Overview

With our indoor pool, lessons are available year-round, preparing your child for a safe summer on our Alexandria area lakes. For 15 years, the Y has been our community's trusted place to create strong, confident swimmers. Build your child's confidence and water safety skills at the Alexandria Area YMCA. Our experienced instructors use a safety-first approach, allowing children to learn and progress at their own comfortable pace. Teaching children how to swim can significantly reduce their risk of drowning and give them the skills they need to enjoy the water safely.

Additional Information

Group Swim Lessons

Our next session of group lessons begins on January 5th. YMCA Group Swim Lessons use a progressive, skill-based approach that supports every swimmer's development. We offer lessons for both preschool and school-age children, with small class sizes that provide personalized instruction and allow each participant to build confidence and learn at their own pace.

Private Swim Lessons

• One-on-One Lessons for Ages 3 to 14
• Private swim lessons are available year-round for those who want to work on advanced skills or learn basic skills with one-on-one attention.
• Participants work at their own pace and set lesson times according to their schedule.

Level Descriptions & Prerequisites

• Parent & Child Aquatics: Ages 6 months - 3 years. Children must wear a swim diaper. Builds basic water skills for both parents and children, helping infants and young children ages 6 months to about 3 years become comfortable in the water, so they are willing and ready to learn to swim. These basic skills include adjusting to the water environment, showing comfort while maintaining a front or back position in the water, and demonstrating breath control, including blowing bubbles or voluntarily submerging under water.
• Preschool Aquatics Level 1: Ages 3 - 5 years. Prerequisites: Child must be able to stand in the shallow end of the pool (depth = 2 feet 6 inches). Children must wear a swim diaper if not toilet-trained. Introduces children to the water by focusing on basic aquatic skills, safety practices, and building comfort in the pool.
• Preschool Aquatics Level 2: Ages 3 - 5 years. Prerequisites: Successful completion of Preschool Aquatics Level 1. Builds on the foundation from Level 1 by encouraging children to perform skills more independently and with greater control.
• Preschool Aquatics Level 3: Ages 3 - 5 years. Prerequisites: Successful completion of Preschool Aquatics Level 2. Must be school age (6 years old) to move to Learn to Swim Levels. After completing all Preschool Aquatics levels, swimmers should enroll in Learn-to-Swim Level 2. Focuses on building proficiency and confidence in skills learned from earlier levels.
• Learn-to-Swim Level 1: Intro to Water Skills: Ages 6 - 12 years. Prerequisites: for children who are not yet able/comfortable submerging underwater. Introduces participants to the water through basic aquatic skills, safety practices, and developing comfort and confidence.
• Learn-to-Swim Level 2: Fundamentals of Aquatics Skills: Ages 6 - 12 years. Prerequisites: successful completion of learn-to-swim level 1. Focuses on building confidence with fundamental skills while introducing true independent movement in the water.
• Learn-to-Swim Level 3: Stroke Development: Ages 6 - 12 years. Prerequisites: successful completion of learn-to-swim level 2. Must be able to float on front and back independently for 10 seconds to enroll. Builds greater proficiency and endurance through guided practice of previously learned skills.
• Learn-to-Swim Level 4: Stroke Improvement: Ages 6 - 12 years. Prerequisites: successful completion of learn-to-swim level 3. Must be able to swim front crawl and elementary backstroke independently 15 yards to enroll. Focuses on improving technique, endurance, and stroke proficiency.
• Learn-to-Swim Level 5: Stroke Refinement: Ages 6 - 12 years. Prerequisites: successful completion of learn-to-swim level 4. Must be able to swim front crawl and back crawl for 25 yards to enroll. Focuses on refining technique and building endurance across all six strokes: front crawl, back crawl, butterfly, breaststroke, elementary backstroke, and sidestroke.
• Learn-to-Swim Level 6: Fitness Swimmer: Beginning January 2026. Ages 6 - 12 years. Prerequisites: successful completion of learn-to-swim level 5. Must be able to swim front crawl and elementary backstroke for 50 yards to enroll. Builds endurance and refines front crawl, back crawl, elementary backstroke, butterfly, and sidestroke. Introduces butterfly and breaststroke turns, feet-first surface dive, retrieval of objects from deep water, and personal water safety.

Key Features

• Small Class Sizes: Classes are limited to six swimmers so your child can receive individual attention.
• Progressive Skill Development: We use a step-by-step approach to build skills gradually, ensuring that each child progresses at their own pace.
• Fun and Engaging Activities: Our instructors use creative and engaging activities to keep children motivated and excited about swimming.

Benefits

• Lifelong Safety Skills: Teaching children how to swim isn't just about the early years—it's a skill they will carry with them for life. By learning proper techniques and safety habits early, kids grow into confident swimmers who can protect themselves and others in and around water.
• Physical & Mental Health Benefits: Swimming is not only a life-saving skill but also a great full-body workout. It improves cardiovascular health, muscle strength, coordination, and endurance. Additionally, swim lessons help children develop discipline, focus, and self-esteem—skills that benefit them beyond the pool.

Special Programs

The Safety Around Water program equips Alexandria Area kids with the tools they need to be confident in and around water for FREE. Along with free swim lessons for 7 to 9-year-olds, this week long event will include door prizes, water safety gym games, and more!

Membership Benefits

YMCA members get free access to the aquatics center, discounts on swim lessons, and free water group exercise classes!

Contact Information

Contact Shayna Asuncion at [email protected] or (320) 834-9622.