Life Skills That Start in the Water
Our YMCA Swim Lesson programs promote children’s health and safety while encouraging parent participation in teaching valuable life skills. Through a progressive approach, swimmers build confidence and ability step-by-step—from basic water safety and comfort to stroke development and advanced technique. YMCA Swim Lessons emphasize positive values, giving children the opportunity to practice them while promoting growth in self-esteem and self-worth. From the very first splash to competitive stroke refinement, we have a class for every age and every ability level.
Find the Right Program
Our swim lesson programs are designed for all ages and abilities — from infants and toddlers in the water for the first time to experienced swimmers building advanced stroke technique. Each level builds on the last, creating confident, capable swimmers for life.
Parent* & Child
Swim Starters (Ages 6 months–3 years)
Accompanied by an adult, infants and toddlers learn to be comfortable in the water and develop swim readiness skills through fun, confidence-building experiences — while parents learn about water safety, drowning prevention, and the importance of supervision around water.
Stage A: Water Discovery (Ages 6 months–1 year)
Skills include blowing bubbles, front and back tow with assistance, water entry and exit, front and back float with assistance, and roll with assistance.
Stage B: Water Exploration (Ages 1–2 years)
Same foundational skills with increasing independence. Water Discovery and Water Exploration classes may be taught together.
Stage C: Water Independence (Ages 2–3 years)
Skills include independent submersion, front and back float and glide with assistance, assisted roll, and jump in with assistance. Child must be able to stand in the shallow end at 2’6″.
*We define parent broadly to include all adults with primary responsibility for raising children, including biological parents, adoptive parents, guardians, stepparents, grandparents, or any other type of parenting relationship.
Preschool
Swim Basics & Swim Strokes (Ages 3–5 years)
Recommended skills for all to have around water. Students learn personal water safety and achieve basic swimming competency by learning two benchmark skills: Swim-Float-Swim and Jump, Push, Turn, Grab.
Stage 1: Water Acclimation
Develop comfort with underwater exploration, while learning to safely exit in the event of falling in water. Swimmers will begin building foundational skills such as floating independently and moving through the water with the support of a flotation.
Stage 2: Water Movement
Focus on developing proper body position and control in the water through glides, coordinate arm and leg actions, and transition from front to back.
Stage 3: Water Stamina
Learn to swim to safety from a longer distance; introduction to rhythmic breathing; integrated arm and leg action on front and back; introduction to deep water.
Stage 4: Stroke Introduction
Stroke technique in front crawl and back crawl; breaststroke kick and butterfly kick; treading water; elementary backstroke.
School Age
Swim Basics & Swim Strokes (Ages 6–12 years)
Students begin by mastering the fundamentals, then learn additional water safety skills and build stroke technique — developing skills that prevent chronic disease, increase social-emotional and cognitive well-being, and foster a lifetime of physical activity.
Stage 1: Water Acclimation
Develop comfort with underwater exploration, while learning to safely exit in the event of falling in water. Swimmers will build foundational skills such as floating, moving through the water with a flotation, and transitioning from front to back using the swim-float-swim sequence.
Stage 2: Water Movement
Focus on developing proper body position and control in the water through glides, coordinate arm and leg actions, use the swim-float-swim sequence and navigate deep water.
Stage 3: Water Stamina
Learn to swim to safety from a longer distance; introduction to rhythmic breathing; integrated arm and leg action on front and back; build confidence in deep water.
Stage 4: Stroke Introduction
Front crawl and back crawl technique; breaststroke kick; treading water; elementary backstroke.
Stage 5: Stroke Development
Develop stroke technique in front crawl, back crawl and breaststroke; treading water; learn dolphin and scissors kicks.
Stage 6: Stroke Mechanics
Refine technique on all major competitive strokes; sidestroke; introduction to competitive swimming; swimming as a healthy lifestyle.
Swim Specialty
Swimmers who love the water and want further instruction for future aquatics activities enjoy participating in our Specialty Programs — focused on leadership, competition, and recreation.
Competition
Aquatic Conditioning & Swim Team 101: Learn more about competitive swimming.
Leadership
Discover Lifeguarding and Rescue Ready Programs: Start learning the skills needed to become a lifeguard.
Recreation
Endurance Sports & Games: Try advanced water activities including snorkeling, rescue, and lifeguard skills.
Diving
Participants build confidence, strength, and technique while learning safe and proper diving skills in a supportive, coach-led environment.
Individualized
Private Lessons, Small Group Lessons, Special Needs Private Lessons, Super Swims, Swim Boosters, Homeschool Lessons
These swim programs are designed to meet each swimmer’s and family’s unique needs.
Not Sure Which Class Is Right?
Our aquatics staff is here to help you find the class that best suits you or your child. Please email us to learn more or visit the Member Service desk of any YMCA of the Fox Cities locations.
Swim Lesson Contacts
Appleton YMCA - Leah Leonard, Aquatics Director
Fox West YMCA - Mark Helminski, Aquatics Director
Heart of the Valley YMCA - Erin Brennan, Aquatics Director
Neenah-Menasha YMCA - Angie Kennedy, Aquatics Director
Why Y Swim Lessons?
Every YMCA swim lesson is designed to help swimmers of all ages grow stronger, safer, and more confident in the water.
Water Safety First
Every level of Y swim lessons is grounded in personal water safety skills. We teach children how to be safe in and around water from their very first class.
Structured Progression
Our lesson stages are carefully designed so each skill builds on the last. Children advance when they’re ready – building true confidence in the water.
Positive Values
YMCA Swim Lessons reinforce the Y’s core values of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility. Kids don’t just learn to swim — they grow as individuals.
Built for Every Swimmer
With classes for every age and ability, the Y partners with families to help children build confidence and water safety skills at every stage.