Find Your Element. Find Your Y.
Water is everywhere in the Pacific Northwest, especially with Whatcom County being home to many lakes, rivers, bays, and creeks. The Y is here to help you develop the swim skills you need to be safe, confident, and at home wherever you encounter water!
Knowing how to swim and be water-safe is a crucial life skill everyone should have. Swim lessons help kids, teens, and adults of all ages and abilities find joy in swimming and develop a lifelong love of water with a healthy appreciation for water safety.
Swim lessons at the Y are conducted under the careful supervision of certified lifeguards, ensuring the safety of every participant. Moreover, our highly trained swim instructors hold national certifications in instruction, CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation), AED (Automated External Defibrillator), and First Aid, ensuring they are well-equipped to handle any situation.
Swim Lesson Information at a Glance
Group Lessons
General:
All lessons are 30 minutes long.
One group session of lessons consists of eight 30 minute lessons.
No make up days are offered for missed classes.
Placement:
Ensure your child is in the correct swim level based on their abilities. Students in a class that is too challenging will be placed in a lower level that may be full.
Contact David, Aquatics Director, for assistance: 360 255 0637 or dmillican@whatcomymca.org.
Class Minimum:
A minimum of 3 students is required for a class to run.
Cost:
Members: $70
Non-Members: $100
Private Lessons
Private Lessons:
3 Lessons (30 minutes each):
Members: $150
Non-Members: $180
6 Lessons (30 minutes each):
Members: $270
Non-Members: $300
Contact for Private Lessons:
Jess Redberg, Aquatics Lead, for assistance: 360 255 0637 or jredberg@whatcomymca.org
FIND THE RIGHT SWIM LESSON
Bellingham Y Lessons
Sudden Valley Lessons
Regency Park Lessons
Stage A: Water Discovery/Stage B: Water Exploration
This stage introduces infants and toddlers to the aquatic environment through exploring body positions, blowing bubbles, and fundamental safety and aquatic skills.
Bellingham YMCA
Stage A/BSudden Valley*
Stage A/B*
Stage 1: Water Acclimation
This stage increases students’ comfort with underwater exploration and introduces basic self-rescue skills performed with assistance.
Stage 2: Water Movement
In this stage, students focus on forward movement in water and basic self-rescue skills performed independently.
Stage 3: Water Stamina
This stage develops intermediate self-rescue skills performed at longer distances than in previous stages.
Stage 4: Stroke Introduction
This stage introduces basic stroke technique in front crawl and back crawl and reinforces water safety through treading water and elementary backstroke.
Stage 5: Stroke Development
This stage introduces breaststroke and butterfly and reinforces water safety through treading water and sidestroke.
Bellingham
Stage 5 Registration (School Age)Sudden Valley*
Stage 5/6 Registration (School Age)*
Stage 6: Stroke Mechanics
This stage refines stroke technique on all major competitive strokes and encourages swimming as part of a healthy lifestyle.
Bellingham
Stage 6 Registration (School Age)Sudden Valley*
Stage 5/6 Registration (School Age)*
Teen & Adult
General classes for anyone over the age of 13.
*Please note, the lessons marked with (*) are open to Sudden Valley residents. If not a resident, you must pay additional Sudden Valley fees per month. Please see Sudden Valley’s website for more information.
**Please note, the lessons marked with (**) are open ONLY to current Regency Park residents. To receive the program use the discount code REGENCYPARK at checkout. If not a resident, please visit us online to find more lessons available in your area.
BE WATER READY
Whatcom Family YMCA's Free Safety Around Water Program
Safety Around Water consists of eight lessons designed to teach kids water safety skills that help reduce the risk of drowning and build their skills and confidence in and around water. A typical session includes:
- Exercises to help kids adjust to being in the water
- Instruction in two skill sets kids can use if they unexpectedly find themselves in the water: Jump, Push, Turn, Grab and Swim, Float, Swim.
- Safety topics like what to do if you see someone in the water who needs help
- Fun activities that reinforce skills