This season, Sarah Lawrence College is happy to introduce children’s group lessons for our neighbors. All lessons are taught by American Red Cross Water Safety Instructors and follow the American Red Cross "Learn-to-Swim" guidelines.

Each swim level is offered during each session so that siblings of different ages and abilities can take classes during the same timeframe.

Information on the different levels of lessons available is below, and information on registration can be found on the General Information page.

Children’s Group Lessons

Six levels are offered each session. Each level is given as determined by the American Red Cross "Learn-to-Swim" guidelines, which are meant to "teach aquatic and safety skills in a logical progression. The objective is to teach people to swim and to be safe in, on and around the water."

Classes meet on Tuesday afternoons or Saturday mornings for six weeks/section. There are two sections offered each fall and spring semester.

Levels 1 and 2 meet for 30 minutes and for levels 3, 4, 5, and 6, classes are 45 minutes.

Please Note

The only available Sections and Levels are:

Section 4: Levels 5/6
Section 6: Levels 5/6
Section 8: Levels 5/6

We have started a waiting list for those interested in signing up. To be added to the mailing list, please send an e-mail to specialprograms@sarahlawrence.edu with the following information: Child's Name, Parent/s Name(s), Address, Phone Number, E-mail, Child's Age and Birthday, and Preferred Section/s Child's Level.

Level 1: Introduction to Water Skills

Each class is limited to six students taught by one instructor and one swim aide. Students will learn to feel comfortable in the water and to enjoy the water safely. Please note that parents are not in the water with this group.

$130/section
3 years and up

Level 2: Fundamental Aquatic Skills

The class is limited to seven students taught by one instructor and one swim aide. Students will increase their safety and fundamental skills, learn to float on their backs and fronts unsupported, and tread water.

$130/section
4 years and up

Level 3: Stroke Development

There is a class size limit of eight students taught by one instructor and one swim aide. Students will build on the skills learned in Level 2 through additional guided practice, float on front and back and swim unsupported for 15 feet. Additionally, they will learn rhythmic breathing for front crawl, back crawl, kneeling dive, and butterfly kick.

$130/section
Prerequisite: Students must have passed Level 2

Level 4: Stroke Improvement

This class is limited to eight students taught by one instructor. Here, students develop confidence in the strokes learned and to improve other aquatic skills including swimming the front and back crawl for 15 yards with rhythmic breathing, learning how to increase their endurance by swimming longer distances. Students will also learn the breaststroke, elementary backstroke, butterfly, sidestroke, and rotary breathing.

$130/section
Prerequisite: Students must have passed Level 3

Level 5: Stroke Refinement

This class is limited to eight students taught by one instructor. Students will learn further coordination and refinement of strokes and should be able to swim the front crawl for 25 yards, elementary backstroke and breaststroke for 15 yards. They will be taught skills such as the breaststroke, butterfly coordination, sidestroke, and how to improve proficiency in the front and back crawl.

$130/section
Prerequisite: Students must have passed Level 4

Level 6: Swimming and Skill Proficiency

This class is limited to eight students taught by one instructor who will teach how to refine stroke so students swim them with ease, efficiency, power and smoothness over greater distances. In this level, students are given options to prepare students to participate in more advanced courses, such as Water Safety Instructor and Lifeguard Training. Based on the need exhibited in this group of students, instructors will offer further training on Personal Water Safety, Lifeguard Readiness, Fundamentals of Diving, or Fitness Swimming.

$130/section
Prerequisite: Students must have passed Level 5

To register or to learn more, visit the Children's Aquatics Programs General Information page.