Aquatics Programs
At the YMCA, we believe everyone should have the opportunity to learn how to swim and feel confident in the water. Our swim lessons are designed for all ages and skill levels, from infants and toddlers gaining water confidence to adults looking to refine their strokes or overcome fear of the water. Led by certified instructors in a safe and supportive environment, our progressive swim programs focus on water safety, skill development, and building confidence. Whether you’re just starting or looking to improve, there’s a place for you in the pool at the Y. Join us and make a splash today!
Swim LessonsLifeguard CoursesPool ScheduleMaster's Swim
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
- Swim, float, swim—sequencing front glide, roll, back float, roll, front glide, and exit
- 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 in stage 1. This stage lays the foundation that allows for a student’s future progress in swimming. |
 | 2 / Water Movement In stage 2, 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 In stage 3, 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 also introduces rhythmic breathing and integrated arm and leg action. |
Swim Strokes
Having mastered the fundamentals, students learn additional water safety skills and build stroke technique, developing skills that prevent chronic disease, increase social-emotional and cognitive well-being, and foster a lifetime of physical activity. | 4 / Stroke Introduction Students in stage 4 develop stroke technique 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 in stage 5 work on stroke technique and learn all major competitive strokes. The emphasis on water safety continues through treading water and sidestroke. |
 | 6 / Stroke Mechanics In stage 6, students refine stroke technique on all major competitive strokes, learn about competitive swimming, and discover how to incorporate swimming into a healthy lifestyle. |
Swim Levels & Programs
ADAPTIVE SWIM
Ages 3-12 | 30 minute classes
The Y’s Adaptive swim programs are designed to give children with disabilities opportunities to participate in swim lessons while focusing on developing both physical and social skills that will last a lifetime. We emphasize each person’s abilities and individuality and specifically design a swim program to foster independence while providing positive recreational and educational experiences for our participants.
WATER SMART IS WATER SAFE
The YMCA is pleased to offer a virtual Safety Around Water program to provide swim and safety tips to fill the educational gaps while our in-person lessons are paused. While the way the Y interacts with the community we serve may look different right now, the goal to help people of all ages and backgrounds be healthy, confident and secure in the water remains the same. We miss seeing you at the Y, but we remain a strong community committed to healthy living, youth development, and social responsibility.
Ages: 6 months – age 3
Parent/Child A: (6 months – 18 months) Parents learn water safety, holds and towing techniques that encourage basic kicking/pulling and water independence for children. Swim diapers must be worn.
Parent/Child B: (19 months – 36 months w/ parent) Toddlers are introduced to submerging, kicking and pulling combinations, floating and swimming without flotation. Swim diapers must be worn for children not potty trained.
Ages: age 3 – age 6
Level 1: This class is for the child who has little or no experience. Increases comfort with underwater exploration and introduces basic self-rescue skills performed with assistance. Please bring goggles to class.
Level 2: Swimmers must swim 5 feet without assistance or flotation and fully submerge their face in the water to enter this class. Encourages forward movement in water and basic self-rescue skills performed independently. Please bring goggles to class.
Level 3: Swimmers must swim 20 feet or about three quarters the width of the pool without flotation to enter this class. Develops intermediate self-rescue skills performed at longer distances than in previous stages. This class will be taught in the deep end of the pool. Please bring goggles to class.
Level 4: Swimmers must be able to proficiently swim the width of the pool on their stomach and back without flotation to enter this class. Introduces basic stroke technique in front crawl and back crawl and reinforces water safety through treading water and elementary backstroke. This class will be taught in the deep end of the pool. Please bring goggles to class.
Ages: age 6+
Level 1/2: This class is for children with little or no experience. It increases their comfort with underwater exploration and introduces basic self-rescue skills performed with assistance. Please bring goggles to class.
Level 3: Swimmers must swim 20 feet or about three-quarters the width of the pool without flotation to enter this class. Develops intermediate self-rescue skills performed at longer distances than in previous stages. This class will be taught in the deep end of the pool. Please bring goggles to class.
Level 4: Swimmers must be able to proficiently swim the width of the pool on their stomach and back without flotation to enter this class. Introduces basic stroke technique in front crawl and back crawl and reinforces water safety through treading water and elementary backstroke. This class will be taught in the deep end of the pool. Please bring goggles to class.
Ages: age 6+
Swimmers must be able to swim the entire length of the pool with proficient front crawl and backstroke and tread water for 1 minute to enter this class. Swimmers are introduced to the four competitive swimming strokes as well as rescue skills and healthy lifestyle habits.
Level 5: Swimmers must be able to proficiently swim the width of the pool on their stomach and back without flotation to enter this class. Introduces basic stroke technique in front crawl and back crawl and reinforces water safety through treading water and elementary backstroke.
Level 6: Swimmers must be able to swim 200 yards continuously with proficient front crawl and backstroke with rudimentary breast stroke, butterfly and tread water for 2 minutes to enter this class. Please bring goggles to class.
Ages: age 17+
Adult Beginner Swim: This is the place to start for adults who don’t have a lot of prior swimming experience. Participants will become more confident in the water and will learn the fundamentals of swimming and aquatic safety.
Adult Stroke Development: Develop basic swim strokes and use swimming as a source of fitness. It is recommended that participants have taken beginner swim lessons before enrolling in stroke development.
Swim Fit (Master’s Swim): This program provides workouts for triathletes and fitness swimmers. This class will aim to meet everyone’s needs. All levels encouraged to participate.
- Classes are 30 minutes in length for both private and semi-private lessons.
- Private lessons are available to both children and adults of all skill levels. Semi-private lessons are available to up to 3 children in a group with similar swimming ability.
- Private Swim Lessons are only available for YMCA of Metro North Members.
- Private swim lessons are not guaranteed; requests are dependent on instructor availability/pool space
Fill out a Private Lessons Request Form
After a request is submitted, the branch aquatics/assistant aquatics director will follow-up by email or phone.
Learn to Dive: (age 6+) Learn to dive in head first and progress to diving off the starting block to the diving board! Participants must be able to swim the length of the pool without aide.
Springboard Diving: (age 7+) Learn the basics of competitive diving. Students will practice approaches forward and back jumps in straight, pike and tuck body positions, and forward and back dives. Participants must be able to pass the deep water test and do a forward dive from the side of the pool.
Advanced Springboard Diving: (age 11+) This class is for divers who have been promoted from the beginner class or high school divers who want to perfect their advanced skills. Instructor recommendation is required.
The YMCA of Metro North Tritons now offer a Dive Team. Learn more!
Learn more about the YMCA of Metro North Tritons Swim and Dive Team!
Babysitting and Junior Lifeguard Program: (ages 11-14) Topics for this combo class will cover first aid, choking, CPR, medical emergencies, diapering, spoon feeding, water safety and more! Digital certification available upon completion of course for both babysitting and junior lifeguarding. Participants must be able to swim 100 yards (4 lengths of the pool) to be eligible for the junior lifeguard component.
Lifeguard Bootcamp: (age 15+) This course will build up your stamina to swim 500 yards, retrieve items from the bottom of the pool, and build your strength for you to assist any size victim. Class format will be both dry land and aquatic training. Minimum requirements for class must be able to swim 25 yards and lift a minimum of 25 lbs.
Red Cross Lifeguard Certification Course: (age 15+) This course offers training for the nationally recognized R.24 Red Cross Lifeguard Certification (Deep Water), which includes CPR Pro/AED and First Aid. While certification is not guaranteed, it will be awarded upon the successful completion of comprehensive physical and written exams. To participate, students must pass a prerequisite swim test at the beginning of the class and be at least 15 years old by the start of the session.
Red Cross Lifeguard Re-Certification: (age 15+) This course offers training for the nationally recognized R.24 Red Cross Lifeguard Recertification, which includes CPR Pro/AED and First Aid. While certification is not guaranteed, it will be awarded upon the successful completion of comprehensive physical and written exams. To participate, students must hold an American Red Cross Lifeguard certificate that is valid or expired for no more than 30 days and they must pass a prerequisite swim test at the beginning of the class.
Red Cross Lifeguarding Instructor Course (age 17+) Trains Lifeguarding instructor candidates to teach American Red Cross Lifeguarding Blended Learning Shallow Water Lifeguarding Aquatic Attraction Lifeguarding Waterpark Skills CPR/AED for Professional Rescuers and Bloodborne Pathogens Training. Prerequisites: Minimum age: 17 years Possess a current Red Cross certificate for Lifeguarding/First Aid/CPR/AED complete the Online Session for the Lifeguarding Instructor course and complete the recourse session. Note: To teach Waterfront Skills Lifeguarding instructors must possess a basic-level Waterfront Skills certificate.
Red Cross LGI/LGIT Review (Recertification) (age 17+) This in-person Instructor review course is the required course for all Lifeguarding Instructors to recertify. During this course Lifeguarding Instructors and Instructor Trainers will participate in an in-water practice and polish skills session in addition to a classroom-based review of Red Cross administrative policies and procedures. Lifeguarding Instructors may also choose to attend a brief “test out” session following this course to gain a basic-level Lifeguarding certification.
Discover Scuba: (age 8 – age 80) Class begins with a brief top side lesson followed by getting in the pool with an experienced instructor. All equipment is provided.
Open Water PADI Certification: (ages 10+) This class will include your entire certification and equipment for pool and open water test. Rental of wet suits available but not needed for pool time. The classroom book needed is “Open Water Diver Manual” and may be purchased individually or from the instructor the first night for an additional fee.
*Classes vary by branch, please contact Jess Murray at jmurray@metronorthymca.org with any questions.
The YMCA of Metro North collaborates with multiple organizations to provide aquatics programs to all members of our community. The YMCA of Metro North is a proud partner of the The USA Swimming Foundation and Step Into Swim.
