Children & Youth Programs

YMCA Parent and Tot swim lessons give you time to play, move, and splash in the pool with your infant, toddler or preschooler. A YMCA Instructor will lead these sessions to ensure you and your child get the most from your time together.

• Splashers: As the first level of the YMCA Parented Swim Lessons, Splashers is a great way to introduce babies 6-18 months old to the water. Parents get in on the fun by participating with their children. At this early stage, children are still learning about their environment. The goal of Splashers is to make children and parents comfortable in the water together and (of course) to learn to splash with arms and legs.
• Bubblers: The second level of the YMCA Parented Swim Lessons, Bubblers, is for children 18 months-less than 3 years old. We work with you to introduce your child to new movements in the water, including holding the wall, kicking feet, and blowing bubbles. Parents get in on the fun by participating with their children. Bubblers is led by a certified YMCA Swim Instructor who knows how to create a fun, stimulating environment for you and your little one, encouraging bonding and skill development in the water.

The YMCA Preschool program will introduce your toddler or preschooler to the basics of swimming. Each level in the Preschool program has been designed with your child’s natural growth and development in mind. There are eight levels in the YMCA Preschool program. YMCA Swim Instructors will ensure that we find the right level for your child.

• Bobbers: As the first level of the YMCA Preschool Swim Lessons, Bobbers is for children who are 3-5 years old who are new to swimming. Children are encouraged to attend without a parent.
• In Bobbers, we’ll continue to introduce fun activities in the water to activate the movements that will eventually lead to swimming. By the end, your child will be comfortable having their face in the water and will have learned basic movements while being supported.
• Floaters: The second level of the YMCA Preschool Swim Lessons, Floater, is for children 3-5 years old who have completed Bobbers or equivalent. In Floaters, we introduce floating and gliding and continue to practice other movements. Through structured activities and play, children will also become comfortable submerging themselves underwater. Children are encouraged to attend independently of their parents.
• Glider: The third level of the YMCA Preschool Swim Lessons, Glider, is for children who are 3-5 years old and have completed Floaters or equivalent. In Gliders, children will combine kicking with gliding to learn how to propel themselves through the water.
• Diver: The fourth level of the YMCA Preschool Swim Lessons, Diver, is for children who are 3-5 years old and have completed Glider or equivalent. In Divers, children will combine all the skills they have learned so far to swim on their front and back unaided for a distance of 10 metres. Your child will also learn to jump into and float in deep water unassisted.
• Surfers: The fifth level of the YMCA Preschool Swim Lessons, Surfers, is for children who are 3-5 years old and have completed Diver or equivalent. In Surfer, we’ll continue to help your child develop front and back swimming skills and build up to a distance of 15 metres. And now that your child is comfortable jumping into the water, we’ll work on some creative and fun entries.
• Jumpers: The sixth and final level of the YMCA Preschool Swim Lessons, Jumper, is for children who are 3-5 years old and have completed Surfers or equivalent. In Jumpers, we’ll introduce the front and back crawl, as well as underwater swimming. Children at this level will have achieved a foundation of swimming skills and be able to front swim a distance of 25 metres.

For those looking for swimming lessons for children 6-12 years old who have mastered basic swimming skills, the YMCA Learn to Swim program is a series of four swimming lessons focused on technique, stroke development and endurance.

During the program, your child will have the opportunity to meet new people and explore other facers of aquatics, like competitive swimming, water sports and aquafit classes.

• Otter: An introductory level for beginner swimmers ages 6-12 years old, Otter will teach your child the basics of pool safety, going underwater, and gliding on their front and back.
• The first of four levels in our national YMCA Learn to Swim program, Otter teaches your child how to stay safe in the water and to develop their swimming skills. During these classes, your child will also select from an optional list of skills to learn during the session. A YMCA Swim Instructor will encourage your child to actively participate in their own learning.
• Seal: Seal is for children 6-12 years old who have completed Otter or who have equivalent skills. In this level, they will further develop the skills of gliding, kicking and submerging.
• The second of four levels in our national YMCA Learn to Swim program, Seal teaches your child how to stay safe in the water and to develop their swimming skills. A YMCA Swim Instructor will encourage the children to build their confidence in the water.
• Dolphin: Dolphin is for children 6-12 years old who have completed Seal or who demonstrate an equivalent skillset. Your child will be introduced to swimming on their front, back and underwater.
• The third of four levels in our national YMCA Learn to Swim program, Dolphin teaches kids how to stay safe in the water and to develop their swimming skills. A YMCA Swim Instructor will be cheering your child on as they complete their first full swim strokes.
• Swimmer: Swimmer is for children 6-12 years old who have completed Dolphin or who have equivalent skills. In this class, kids will learn front and back crawl, and how to tread water.

The last of four levels in our national YMCA Learn to Swim program, Swimmer teaches children how to stay safe in the water and to develop their swimming skills. Children at this level will have achieved a solid foundation of swimming skills and be able to front swim for a distance for 25 metres. A YMCA Swim Instructor will inspire your child to reach their potential in the water.

The YMCA Star Program helps swimmers become leaders! Children who have completed the YMCA Learn to Swim Program or equivalent can develop more advanced skills through the YMCA Star Program.

Children 10 years or older who are competent swimmers can take the YMCA Star Leadership Program to continue to nurture their love of swimming and build towards more advanced aquatics certifications.

Star 1: (equivalent to level 5) Star 1 is for children who have completed the Swimmer level in our Learn to Swim program. In this class, kids will learn to use the whip kick on their back and the eggbeater motion for treading water. We will help your child continue to develop front and back crawl techniques and endurance.

Star 2: (equivalent to level 6) Star 2 is for children who have completed Star 1 or who show an equivalent skill level. At this level, we focus on elementary backstroke and continue to help kids refine their stroke technique and increase their endurance.

Star 3: (equivalent to level 7) Star 3 is for children who have completed Star 2 or who show an equivalent skill level. At this level, your child will focus on the breaststroke and eggbeater motion for treading water, while continuing to build endurance in the pool. We will also introduce young swimmers to introductory lifesaving concepts.

Star 4: (equivalent to level 8) Star 4 is for children who have completed Star 3 or who show an equivalent skill level. At this level, we will help your child focus on the sidestroke and we will continue to introduce lifesaving skills.

Star 5: (equivalent to level 9) Star 5 is for children who have completed Star 4 or who show an equivalent skill level. We will introduce the butterfly stroke along with lifesaving and first aid elements from the Rookie and Ranger levels of the Canadian Swim Patrol Program.

Star 6: (equivalent to level 10) Star 6 is for children who have completed Star 5 or who show an equivalent skill level. Swimmers will continue to develop lifesaving and first aid skills at the Rangers and Star level of the Canadian Swim Patrol Program. They will also begin to learn how to teach others to swim.

Star 6 bridges to the YMCA Swim Instructor and Lifesaving Society’s Bronze programs (depending on age).