For more information, please call us at (707) 545-9622, extension 3124, or email swimlessons@scfymca.org.
June Session
JUNE SESSION BEGINS JUNE 2ND
SESSION I : June 2nd-June 12th
SESSION II : June 16th-26th
SAT : June 7th-28th
SUN : June 8th-29th
REGISTRATION OPENS AT 9AM, MAY 19th
Facility Members: Monday, May 19th
Program Members: Tuesday, May 20th
Non-Members: Wednesday, May 21st
Registration closes on Friday, May 30th, 2025.
July Session
JULY SESSION BEGINS JULY 7TH
SESSION I : July 7th-17th
SESSION II : July 21st-31st
SAT : July 12th-26th
SUN : July 13th-27th
REGISTRATION OPENS AT 9AM JUNE 23rd
Facility Members: Monday, June 23rd
Program Members: Tuesday, June 24th
Non-Members: Wednesday, June 25th
Registration closes on Thursday, July 3rd, 2025
Fun, with a splash of confidence!
For more than 160 years, the YMCA has nurtured potential and united communities across America to create lasting, meaningful change. Everything the Y does is in service of building a better us. One of the most effective ways to accomplish this is to teach youth, teens, and adults to swim, so they can stay safe around water and learn the skills they need to make swimming a lifelong pursuit for staying healthy.
Y swim instructors are nationally certified. Their training includes CPR, AED, First Aid, and Oxygen Administration.
Swim lessons provide important life skills that could save a life and will benefit students for a lifetime.
The Y Swim Lesson Program focuses on 5 key components consisting of personal safety, personal growth, stroke development, water sports and games, and rescue components. Participants are taught in a non-competitive environment. Each child will progress at his or her own pace.
Because each level builds on skills taught in previous levels, it is important to place your child in the correct level. It is also important not to progress the child to the next level until he or she is physically and mentally ready and can perform the skills at his or her current level proficiently. Some levels are more difficult than others and may take several sessions to learn all the skills necessary to move to the next level.
If currently enrolled, the participant will receive a progress report from the instructor the week prior to registration, informing the participant if he/she must repeat the level or if he/she may move to the next level.
Registration Procedure
You may sign up online or in person at designated times.
Classes must be paid in full at the time of registration.
Priority registration is given to YMCA Members.
Requests for refunds or credits must be submitted at least 72 hours before the swim class is to begin.
An appeal to this policy due to exceptional circumstances only will be considered by the Aquatics Director.
All refunds will incur a $10 processing fee.
Class transfers will incur a $5 processing fee.
Swim Lesson Procedure & Guidelines
Classes must be paid in full at the time of registration.
Online registration is available by visiting our website.
Priority registration is given to YMCA Facility Members.
Requests for refunds or credits must be submitted at least 72 hours before the swim class is to begin. All refunds will incur a processing fee (Minimum $10). All class transfers/credits will incur a $5 processing fee. Credits must be used within (1) year of the date of approval.
All swim participants must shower in the locker room prior to entering the pool.
Participants may not enter the water until the instructor announces that the lesson has begun, and must exit once the lesson is complete.
Wear a standard bathing suit; cut-offs and t-shirts are not allowed in the pool.
Bring a towel and a lock.
For the safety of all, obey all posted pool rules.
Due to the limited pool deck space, please view lessons taught in the large pool through the observation window in the lobby.
If the child is under 3 years of age or is not toilet-trained, he/she must wear an approved swim diaper.
Adults experiencing incontinence will need to wear an approved swim diaper.
Every day, children learn the basics of swimming at the Y or enhance their skills with our progressive lessons that turn beginners into experts. Our kids are having fun, being healthy, learning safety, and building confidence all at the same time! The Y ensures a low instructor-to-student ratio to make sure your kids get plenty of personal attention, and with our wide selection of classes and schedules, you’re sure to find one that fits your child’s needs and your schedule.
Swim Starters Aquatic Program
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. We define parents broadly to include all adults with primary responsibility for raising children, including biological parents, adoptive parents, guardians, step-parents, or any type of parenting relationship.
A / Water Discovery: Introduces infants and toddlers to the aquatic environment.
B / Water Exploration: Focuses on exploring body positions, blowing bubbles, and fundamental safety and aquatic skills.
Swim Basics for Preschool, School Age, Teen, and Adult:
Students learn personal water safety and achieve basic swimming competency by learning two benchmark skills: swim, float, swim and jump, turn, grab.
In Water Acclimation, Water Movement, and Water Stamina, students are taught the recommended skills for all to have around water including safe water habits, underwater exploration, and how to swim to safety and exit in the event of falling into a body of water. Activities, games, and drills, geared to reinforce learning, are utilized heavily as students progress in this skill-based approach to swimming.
Stage Descriptions:
1 / Water Acclimation: Increases comfort with underwater exploration and introduces basic self-rescue skills performed with assistance.
2 / Water Movement: Encourages forward movement in the water and basic self-rescue skills performed independently.
3 / Water Stamina: Develops intermediate self-rescue skills performed at longer distances than in previous stages.
Swim Strokes for Preschool, School Age, Teen, and Adult:
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.
In Stroke Introduction, Stroke Development and Stroke Mechanics, swimmers are introduced to the four competitive swimming strokes as well as rescue skills, and healthy lifestyle habits.
Stage Descriptions
4 / Stroke Introduction: Introduces basic stroke technique in front crawl and back crawl and reinforces water safety through treading water and elementary backstroke.
5 / Stroke Development: Introduces breast-stroke and butterfly and reinforces water safety through treading water and sidestroke.
6 / Stroke Mechanics: Refines stroke technique on all major competitive strokes and encourages swimming as part of a healthy lifestyle.
Looking to request a refund for swim lessons?
Private Lessons:
Group swim lessons are not for everyone. Whether your child learns better in a one-on-one environment, or you prefer the convenience of planning their lessons around a busy schedule, we can accommodate you. Private Swim Lessons at the Sonoma County Family YMCA are a great way to improve confidence or stroke. Instructors will work with you one on one to develop a plan to meet your swimming goals. Private lessons are great for children who thrive with individual attention, teens, and adults who are first learning to swim, or anyone looking to perfect their stroke. To book your private lesson, please reach out to our Aquatics Department at swimlessons@scfymca.org.
Session packages rates:
- 4 sessions/30 minutes $128/$148/$168 (facility/program/non-member rates)
- 8 sessions/30 minutes $256/$296/$336 (facility/program/non-member rates)
Semi-Private Lessons:
Our ratio for semi-private lessons is 2 participants to a single instructor. A smaller group setting encourages faster learning of swim skills along with cooperation and teamwork. With only two participants the instructor is able to focus more on their individual needs and help them improve at a faster rate. To book your semi-private lesson, please reach out to our Aquatics Department at swimlessons@scfymca.org.
Session packages rates:
- 4 sessions/30 minutes $168/$188/$208 (facility/program/non-member rates)
- 8 sessions/30 minutes $336/$376/$416 (facility/program/non-member rates)