Group Swim Lessons 
Group swim lessons are taught by trained instructors, and teach people to have fun in the water while staying safe, creating an environment where all can come together to learn, grow, and thrive. Registration is available online for those who have visited the YMCA. You may access your online account using an email the Y has on file or the phone number of the primary user on your account. Please call or stop by if you are new to the Y or need assistance.
Benton Harbor-St. Joseph Lesson Schedule Niles-Buchanan Lesson Schedule
Pricing
| 5-Week Lessons 30-Minute |
5-Week Lessons 45-Minute |
| Summer I Session Member: $72 Community: $144 |
Summer I Session Member: $83 Community: $165 |
| Summer I Session June 8-July 19, 2025 Registration opens May 26 |
Summer II Session July 20-August 23, 2025 Registration opens July 7 |
Levels
| A / WATER DISCOVERY This class is instructor-led and requires an adult to accompany the child during the class. This class introduces infants and toddlers to the pool through exploration and play. Parents work with their children to explore body positions, floating, blowing bubbles, fundamental safety, and aquatic skills. | B / WATER EXPLORATION In stage B, parents work with their children to explore body positions, floating, blowing bubbles, and fundamental safety and aquatic skills. |
| 1 / WATER ACCLIMATION This class is designed for students who are beginners to teach them how to put their faces in the water and be comfortable in and around the pool. Students in this class will wear floatation devices. Students learn through play how to put their faces in the water, blow bubbles, kick, move independently with their floatation device, pool safety, and exit the pool. | 2 / WATER MOVEMENT This class is designed for students who are already comfortable in the water, can put their face in the water, and move independently in the water with their floatation device. Students in this class will wear a floatation device but will be working to become independent without it. This class will focus on body position and control, front floats, back floats, moving to front crawl, and backstroke. |
| 3 / WATER STAMINA This class is designed for students who are able to swim independently without a floatation device. This class will work on front crawl, backstroke, treading water, increasing swimming distance, and endurance. | 4 / STROKE INTRODUCTION This class is designed for students who are comfortable submerging in the water. This class focuses on floating, gliding, introducing front crawl, rotary breathing, backstroke, and treading water. |
| 5 / STROKE DEVELOPMENT Students in stage 5 work on stroke technique and learn all major competitive strokes. The emphasis on water safety continues through treading water and sidestroke. | 6 / STROKE MECHANICS This class is designed to refine stroke technique of front crawl and backstroke and introduce dolphin kick and breaststroke. Students will be working on rotary breathing, building endurance to increase swim distance, and working on diving. Swimmers must be able to swim at least one length of the pool to be in this class. |
