SWIM LESSONS
Did you know that the Greater Wichita YMCA is the region's leading provider of water and swim education? Our swim lessons - available for members and non-members from six-months to 106-years-old - can improve and enhance water comfort, confidence, and safety for everyone from a first-timer to a competitive, life-long swimmer all under the supervision of certified lifeguard instructors who can provide the right information and support to anyone who wants or needs to learn.
Swimming is not only part of the DNA of the YMCA, it is a great form of exercise, a challenging sport, effective therapy, a valuable life skill, and just plain fun. There’s nowhere better to learn to swim than the Y, either. We've been offering swim lessons and swimming programs since our inception and for well over 100 years locally. Today, the YMCA is the nation's leading swimming teacher - a status we extend to our own served communities in south central Kansas
WHY LEARN TO SWIM AT THE Y?
The Greater Wichita YMCA provides a safe, fun, encouraging environment that helps everyone feel comfortable swimming and learning. When you choose to learn or advance your skills with swim lessons at the Y you can expect:
- LOCATIONS Take swim lessons at nine locations with aquatics centers in Andover, KS, El Dorado, KS, Newton, KS, and Wichita, KS
- OPTIONS Private (1:1), small group, parent/child, and group lessons for all ages and ability levels - with one class, weekly, and academy
- QUALITY STAFF Our swim instructors are certified lifeguards who have taken additional training to qualify to teach swimming in our pools
- GREAT PRICES To empower all swimmers - we offer low rates with discounts for members and income-based pricing for those who qualify
SWIM LESSON CATEGORIES
From beginners to seasoned swimmers, kids and adults will become comfortable around and in the water, develop personal safety, and progress through aquatics skills that focus on body position, control, forward movement, rotary breathing, integrated arm and leg action, swim stroke technique, and all major competitive strokes. They will also learn confidence, overcome fears, and find strengths and abilities they may not have known they had. The YMCA swim system is based on six levels of swimmer that advance from swim basics to swim strokes with progression from one level to the next based on mastery of required skills. For swimmers who may not know their skill level - our instructors will, at the first lesson, do an evaluation to ensure all swimmers are properly challenged.
SWIM STARTERS (:30 Minutes, 1x/Week (4-Week Sessions))
Infants, toddlers, and their participating parents/guardians will get an early start in Water Discovery (6-months to 3-years-old) and Water Exploration (2 to 3-years-old). Both classes, levels A and B of the YMCA swim program, are taught by our certified lifeguard instructors, emphasize water safety, comfort in the water, and play through various activities.
SWIM LESSONS (:45 Minutes, 1x/Week (4-Week Sessions))
Kids ages 3-17 and adults 18-118 can enroll in progressive swim lessons, outlined below, based on a combination of their current age and swim abilities. The Greater Wichita YMCA uses the YMCA swim program for lessons including six levels of swim abilities:
- 1 Water Acclimation - Increases comfort with underwater exploration and introduces basic self-rescue skills performed with assistance
- 2 Water Movement - Encourages forward movement in water and basic self-rescue skills performed independently
- 3 Water Stamina - Develops intermediate self-rescue skills performed at longer distances than in previous stages
- 4 Stroke Introduction - Introduces basic stroke technique in front crawl and back crawl and reinforces water safety through treading water and elementary backstroke
- 5 Stroke Development - Introduces breaststroke and butterfly and reinforces water safety through treading water and sidestroke
- 6 Stroke Mechanics - Refines stroke technique on all major competitive strokes and encourages swimming as part of a healthy lifestyle
To see more information about our swim levels, download this PDF. Not sure where to start your child? Enroll based on age and your best guess for ability and our instructors can verify at the first session.
GET MORE WITH A MEMBERSHIP
Did you know that Greater Wichita YMCA members save on SWIM LESSONS and more? By joining TODAY you'll enjoy benefits including:
- 5 Life-Status based Memberships, all less-than $2/day
- Full access to all 10 of our area branch locations
- Unlimited use of 850+ weekly Group Exercise Classes
- Discounted rates on all other programs and activities
- Access to 2,000+ YMCA locations nationally
Income-based financial assistance is available to those who qualify. Spend less and do more as a YMCA member.
ADDITIONAL SWIM PROGRAMS AND OFFERINGS
In addition to group swim lessons - the Greater Wichita YMCA offers personalized swim opportunities including private/semi-private lessons and more.
PRIVATE / SEMI-PRIVATE LESSONS
For swimmers wanting individualized or smaller-group attention or with specific challenges (fear of water, etc.) we offer private and semi-private (one-on-one to three-to-one ratios) at all branch locations with aquatics centers. Taught by our certified instructors, these sessions can be single-time or on-going and progress based on student need/readiness.
AGES
- 6-months to 118-years-old
LOCATIONS
- Andover, Downtown, East, El Dorado, Newton, North, Northwest, South, and West YMCAs
You can search for and schedule private lessons through our website or you can contact the Aquatics Staff at any branch location to set-up and appointment.
SWIM ACADEMY (:45 Minutes, 2x/Week (8-Months))
For swimmers wanting to develop/advance their skills more-quickly, we offer Swim Academy. Running August-May, swimmers participate in three tiers/levels (based on ability) and master the major swim strokes and develop techniques and strategies for competitive swimming and all participants receive quarterly status/progress reports.
AGES
- 6 to 18-years-old
LOCATIONS
- Andover, East, El Dorado, North, Northwest, and South YMCAs
Online enrollment is not available as an Aquatics Director must approve participation. To enroll - call or visit a location offering Swim Academy and speak with the Aquatics Staff.
COMPETITIVE SWIM TEAM (Practices Vary (Year-Round))
For swimmers who want to apply their swimming training and drive to compete the right way - observing the YMCA's core values of Character, Respect, Responsibility, and Trust, we offer competitive swim teams. Our teams compete at the local, state, regional, and national levels within the Missouri Valley Swimming Association and USA Swimming.
AGES
- 6 to 18-years-old
LOCATIONS
- Andover and Northwest YMCAs
Online enrollment is not available as Coach approval is required. To enroll - call or visit a location offering Swim Team and speak with the Aquatics Staff about scheduling a try-out.
LIFEGUARD CERTIFICATION COURSES
The Greater Wichita YMCA trains, certifies, hires, and employees more lifeguards than any other organization in the area. We need guards for our summer Water Park and camp season as well as for year-round indoor pools, swim lessons, our SPLASH program, open swim, and more. To enroll - you must be 16+ on your first class, have a valid photo I.D. and complete an in-pool physical competency test on your first session. We offer 37-hour courses with a final written exam.
YOUR WELLNESS CONNECTION
The Greater Wichita YMCA offers swim lessons and hundreds of ways to share time pursuing healthy spirit, mind, and body including:
CONNECT WITH OUR APP
Enjoy FREE, 24/7 access to:
- Full Schedules for our 10 Locations
- Check-In and Goal Tracking
- Workout Builders and Trackers
- Support from Staff and Users
- Challenges, Prizes, and Rewards
- Data From Integrated Devices / Apps
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