Swim Lessons & Aquatics

The Rochester YMCA offers swimming lessons and group classes for kids and adults of all levels. Enjoy year-round access to our indoor lap pool, leisure pool, whirlpool, water slide and other features. Outside of lessons, YMCA members can participate in open swim, lap swim, swim team and group water aerobics. Join today!

Schedules

Swim Lesson registration for Minnesota Y locations has been closed for Session 1 due to guidelines in Minnesota Governor Walz’s Executive Order on January 6, 2021. Physical distancing requirements reduce our pool capacity. Hudson, WI YMCA swim lesson registration remains open.

Swim Lessons

A natural progression promotes safe and effective swimming for all ages—from infants learning to love the water to advanced swimmers perfecting their strokes. If you need help registering more than one child for lessons, download the Swim Lessons schedule or Contact an Aquatics Manager.

Swim Starters

In this program, infants and toddlers learn to be comfortable in the water and develop swim-readiness skills through fun and confidence-building experiences. Parents learn about water safety, drowning prevention and the importance of supervision.

Swim Basics

In this program, preschoolers, school-age kids, teens and adults learn personal water safety and achieve basic swimming competency by learning two benchmark skills—swim, float, swim and jump, push, turn, grab.

Swim Strokes

Having mastered the fundamentals, preschoolers, school-age kids, teens and adults learn additional water safety skills and build stroke technique.

Choosing a level

The student isn’t three years old yet.

Register for Parent & Child

The student is three to five years old.

Register for Preschool

The student is at least five years old, and isn’t yet able to swim 10-15 yards on their front and back. 

Register for Swim Basics

The student is at least five years old, and is able to swim 10-15 yards on their front and back. 

Register for Swim Strokes

If you’re not sure which lesson to sign up for, review the Lesson Selector.

Private and Semi-Private Swim Lessons

Customized 30-minute swimming lessons can be scheduled one-on-one, with a buddy or sibling and are a great option for swimmers of all ages looking to catch up or get ahead. Available in one-, three- or seven-lesson packages and can begin at any time. Contact an Aquatics Manager to schedule.

Certifications and training

Gain the skills and knowledge you need to provide care and act in an emergency through lifeguard training, CPR training, first aid training or babysitting safety training.

Group Exercise classes in the pool

Members can attend a variety of free fitness classes, including water exercise. There’s no need to register—you’re welcome to drop in at any time. See class schedule.

Open and lap swim

See pool schedule. Before enjoying the pools and water features in the aquatic center, please review our swim test policy and pool guidelines.