athletic swim lessons

If you’re looking for a thoughtful, low-pressure way to introduce your toddler to the water, our new program, Water Buddies: Adult & Tot Swim, is designed just for that.

Water Buddies is a gentle, engaging swim class for little ones ages 12–24 months and their grown-ups. Through guided play and movement, children build comfort and confidence in the water while developing early skills in a safe, supportive environment.

Classes are led by Margo Duvall, who will guide both child and participating adult through water acclimation, comfort, and safety. Children will practice breath control, buoyancy, balance, and overall ease in aquatic environments. Grown-ups will learn how to reinforce these skills at the pool, the lake, or even during bath time. Age-appropriate developmental milestones will be explained so families know what to expect and how to work toward them together.

Members $67.20 | Non-members $104.80

Maximum of 5 adult-tot pairs

Introduction to Water Skills

Designed for children who are new to the water and learning basic comfort and safety.

Level 1 Skills Your Swimmer Will Master:

• Comfortably participates in and around the water
• Fully submerges body and head and blows bubbles
• Independently grabs the wall and exits the pool unassisted
• Floats on back, performs pop-up breathing, and holds a streamlined position with assistance
• Performs beginner freestyle arm movements and a flutter kick (with kickboard or bar)
• Jumps into the pool unassisted
• Swims halfway across the pool with assistance
• Retrieves a toy from the bottom of the pool with assistance
• Demonstrates basic water safety knowledge, including five pool rules and recognizing lifeguards

Fundamental Aquatic Skills

Designed for children who are comfortable in the water and ready to swim independently. This level is a fit if your child if they have successfully completed Level 1 lessons or can perform those skills.

Level 2 Skills Your Swimmer Will Master:

• Treads water independently for 10 seconds
• Swims halfway across the pool independently
• Maintains a streamlined body position in the water
• Floats on back without assistance
• Rolls onto back to breathe during freestyle
• Swims with head in the water to the flags
• Performs a backstroke kick in streamline or with a kickboard
• Practices rotary breathing with assistance
• Retrieves toys from the bottom of the shallow end independently
• Demonstrates water safety skills, including “Reach or Throw, Don’t Go” and calling for help

Stroke Improvement

Designed for swimmers refining technique and learning additional strokes. This level builds strength, coordination, and endurance while introducing breaststroke and butterfly fundamentals. Swimmers also practice underwater skills and advanced safety concepts. This level is a fit if your child if they have successfully completed Level 2 lessons or can perform those skills.

Level 3 Skills Your Swimmer Will Master:

• Breathes to the side during freestyle independently
• Enters the pool, swims halfway across, and exits the pool unassisted
• Swims freestyle halfway across the pool unassisted
• Swims beginner backstroke halfway across the pool
• Retrieves 3–4 toys from the bottom of the pool independently
• Performs beginner breaststroke kick and arm movements
• Demonstrates water safety awareness, including “look before you leap” and not hanging on other swimmers

Designed for strong swimmers preparing for competitive or team swimming. This level focuses on endurance, efficiency, and race-ready skills. Swimmers practice all four strokes, learn proper turns, and develop lane awareness. This level is a fit for yout child if they have successfully completed Level 3 lessons or can perform those skills.

Swim Team Prep Skills Your Swimmer Will Master:

Etiquette & Pool Awareness

• Understands lane distances (25 yards, 50 yards, etc.) and circle swimming

Freestyle

• Swims 25 yards of freestyle continuously

• Performs kick work with a kickboard in all four strokes

• Demonstrates small, straight kicks with a horizontal body position and eyes looking down

Backstroke

• Maintains head back with hips up

• Kicks from the hips with straight legs (not knees)

• Uses straight arm recovery with pinky entering first

Breaststroke

• Performs correct arm sequence (I, Y, Scoop, Shoot)

• Performs kick sequence (up, out, together)

• Breathes every stroke

Butterfly

• Performs dolphin kick drills with arms at sides

• Completes 2-2-2 butterfly arm drill

• Kicks with a board with knees and ankles together

• Maintains underwater streamline with dolphin kick