Swim Lessons

Learn to Swim

Fall swim lesson registration is opening August 26 for members and September 3 for non-members

Swimming is a life skill, and knowing how to swim makes it possible to safely enjoy pools, water parks and the outdoors. Certified YMCA swim instructors teach quality swim lessons and create a fun and caring learning environment. Students learn fundamental swimming skills while fostering a life-long appreciation for physical activity and fitness through swimming.

View Swim Lesson Calendar

Find the right swim level

Find the right level for your swimmer by answering the questions below. If you get stuck, you also have the option to visit our facility during public swim times for an assessment. (Check the pool schedule for public swim times.)

Has the swimmer participated in swim lessons at the Kelowna Family Y or H2O before?

Yes

View the swimmer's latest report card using their membership number.

Family Y Report Cards

H2O Report Cards

How old is the swimmer?

Number only. Type 0 if younger than 1.

You're ready to register for Parent & Tot! (3 months–3 years)

Introduce your child to the water where they will explore buoyancy (floating on backs and front) and movement (splashing with arms and legs) in a safe environment. As your child grows more comfortable in the water, they can try new movements such as holding on to the wall, kicking feet and blowing bubbles.

Parent and Tot lessons require active parent participation throughout the class, so please come with a bathing suit on and shower with soap and water before entering the pool.

If the swimmer is 14 and has not participated in swimming lessons with us before, we recommend private lessons.

Visit the Kelowna Family Y or H2O Adventure + Fitness Centre to ask about booking private lessons.

Alternatively, you may wait until the swimmer is 15 to enroll in Youth/Adult Group Lessons (Ages 15+).

You're ready to register for Youth/Adult Group Lessons (Ages 15+).

The Beginner 1 level helps participants become more confident in the water by developing the basic building blocks needed for swimming: breath control, buoyancy, flutter kick and water safety.

The Beginner 2 level is designed for youth and adults who are able to comfortably swim 10 metres unassisted and are looking to start perfecting their swim strokes, and increasing endurance.

You may also consider registering for private lessons to benefit from personalized instruction.

Visit the Kelowna Family Y or H2O Adventure + Fitness Centre to ask about booking private lessons.

Can the swimmer put their face in the water when asked?

Yes

You're ready to register for Bobbers.

Fun activities in the water will activate movements that will eventually lead to swimming. By the end, participants will be comfortable having their face in the water, and will have learned basic movements while being supported.

You're ready to register for Otter.

Otter teaches the basics of pool safety, going underwater, and gliding on front and back.

Can the swimmer float without assistance?

Yes

You're ready to register for Floaters.

We introduce floating and gliding, and continue to practice other movements. Through structured activities and play, children will also become comfortable submerging themselves underwater.

Is the swimmer confident in water where they can't touch the bottom?

Yes

happy red gliding cartoon monster with sunglasses

You're ready to register for Gliders.

Children will combine kicking with gliding to learn how to propel themselves through the water.

You're ready to register for Seal.

In this level, your child will further develop the skills of gliding, kicking, and submerging.

Can the swimmer kick on their back and front for 10 metres?

Yes

You're ready to register for Divers.

Children will combine all the skills they have learned so far to swim on their front and back unaided for a distance of 10 metres. They will also learn to jump into and float in deep water unassisted.

a silly green monster with goggles and a yellow otter

You're ready to register for Surfers or Jumpers.

Surfers develops front and back swimming skills—building up to a distance of 15 metres—and explores creative, fun entries.

Jumpers introduces the front crawl, back crawl, and underwater swimming, extending the front swim distance to 25 metres.

You're ready to register for Dolphin.

Dolphin introduces children to swimming on their front, back, and underwater.

Can the swimmer swim for 25 metres (one length) without stopping?

Yes

You're ready to register for Swimmer.

Swimmer introduces front crawl, back crawl, and how to tread water. Children will train to front swim for 25 metres without stopping.

Wow! With all the skills they've learned, your swimmer has surpassed all the levels available to a 6-year-old.

If they wish to continue learning, you may book private lessons by visiting the Kelowna Family Y or H2O Adventure + Fitness Centre and asking at the member services desk.

Alternatively, you may wait until the swimmer is 7 to enroll in Star Levels and Leadership Program (Ages 7+).

Can the swimmer swim with their arms coming out of the water and breathing to the side?

Yes

You're ready to register for Star 1.

Participants will learn to use the whip kick on their back and the egg-beater motion for treading water. We will help them continue to develop front and back crawl technique and endurance. Optional skills include competitive swimming, lifesaving, synchronized swimming, aquatic fitness, and water polo.

Can the swimmer swim on their front or back using their arms and kicking for 50 metres?

Yes

You're ready to register for Star 2.

At this level, we focus on the backstroke and continue to help participants refine their stroke technique and increase their endurance. Optional skills include competitive swimming, lifesaving, synchronized swimming, aquatic fitness, and water polo.

Does the swimmer know more than 2 strokes (front and back) and can they swim 200 metres?

Yes

You're ready to register for Star 3.

Participants focus on the breaststroke and egg-beater motion for treading water while continuing to build endurance in the pool. We will also cover introductory lifesaving concepts. Optional skills include competitive swimming, lifesaving, synchronized swimming, aquatic fitness, and water polo.

Can the swimmer swim 400 metres and submerge 2 metres or more to retrieve an object?

Yes

You're ready to register for Star 4.

Participants focus on the sidestroke and continue learning lifesaving skills. Optional skills include competitive swimming, lifesaving, synchronized swimming, aquatic fitness, and water polo.

Can the swimmer swim 500 metres and have they learned introductory lifesaving skills?

Yes

You're ready to register for Star 5.

Star 5 introduces the butterfly stroke along with lifesaving and first aid elements from the Rookie and Ranger levels of the Canadian Swim Patrol program. Optional skills include advanced strokes, water polo, synchronized swimming, and aquatic fitness.

Can the swimmer swim 600 metres and are they confident with basic rescue techniques?

Yes

You're ready to register for Star 6.

Swimmers will continue to develop lifesaving and first aid skills at the Ranger and Star level of the Canadian Swim Patrol program. They will also begin to learn how to teach others to swim. Optional skills include advanced strokes, water polo, synchronized swimming, and aquatic fitness.

You're ready to register for Star 7/Leadership.

Star 7 is for those with a strong interest in pursuing more advanced certifications to eventually become a lifeguard and/or swim instructor. In addition to first aid and lifesaving skills, participants can choose to learn optional skills, including advanced strokes, water polo, synchronized swimming, and aquatic fitness.

You're ready to register for Star 7/Leadership and/or Junior Lifeguard Club.

Star 7 is for those with a strong interest in pursuing more advanced certifications to eventually become a lifeguard and/or swim instructor. In addition to first aid and lifesaving skills, participants can choose to learn optional skills like advanced strokes, water polo, synchronized swimming, and aquatic fitness.

Junior Lifeguard Club provides a great bridge from star-level programs into advanced aquatic courses such as Bronze Medallion and Bronze Cross. This program will teach swimmers the building blocks of essential lifesaving skills and first aid knowledge and encourage them to build endurance and confidence in the water.

You're ready to register for Star 7/Leadership, join Junior Lifeguard Club, or start gaining certifications to become a lifeguard or swim instructor.

Certification as a lifeguard or swimming instructor can lead to employment opportunities at the Y and elsewhere. You'll also develop leadership skills that can have a profound impact on your future success.

Learn about certifications

Levels and Registration

Learn fun water play together!

Parent and Tot lessons require active parent participation throughout the class, so please come with a bathing suit on and shower with soap and water before entering the pool.

Your preschooler will learn to be confident in the water through fun challenges.

These levels may require parent participation, so please come "prepared to get wet" with a bathing suit on and shower with soap and water before entering the pool area.

Bobbers

We continue to introduce fun activities in the water to activate the movements that will eventually lead to swimming. By the end, your child will be comfortable having their face in the water, and will have learned basic movements while being supported.

Floaters

We introduce floating and gliding, and continue to practice other movements. Through structured activities and play, children will also become comfortable submerging themselves under water.

Gliders

Children will combine kicking with gliding to learn how to propel themselves through the water.

Divers

Children will combine all the skills they have learned so far to swim on their front and back unaided for a distance of 10 metres. Your child will also learn to jump into, and float in, deep water unassisted.

Surfers

We'll continue to help your child develop front and back swimming skills and build up to a distance of 15 metres. And now that your child is comfortable jumping into the water, we'll work on some creative, fun entries.

Jumpers

We'll introduce the front and back crawl as well as underwater swimming. Children at this level will have achieved a foundation of swimming skills and be able to front swim a distance of 25 metres.

These levels teach your child how to stay safe in the water and begin to develop their swimming skills.

Otter

An introductory swimming level that teaches your child the basics of pool safety, going underwater, and gliding on their front and back.

Seal

In this level, your child will further develop the skills of gliding, kicking, and submerging.

Dolphin

Your child will be introduced to swimming on their front, back, and underwater.

Swimmer

Kids learn front and back crawl, and how to tread water. At this level, they will have achieved a solid foundation of swimming skills and be able to front swim for a distance of 25 metres.

H2O Parents: If you are not seeing lessons in your specific level, try looking in the levels above or below for combo courses.

Star Levels 1–4 help children continue to build on skills learned in the Learn to Swim program and introduce other aspects of swimming such as water sports and lifesaving.

Star Levels 5–7 make up the YMCA Star Leadership Program where swimmers develop first aid, lifesaving, and advanced swimming skills. Successful Star 7 participants will be able to seamlessly move into Bronze Star or Bronze Medallion.

Junior lifeguard club provides a great bridge from star level programs into advanced aquatic courses such as Bronze Medallion and Bronze Cross. This program will teach swimmers the building blocks of essential lifesaving skills and first aid knowledge while encouraging them to build endurance and confidence in the water.

Beginner 1

This level is designed for youth and adults who lack confidence in the water.

The instructor will help participants become more confident in the water by helping to develop the basic building blocks needed for swimming. You will start to learn stroke techniques such as breath control, buoyancy, flutter kick, and water safety.

Intermediate

This level is designed for youth and adults who are able to comfortably 10 swim metres unassisted and are looking to start perfecting their swim strokes, such as back/front crawl. Through the lessons, the instructor will help develop foundational swim strokes and endurance.

Frequently Asked Questions- Swim Lessons

Make sure your child slides smoothly into their lesson by staying informed about how to prepare and what to do when you arrive.

View Swim Lesson FAQ

Private Lessons

Private lessons are available to those of any age or skill level who want to benefit from personalized one-on-one or small group swimming instruction. Visit the Kelowna Family Y or H2O Adventure + Fitness Centre to ask about booking private lessons.

Visit us

Lifeguard Certifications

Prepare to save lives as a lifeguard or pass your knowledge on to others as a swim instructor. Graduates of the Star Leadership Program can make a seamless transition into lifesaving courses.

View Courses