Learn to Swim
Fall 2025 Learn to Swim Lessons
- Private and semi-private lessons available for any age, 6 months – adult.
- Parent/child lessons available for ages 6 months – 3 years.
- Group lessons available for ages 3 – 14 years.
SESSION 3: November 17 - December 16
| LEVEL 1 (parent/child) |
LEVEL 2 | LEVEL 3 | LEVEL 4 |
| Monday – 5:00 PM | Monday – 6:00 PM | Tuesday – 5:00 PM | Tuesday – 6:00 PM |
NOTE: All lessons are 30 minutes. If minimum registration is not met, small group sessions may be cancelled.
Registration Instructions for Learn to Swim Lessons
Register in-person at the Student Recreation Center Welcome Desk.
Register on a mobile device through the BGSU RecWell app for iPhone or android or online using the MyRec portal: https://myrec.bgsu.edu/
- BGSU Students, Faculty & Staff: When logging in, select ‘BGSU MyRec Login’ and use your BGSU username and password.
- Community Members:
- Select 'Community Members' and login using your assigned username and password.
- If you have not yet been assigned a password, please complete the MyRec Account Request Form. Allow two business days for a personal response with account set up instructions.
Level Information
Designed to help participants achieve maximum success, Learn-to-Swim courses are based on a logical, five-level progression that helps swimmers of varying ages and abilities develop their water safety, survival, and swim skills.
Level 1 is designed for young children with the support and participation of a parent or guardian. Through engaging activities and guided instruction, this class helps children become comfortable in the water and introduces foundational aquatic skills in a safe and fun environment.
Course Prerequisites:
- Must meet age requirements (typically 6 months to 3 years old)
- No prior swim skills necessary
Parent Participation:
One parent or guardian is required to be in the water with each child. Adults play a vital role in keeping children safe. Parents will be asked to hold/support their child while assisting with strokes, games, and skill-building activities.
Focus Areas:
- Water Adjustment and comfort
- Entering and exiting the water safely
- Basic safety skills with parental support
- Introduction to floating, kicking, and breath control
- Learn how to glide and perform a combined stroke
Level 2 is designed for children to begin their first swimming lessons without a parent in the water. With a small group of up to six participants, this class helps kids build independence, trust, and confidence in the water. Instructors guide them through fun and engaging activities to develop basic swim and safety skills.
Course Prerequisites:
- Must meet age requirements (typically 3-5 years old)
- No swim skills necessary
- Child must be comfortable in water and be able to follow directions
Focus Areas:
- Water safety
- Blowing bubbles through mouth and nose
- Going underwater and retrieving objects
- Floating on back with assistance
- Rolling from front to back and back to front
Exit Skills (with assistance)
- Comfortable putting head and eyes underwater
- Swim at least 5 feet with help
- Roll from belly to back and back to belly in the water
- Do a supported back float
Level 3 is developed for swimmers to continue building confidence and skills as they begin swimming short distances with less assistance. This class focuses on improving body position, basic strokes, and underwater comfort. With guided instruction, the kids will become more independent in the water.
Course Prerequisites:
- Comfortable in the water
- Able to follow directions
- Can swim 5 feet with assistance
- Comfortable floating on back and rolling in the water
Focus Areas:
- Swimming at least 5 feet on their belly
- Swimming elementary backstroke at least 5 feet
- Floating on their back and rolling between front and back
- Retrieving objects from shallow water
- Building comfort and independence with basic strokes
- Continuing age-appropriate water safety skills
Exit Skills
Must demonstrate competency to complete the following skills without assistance from an instructor. Students exiting level 3 for level 4 must effectively pass exit skills testing, swim independently, and demonstrate the muscular endurance and maturity necessary to begin stroke development.
- Swim 5 feet independently on belly
- Swim 5 feet using elementary backstroke
- Retrieve submerged objects from shallow water with ease
- Beginner to intermediate breaststroke technique
Level 4 is developed for swimmers to continue to strengthen their skills by swimming longer distances with more confidence and control. This level focuses on refining form and back strokes, building endurance, and becoming comfortable with face-in-the-water swimming.
Course Prerequisites:
- Can swim at least 5 feet on both front and back with confidence
- Can retrieve objects from shallow water
- Comfortable swimming with head in the water
- Able to follow instructions
Focus Areas:
- Swimming longer distances on belly and back with improved technique
- Breathing while swimming with head submerged
- Building endurance and body control in deeper water
- Enhancing comfort and skill underwater
- Practicing water safety and awareness
Exit Skills
- Swim longer distances with strong, confident strokes
- Keep head in the water while swimming
- Show control and safety in deeper areas of the pool
- Improvement in jump and dive techniques
Level 5 is meant for swimmers who are planning to take their skills to the next level. This class focuses on building endurance, refining stroke techniques, and mastering more advanced water skills such as diving and swimming longer distances. Swimmers will gain more confidence in all strokes and continue to improve their stamina in shall and deep water.
Course Prerequisites:
- Must be able to swim 20 yards (or one pool length) with confidence
- Must be able to breathe with head in the water during freestyle and breaststroke
- Must have intermediate skills in backstroke
- Must have beginner to intermediate dive skills
- Must be able to jump, touch, and turn in deep water
Focus Areas:
- Refining freestyle, breaststroke, and backstroke techniques
- Breathing while swimming in all strokes
- Improving endurance and swimming longer distances
- Developing strong diving skills (beginning to intermediate)
- Performing jump, touch, and turn maneuvers in deep water
- Mastering water safety and advanced techniques
Exit Skills
- Perform block or standing dives
- Confidently swim 30-50 yards in freestyle, breaststroke, and backstroke with minimal breaks (or no breaks)
- Swim longer distances with improved stamina and technique
Students must demonstrate competency in all skills presented before advancing to the next level.
Small Group
Five 30-Minute Lessons
Rec Member: $90
Non-Member: $100
Class sizes range between 5-10 swimmers.
Private
Six 30-Minute Lessons
Rec Member: $150
Non-Member: $195
Only offered to ages 3 and up.
Semi-Private
Six 30-Minute Lessons
Rec Member: $110
Non-Member: $145
Only offered to ages 3 and up in groups of 2-3 at the same swimming level. Groups must register together.
Private and Semi-Private Swim Lessons
- Offered to ages 3 and up (including adults of any age).
- Private lessons offer one-on-one instruction, while semi-private lessons include a group of 2 or 3 students of similar swimming levels and abilities. (Group must register together.)
- Complete the form below to request private or semi-private lessons. An Aquatics staff member will follow-up to finalize lesson times and match you with an available instructor.
Patrons or guests with disabilities are requested to indicate if special services, assistance, or appropriate modifications are needed to fully participate. Contact Accessibility Services at access@bgsu.edu or 419.372.8495 prior to the program or event
Patron requested refunds may be subject to a $25.00 administrative fee. Check payments returned for any reason are subject to a $30 service charge.
Updated: 11/19/2025 02:47PM