Group Swim Lessons at Harrison Family YMCA

Learning to swim is an essential life skill, and the swim lessons at Harrison Family YMCA in Rocky Mount, NC provide a safe, supportive environment for swimmers of all ages and skill levels. Our group lessons focus on water safety, stroke development, and building confidence in the water. Whether you're just starting or looking to refine your technique, our experienced instructors are here to help.

Why Choose YMCA Swim Lessons?

At Harrison Family YMCA, we are committed to making swimming accessible and enjoyable for everyone. Our structured swim programs follow a progressive curriculum designed to ensure students learn at their own pace while developing crucial water skills.

- Certified instructors trained in water safety and skill development.
- Small class sizes for personalized attention and effective learning.
- Progressive levels to accommodate beginners to advanced swimmers.
- Focus on safety with essential water survival skills included in every lesson.

Swim Lesson Programs

Our swim lessons are designed to meet the needs of different age groups and skill levels. Each program builds upon foundational skills, ensuring a smooth transition as swimmers progress.

Swim Starters: Accompanied by a parent, infants and toddlers learn to be comfortable in the water and develop swim readiness skills through fun and confidence-building experiences, while parents learn about water safety, drowning prevention, and the importance of supervision.

• A/Water Discovery: Parents accompany children in stage A, which introduces infants and toddlers to the aquatic environment through exploration and encourages them to enjoy themselves while learning about the water.
• B/Water Exploration: In stage B, parents work with their children to explore body positions, floating, blowing bubbles, and fundamental safety and aquatic skills.

Swim Basics: Students learn personal water safety and achieve basic swimming competency by learning two benchmark skills: (1) Swim, float, swim—sequencing front glide, roll, back float, roll, front glide, and exit (2) Jump, push, turn, grab

• 1/Water Acclimation: Students develop comfort with underwater exploration and learn to safely exit in the event of falling into a body of water. This stage lays the foundation that allows for a student’s future progress in swimming.
• 2/Water Movement: Students focus on body position and control, directional change, and forward movement in the water while also continuing to practice how to safely exit in the event of falling into a body of water.
• 3/Water Stamina: Students learn how to swim to safety from a longer distance than in previous stages in the event of falling into a body of water. This stage introduces rhythmic breathing and integrated arm and leg action.

Swim Strokes: Having mastered the fundamentals, students learn additional water safety skills that prevent chronic disease, increase social-emotional and cognitive well-being, and foster a lifetime of physical activity.

• 4/Stroke Introduction: Students develop stroke techniques in front crawl and back crawl and learn the breaststroke kick and butterfly kick. Water safety is reinforced through treading water and elementary backstroke.
• 5/Stroke Development: Students work on stroke technique and learn all major competitive strokes. The emphasis on water safety continues through treading water and the sidestroke.
   

Class Structure & Scheduling

Session Fees: 
YMCA Members: $55
Community Members: $75

1. Determine your child’s ability level and the appropriate Stage for your child by reviewing our Lesson Selector. *Tip - if you are trying to decide between two stages, it’s ALWAYS the best rule of thumb to “round down” to the lower stage. Children learn to swim best in an environment where they feel the most comfortable.
2. Register your child online by clicking here and logging in. Users have experienced issues with Safari. Please consider using a different browser. If you are having trouble, email Megan Polnow, Aquatics Director at mpolnow@rmymca.org
3. Once you have registered, pack your bags! Your child (& you if you registered your child for Parent/Tot) will need a swimsuit & towel. Feel free to bring goggles and a swim cap, however, they are not required.
4. Arrive at the Y dressed and ready to go at least 15 minutes prior to the start of your child’s lesson in order to receive a program participant card if you are not a member.

Register for Swim Lessons

Give yourself or your child the lifelong gift of swimming. Enroll in our swim lessons in Nash, Edgecombe today!

Join us in the water and experience the joy of learning to swim at Harrison Family YMCA. 

Register Now