Swim Lessons

Improving swimming skills to individual highest potential and increasing awareness of safety in all aspects.

The YMCA Swim Lessons Program has two main components: Parent/Child & Preschool Aquatic Program and Youth & Adult Aquatic Program. The first is for children under the age of 5 with the option of parent and child or children 3-5 with an instructor; the second is for children ages 6-14, as well as classes for adults and adults with disabilities.

The Parent Child/Preschool Program has 2 levels: shrimp (children 6 months-3 years with a parent) and Parent and Pike (a more advanced class to prepare for Pike, ages 2-5). Within these levels, they learn water orientation and adjustment skills. The second five levels are for children ages 3 through 5, and within those levels, they learn beginning swimming skills, safety skills and stroke development. The Youth Program has 7 levels, each one building on the one before it.The ages range from 6-14, within these lessons we cover our five major components for swim lessons.

There are five components to the YMCA Swim Lesson Program:

• Personal Safety, includes rules and safety tips, floating, treading, use of personal floatation devices (PFDs), boating safety, and health and safety.
• Personal Growth, includes character development and personal growth opportunities.
• Stroke Development, includes water orientation and adjustment skills (Parent/Child) and major swimming strokes.
• Water Sports and Games, includes synchronized swimming, water polo/wetball and competitive swimming.
• Rescue, includes recognizing emergencies and getting help, non-swimming rescues, and first aid.

After going through the 7 levels in our Youth Program we encourage participants to join our Irving Park Penguin Swim Team and compete against other YMCA’s in the Chicagoland.

We are revitalizing our Adult Program this fall by breaking down the classes to three levels: Adult Beginner, Adult Intermediate, and Adult Advanced (Stroke Mechanics). The Adult classes are structured around your goals. Within each level water orientation, stroke development and basic safety skills are taught. The advanced class is geared towards lap swimmers and tri-athletes; the class teaches the mechanics of each stroke and how to break down every stroke and become a more effeicient swimmer. Along with our Adult lessons we offer fitness classes in the water for adults. We have Water Fitness, Twinges in the Hinges, and new in the fall Water Dance.

What makes our programs different? The goal of the YMCA swim lesson program is to develop the whole person — spiritually, mentally and physically. Our teaching methods focus primarily on student-centered learning, increasing awareness of safety in all aspects, and assisting participants in perfecting skills to the best of their ability. The goal is to create a life-long interest in aquatic activities and promote a healthy lifestyle. All instructors are YMCA Swim Instructor (YSI) and ARC CPR/AED and First Aid certified.