STRONG SWIMMERS, SAFE KIDS
Session Fees:
YMCA Members: $55
Community Members: $75
Ready to Register? Follow each step below.
- Determine your child’s ability level and the appropriate Stage for your child by reviewing our Lesson Selector. *Tip - if you are trying to decide between two stages, it’s ALWAYS the best rule of thumb to “round down” to the lower stage. Children learn to swim best in an environment where they feel the most comfortable.
- Register your child online by clicking here and logging in. Users have experienced issues with Safari. Please consider using a different browser. If you are having trouble, email Emily Holder, Aquatics Director at eholder@rmymca.org
- Once you have registered, pack your bags! Your child (& you if you registered your child for Parent/Tot) will need a swimsuit & towel. Feel free to bring goggles and a swim cap, however, they are not required.
- Arrive at the Y dressed and ready to go at least 15 minutes prior to the start of your child’s lesson in order to receive a program participant card if you are not a member.
Stage Descriptions
Click here for the full Lesson Selector. You MUST review this before selecting your child's stage to begin lessons at.
Click here to see full brochure for Fall 2024 - Spring 2025
Swim Starters: Accompanied by a parent, infants and toddlers learn to be comfortable in the water and develop swim readiness skills through fun and confidence-building experiences, while parents learn about water safety, drowning prevention, and the importance of supervision.
- A/Water Discovery: Parents accompany children in stage A, which introduces infants and toddlers to the aquatic environment through exploration and encourages them to enjoy themselves while learning about the water.
- B/Water Exploration: In stage B, parents work with their children to explore body positions, floating, blowing bubbles, and fundamental safety and aquatic skills.
Swim Basics: Students learn personal water safety and achieve basic swimming competency by learning two benchmark skills: (1) Swim, float, swim—sequencing front glide, roll, back float, roll, front glide, and exit (2) Jump, push, turn, grab
- 1/Water Acclimation: Students develop comfort with underwater exploration and learn to safely exit in the event of falling into a body of water. This stage lays the foundation that allows for a student’s future progress in swimming.
- 2/Water Movement: Students focus on body position and control, directional change, and forward movement in the water while also continuing to practice how to safely exit in the event of falling into a body of water.
- 3/Water Stamina: Students learn how to swim to safety from a longer distance than in previous stages in the event of falling into a body of water. This stage introduces rhythmic breathing and integrated arm and leg action.
Swim Strokes: Having mastered the fundamentals, students learn additional water safety skills that prevent chronic disease, increase social-emotional and cognitive well-being, and foster a lifetime of physical activity.
- 4/Stroke Introduction: Students develop stroke techniques 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. The 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.
