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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:

FIND THE RIGHT SWIM LESSON

Tuesday/Thursday Lesson Sessions

  •  January 7th - January 30th (8)
  •  February 4th - February 27th (8)
  •  March 4th - March 27th (8)
  •  April 1st - April 24th (8)
  •  May 27th - June 19th (8)
  •  June 24th - July 17th (8)
  •  July 24th - July 17th (8)
  •  July 22nd - August 14th (8)
  •  August 19th - September 11th (8)
  •  September 16th - October 9th (8)
  •  October 14th - November 6th (8)
  •  November 11th - December 4th (7) *No lesson on November 27th

Structure
➢ 9:00am - 9:30am Preschool A/B
➢ 9:30am - 10:00am Preschool Level 1
➢ 4:30pm - 5:00pm Preschool A/B, Youth Level 1&2
➢ 5:00pm - 5:30pm Preschool A/B, Youth Level 1&3
➢ 5:30pm - 6:00pm Preschool Level 1, Youth Level 2&3
➢ 6:00pm - 6:30pm Preschool Level 1, Youth Level 4&5
➢ 6:30pm - 7:00pm Preschool Level 2, Youth Level 6, Teen/Adult

Wednesday Lesson Sessions

  •  January 8th - February 26th (8)
  •  March 5th - April 23rd (8)
  •  May 28th - July 16th (8)
  •  July 23rd - September 10th (8)
  •  September 17th - November 5th (8)
  •  November 12th - December 17th (6) *No lessons on December 24th or 31st

Structure
➢ 5:30pm - 6:00pm Preschool A/B, Youth Level 1
➢ 6:00pm - 6:30pm Preschool Level 1, Youth Level 2
➢ 6:30pm - 7:00pm Preschool Level 2, Youth Level 3

Saturday Lesson Sessions

  •  January 11th - March 1st (8)
  •  March 8th - April 26th (8)
  •  May 24th - July 12th (8)
  •  July 19th - September 6th (8)
  •  September 13th - November 1st (8)
  •  November 8th - December 20th (7) *No lesson on December 27th

Structure
➢ 10:00am - 10:30am Preschool A/B
➢ 10:30am - 11:00am Preschool A/B, Youth Level 1&2
➢ 11:00am - 11:30am Preschool Level 1, Youth Level 1&2
➢ 11:30am - 12:00pm Preschool Level 1, Youth Level 3&4
➢ 12:00pm - 12:30pm Preschool Level 2&4, Youth Level 5
➢ 12:30pm - 1:00pm Preschool Level 3, Youth Level 6, Teen/Adult

 

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/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.

 

Stage 6: Stroke Mechanics

This stage refines stroke technique on all major competitive strokes and encourages swimming as part of a healthy lifestyle.

 

Teen & Adult

General classes for anyone over the age of 13.

Bellingham

Teen & Adult


 

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

Learn more and register for free by clicking here!