YMCA Swim Lessons
Swim lessons are a precious investment. Knowing how to swim can save your life, or even someone else’s.
Our certified YMCA instructors have taught thousands of children and adults to swim through our nationally-accredited swim programs. Our swim lessons provide lifelong skills to help adults and children be safe in and around the water, but there’s more to YMCA swim lessons than learning to swim. We want our students to build confidence in the water, meet new people, and develop a lifelong passion for swimming!
Every session, YMCA members get a free set of group swim lessons—just one of the many benefits of joining the Y.
How to Register
To help secure your spot in your lesson of choice, we strongly recommend logging into your ACTIVENet account before registration day and marking your favourites.
On registration day, it is fastest to register online through ACTIVENet.
Alternatively, you can visit our Welcome Desk in person.
Upcoming Registration Dates:
Session C (February 2 – April 5):
Member: January 27, 2026 at 12:00 PM
Public: January 29, 2026 at 12:00 PM
View the Swim Lesson Schedule to see your options.
Log into your ACTIVENet account before registration day and browse the swim lessons. Click the heart icon next to each lesson to add it to your Wish List. Please ensure you know the correct swim level for your child by checking SwimGen, using our Swim Lesson Level quiz, or emailing aquatics@osgb.ymca.ca.
Step 2: Add Lessons to Cart
On registration day, log into your ACTIVENet account, add the appropriate swim lessons to your cart either from your Wish List or from the Activity List.
View your cart, confirm the proper swim lesson level has been selected for each member, select Finish to submit your request.
YMCA Members: To receive your free lessons you must enter the coupon code (available in ACTIVENet) at checkout.
Find Your Swim Lesson Level
Not sure which swim lesson is right for you or your child? Take our quick Swim Lesson Level Quiz to discover the best fit based on age, comfort, and skill in the water.
Swim Lessons Levels
All YMCA memberships include one set of group swim lessons per session.
Teach your child important water safety skills at a young age. A parent or guardian must be in the pool with the participants. This class mainly takes place in the leisure pool.
Skills covered include:
- water orientation
- front and back tows
- splashing
- blowing bubbles
- games
- safety education for parents
- entries and exits
- kicking
- floats
- using lifejackets
Beginner Levels
These classes can take place in the leisure pool and lane pool to get kids comfortable swimming in both areas. Beginner levels of swim lessons for participants ages 3-5 include Preschool 1: Bobber and Preschool 2: Floater.
- Bobber:
- water entries and exits
- blowing bubbles
- bobs
- kicking
- assisted front and back floats
- Floater:
- basic water safety
- open eyes underwater
- unassisted front and back floats
- swimming with buoyant aids
- introduction to surface support
- introduction to glides
Mid Preschool Levels
Mid level of swim lessons for participants ages 4-6 includes Preschool 3: Glider and Preschool 4: Diver. The child has completed Preschool 2: Floater or an equivalent level prior to enrolling into this class. Your child should be comfortable submerging and opening their eyes underwater and jumping into the pool unassisted.
- Glider:
- introduction to deep water skills (floating unassisted and surface support)
- 5m swim on front and back
- Diver:
- Introduction to diving
- Front, back, and side glides with kick 5 meter
- 10 meter swim on front and back
Higher Preschool Levels
Higher level of swim lessons for participants ages 5-6. Your child has completed Diver.
- Surfer:
- dives
- introduction to over arm recovery
- surface support in deep water
- 15 meter swim on front and back
- Jumper:
- standing dive
- underwater swim
- front crawl introduction
- back crawl introduction
- 25 meter swim on front and back
Beginner Levels
Otter and Seal levels are for children who are not confident in deep water.
- Otter:
- water orientation
- submersion
- front and back floats
- front, back, and side glides
- Seal:
- deep water orientation
- Continuous glide transitions from front to back and back to side
- front, back, and side glides with kick
- diving into deep water
Higher Levels
Dolphin and Swimmer levels are for children who are confident in deeper water. These classes take place in the lane pool.
- Dolphin:
- introduction to front swim and overarm recovery
- introduction to back glide and side glide with arm recovery
- vertical surface support
- front, back, and side glides with kick (10 meters each)
- Swimmer:
- introduction to front crawl
- introduction to back crawl
- surface dives
- back and side glide (25 meters each)
Star Level 1 & 2
Participants are confident in deeper water and can swim two lengths of the pool. Skills covered include:
- front and back crawl coordination
- introduction to whip kick and elementary breaststroke
- breaststroke introduction
- vertical surface support
- Continuous swimming up to 100 meters
Star Levels 3 & 4
Participants are confident in deeper water and can swim two lengths of the pool with effective front and back crawl and whip kick.
Skills covered include:
- elementary back stroke
- front and back crawl advanced level
- eggbeater
- dolphin kick
- breaststroke
- sidestroke
- 150 meter swim
- introduction to Lifesaving Society first aid skills
Star Leadership Level 5
Participants must have successfully completed Star 4. Skills covered include:
- butterfly
- 500 meter endurance swim
- Lifesaving Society Rookie and Ranger Patrol First Aid
- swimming and rescue components
- Introduction to swim instruction
Star Leadership Level 6
Participants must have successfully completed Star 5. Skills covered include:
- 600 meter endurance swim
- Lifesaving Society Swim Patrol First Aid
- swimming and rescue components
- swim instruction continued
- advanced swimming stroke standards
For youth who have never attended regular swimming lessons or are not experienced with water skills. These classes help youth learn the basics with the support of an instructor. Build water confidence and develop safe swimming skills before registering into our regular YMCA Canada swim program.
Youth Introduction 1 (10-14 years)
Skills covered include:
- water comfort
- front crawl and back crawl introduction
- deep water safety
- introduction to treading water
Youth Introduction 2 (15-17 years)
Skills covered include:
- water comfort
- front crawl and back crawl introduction
- deep water safety
- introduction to treading water
Adult Lesson: Beginner
It’s never too late to take the plunge! Learn the basics of swimming with the guidance of an instructor. Gain confidence to swim on your own.
Adult Lesson: Deep/Advance
Refine the strokes of your choice, develop endurance and learn new skills under the direction of an instructor. Swim for fitness, health and wellness! Must be comfortable in deep water.
Work one-on-one with an Instructor to improve strokes or skills that need a little extra practice. All ages are welcome. Bring your most recent swimming report card with you for your lesson. Please specify swimming ability or comfort level at time of registration.
Register through ACTIVE Net. Payment must be made in full at time of registration.
Transitioning Between Swim Lessons
Children who have started but not completed the Preschool program can continue in the Learn-to-Swim program once they are 6 years old. Preschool levels contain similar content to the Learn-to-Swim levels. Content and teaching style are geared towards the age of the participants
Refer to the chart below, along with your child’s report card to determine which level your child should be registered in.
| Level you were registered in | If you were INCOMPLETE, register in | If you were COMPLETE, register in |
|---|---|---|
| Bobbers | Otter | Otter |
| Floaters | Otter | Otter |
| Gliders | Otter | Otter |
| Divers | Otter | Seal |
| Surfers | Seal | Seal |
| Jumper | Seal | Dolphin |
| Lifesaving Society | YMCA |
|---|---|
| Parent & Tot | Splasher (6-18 months) (parented) |
| Parent & Tot | Bubbler (18 months – 3 years) (parented) |
| Preschool 1 | Bobber (3 – 5 years) |
| Preschool 1 | Floater (3 – 5 years) |
| Preschool 2 | Glider |
| Preschool 3 | Diver |
| Preschool 4 | Surfer |
| Preschool 5 | Jumper |
Swim Absences
Please call 519-376-0484 ext. 216 or email aquatics@osgb.ymca.ca if you/your child will be absent from your/their swim lesson.
Pool Policy
The YMCA is a shared experience for everyone to enjoy. Please review our Pool Policy before your visit.
Swim Lesson Progress Cards
Swim lesson progress cards are available online through SwimGen. Have your child’s membership card ready and click the link below to review their swim progress card.
