews, Aquatics Director.
Sessions | 2024 Dates | Member Enrollment | Open Enrollment |
---|---|---|---|
Winter | January 2–February 25, 2024 | December 4 | December 11 |
Spring I | February 26–April 21, 2024 | February 5 | February 12 |
Spring II | April 22–June 16, 2024 | April 1 | April 8 |
Summer | June 17–August 11, 2024 | May 28 | June 3 |
Fall I | August 26–October 20, 2024 | August 5 | August 12 |
Fall II | October 21–December 15, 2024 | September 30 | October 7 |
Northern Dauphin County YMCA
The Northern Dauphin County YMCA offers swim lessons for 6-36 month-olds, 3-5 year-olds, 6-12 year-olds, as well as Adult Lessons and Private Lessons for ages 3 and up. In addition, we offer Learn to Swim Camp for children ages 5-12 at the Y and local community pools. For more information, email Sidney Gray, Aquatics Director.
Sessions | 2024 Dates | Member Enrollment | Open Enrollment |
---|---|---|---|
Winter | January 2–February 25, 2024 | December 4 | December 11 |
Spring I | February 26–April 21, 2024 | February 5 | February 12 |
Spring II | April 22–June 16, 2024 | April 1 | April 8 |
Summer | June 17–August 11, 2024 | May 28 | June 3 |
Fall I | August 26–October 20, 2024 | August 5 | August 12 |
Fall II | October 21–December 15, 2024 | September 30 | October 7 |
West Shore YMCA
The West Shore YMCA offers swim lessons for 6-36 month-olds, 3-5 year-olds, 6-12 year-olds, as well as Adult Lessons and Private Lessons for ages 3 and up. For more information, email Rachel Beck, Aquatics Director.
Sessions | 2024 Dates | Member Enrollment | Open Enrollment |
---|---|---|---|
Winter | January 2–February 25, 2024 | December 4 | December 11 |
Spring I | February 26–April 21, 2024 | February 5 | February 12 |
Spring II | April 22–June 15, 2024 | April 1 | April 8 |
Summer | June 17–August 11, 2024 | May 28 | June 3 |
Fall I | August 26–October 20, 2024 | August 5 | August 12 |
Fall II | October 21–December 15, 2024 | September 30 | October 7 |
West Shore YMCA: East Pennsboro Residents
CLICK HERE to learn more about programs for East Pennsboro Residents at the West Shore YMCA.
Child Safety
At the Y, child safety and protection is our number one priority. Our goal is to help educate parents and children on how to be safe from child abuse in any environment with the skills they learn at our Y. Our team is trained in comprehensive and innovative practices around child safety to ensure your children are safe in our care.