For youth ages 6-12.
Level 1: Students develop comfort with underwater exploration and learn to safely exit in the event of falling into a body of water.
Qualifications - None
Level 2: In this class, children are taught skills that focus on buoyancy and movement in the water while also learning how to safely exit in the event of fall into a body of water.
Qualifications to be in this level: (1) able to go underwater and comfortably open eyes without goggles, (2) able to float on front and back with minimal assistance, (3) able to jump in the pool, submerge and return to the wall with assistance.
Level 3: In this class, children focus on swimming longer distances. In the event of falling into a body of water, children learn how to swim to safety.
Qualifications to be in this level: (1) able to float on front and back unassisted, (2) able to push off wall on stomach with face submerged for 10 feet unassisted, (3) able to Swim-Float-Swim 15 feet unassisted, (4) able to jump into deep water and return to the wall unassisted.
Level 4: In this class, children continue to work on their swimming stroke technique and all the major competitive strokes are introduced.
Qualifications to be in this level: (1) able to submerge and retrieve an object in chest deep water, (2) able to swim front crawl 15 yards while taking a breath, (3) able to Swim-Float-Swim 15 yards, (4) able to jump in and tread water for 30 seconds, (5) able to swim to wall and exit.
Level 5: In this class, children continue to work on their swimming stroke technique and all the major swim strokes are introduced.
Qualifications to be in this level: (1) able to front crawl and back crawl 25 yards, (2) able to swim breaststroke kick and dolphin kick 15 yards, (3) able to tread water using multiple kicks for 1 minute.
Level 6: In this class, children continue to work on their swimming stroke technique and all major competitive strokes are introduced.
Qualifications to be in this level: (1) able to swim front crawl with bent arm recovery and rotary breathing for 25 yards, (2) able to swim back crawl with stroke rotation for 25 yards, (3) able to swim butterfly with overarm recovery, (4) able to swim breaststroke for 25 yards achieving stroke rhythm, (5) able to dive from a kneeling position.
Porpoise Club (ages 11-15): This club is for youth who have completed the YMCA swim levels 1-6 (ages 11–15). This class will enhance their existing skills and teach them more including: Lifesaving skills, personal safety and personal growth, competitive skills, snorkeling/skin diving, water sports, and volunteering opportunities.