There is a reason why the YMCA is referred to as America’s Favorite Swim Instructor. In Y classes, not only are you taught in a caring way how to swim, but you also learn about yourself, about safety and rescue skills, and about water activities you can enjoy for a lifetime.

A variety of class times and types is available to meet your family’s needs: mornings, afternoons, evenings, and weekends. Class size is determined by considering safety factors and participants’ ages, making sure classes don’t get too big to be comfortable for the students and the instructors.

Class fees vary depending on the group you/your child is registered for. Preschool $35/$75 for 30 minute classes and Youth $45/$85 for 45 minutes classes. Scholarships are available to those with limited incomes. Call Pauletta Meyer at (812) 934-6006 to receive more details.

There are other swim programs available such as Private lessons, Family Private lessons, Adult lessons, and Mommy & Me swim classes. Check out our Member Newsletter or call/stop-in for more information on other programs.

Preschool Progressive Swim Levels

(Ages 3-5 and potty trained)

30 minute classes

Pike           (Preschool beginner level)

Children develop safe pool behavior, adjust to the water wand develop independent movement in the water.  Three Basic paddle strokes, kicking skills, face-in-water, and blowing bubbles are some of the skills developed.    

Eel         (preschool advanced beginner level)

The advanced beginner reinforces Pike skills and teaches the flutter kick, floating, diving, and the    progressive paddle stroke.  Children can swim across the pool with assistance by the end of this level.

Ray/Starfish          (preschool advanced levels)

At these levels children improve stoke skills, and build endurance by swimming on their front and back.  Skills also include treading water and performing more progressive diving skills.  Children can swim across the pool on their front, back and side without assistance by the end of this level.

Polliwog (Youth beginner level)  

This is the beginning level for school age children. This class gets children acquainted with the pool, use of flotation devices, and front/back floating. By the end of this level they should know the front, back, and side paddle strokes.

Guppy (Youth advanced beginner level)  

Children continue to practice and build upon basic skills without the aid of a flotation device. They are introduced to lead-up strokes, freestyle, backstroke, sidestroke, breast stroke, and elementary backstroke.

Minnow (Youth intermediate level)  

At this intermediate level, children refine the lead-up stroke they have learned. Skills become more like those normally used in swimming.

Fish/Flying Fish/Shark/ Porpoise    (Youth beginning advanced and advanced levels)  

Student work to perform the Freestyle, elementary backstroke, backstroke, and sidestroke with turns. They are introduced to the butterfly stroke in Fish and Flying Fish levels. At the advanced levels (Shark and Porpoise) students work to refine strokes and increase endurance. They are introduced to starts and turns as well as more advanced personal safety and rescue skills.

Mommy & Me Swim (30 minute classes)

The Mommy & Me Swim classes are a water enrichment program. This program is designed to help young children discover the world of water with the comfort and support of their parent with them while in the water. Parents will be given safety advice from the instructor. The instructor will also be teaching the parents who to teach their children who to learn basic swimming skills.

Adult Group Swim Lessons (45 minute classes)

Adults who wish to overcome their fears of the water will also have the opportunity to work in a group setting of their peers. The instructor will work individually with each swimmer to help them set reachable goals, this always leaves the swimmer feeling as they have made a great accomplishment. Adults are taught the same basic skills as what is taught in our progressive swim lessons.

Private Swim Lessons (45 minute classes)

In a private swim lesson setting, the instructor can focus more on skills an individual needs to improve on rather than focusing on a group of individuals. We can work on our Progressive Swim Lessons curriculum or we can work on the skills suggested by the families. Private lessons works great for children and adults. This has proven to be a wonderful aid for children interested in Swim Team.

Family Private Lessons (45 minute classes)

Family private lessons allows children from the same household to come to a private lesson together. The instructor assigned to the lesson will be able to work with each individual child at their own skill level.