Swim Lessons

Schedule a Lesson
Group Swim Lessons 

COVID-19 Swim Lesson Overview 

(February 18, 2021) Our American Red Cross Learn-to-Swim program is designed to help guests of all ages and ability levels become safe and proficient in the water, and designed to ensure social distancing during COVID-19 Phases. Swim lessons during COVID-19 at the Mount Rainier Pool include the following changes:

  • FACEMASKS AND SOCIAL DISTANCING:
    • Parents and students are required to wear a facemask until entering water (Bucket will be provided at every station for safe placement of masks while swimming).
      • Parents have the option to keep facemasks on while in water.
      • Limit one parent spectator per student.
    • Students (and parents) will maintain a distance of 6 feet apart at all times.
    • Instructors will wear facemasks and facesheilds while teaching.
    • Instructors will teach from the deck and maintain a distance of 6 ft from each student.
    • Each student will have a dedicated station with all materials being used for the day, a bucket for holding facemask and a place to hold clothes and towels.
  • CLASS STRUCTURE AND OCCUPANCY:
    • Each class will have a max of 3 students, level 2 and under will have a parent in the water with student.
    • Classes will be spread out so as not to encounter each other.
  • ENTRY AND TIMING OF CLASSES:
    • Students will be let into the facility up to 5 minutes before classes begin.
    • Temperature Checks and COVID Waiver must be completed on entry of facility.
    • Students will arrive on deck to remove clothing and prepare to get into water.
    • Classes will have a 15-minute sanitizing and organizing time between them.
    • See section below for exact class times.
  • SHOWERING AND LOCKERROOMS:
    • All students/parents entering water must arrive already showered and changed into swimsuits.
    • All swimmers must leave without showering, exiting through the locker rooms without changing preferred. 

Tuesday and Thursday Evenings, 4:30-7:15pm – NEW!

Class Dates

Current Student Registration

New Student Registration

March 2-March 25 (7 Lessons)

**No Class March 16.

 Tuesday, February 23* Thursday, February 25*
April To Be Determined*** To Be Determined***
May To Be Determined*** To Be Determined***
June To Be Determined*** To Be Determined***

 * Phone registration opens at 1:00pm each day and in-person registration opens at 4:00pm.

**No Class March 16  due to Mount Rainier High School Meets.

***MRP staff will use each session to better evaluate future lessons.

Tuesday and Thursday (March) Class Times -NEW!

Class

4:30-5:00pm Pre-Level 1/2 Combined* Level 3
5:15-5:45pm Level 1* Level 4
6:00-6:30pm Pre-Level 3* Level 6
6:45-7:15pm Level 2* Level 5

*Pre-Levels and Levels 2 and below require a parent to be in the water with the student.

Class Pricing

Class Dates

Parent & Child

All Other Classes
8-session Class $47 ($60 NR) $64 ($78 NR)
*7-session Class $41 ($53 NR) $56 ($68 NR)

NR = Non-Resident. Residents of Des Moines and Normandy Park receive discount for helping subsidize pool operations.

Scholarships

Scholarships are available for all swim lessons. Scholarships must be completed and approved before you register for swim lessons. For more information on scholarships, click here.

Future Classes

Our next set of classes will be public posted the week before the end of the previous session. For updates, please sign-up for our email notification system at www.mtrainierpool.com.

Private & Semi-Private Lessons

Private Lessons are one-on-one classes for anyone! – Each class is one session with no set curriculum, but conducted according to the goals and current abilities of the student. Semi-private lessons are also available for two or more students of similar ability who wish to participate together in a private class.

Private Lessons are scheduled in one-class sessions at various times throughout each week.

Semi-Private Lessons are also available for groups with two or more students who wish to participate in the same privately instructed class. Semi-private Lessons are priced per student for each class session.

Private Lesson (one student) $ 26 Residents*/$36 Non-Residents

Semi-Private Lesson (two or more students; price per student:)

$ 14 Residents*/$20 Non-Residents (Per Participant)

For more information,  please call Lauryne Bartlett, Aquatics Coordinator at: 206.824.4722, stop by the pool!

15 + 15 =

Swim Levels 
Parent & Child: Ages 6 m - 3 years
For each of our Parent & Child classes, our instructors follow a plan to introduce new swimming and water safety skills that are developmentally appropriate for infants and young children. It is important to understand that Parent and Child Aquatics is not designed to teach children to become good swimmers or even to survive in the water on their own. In Parent and Child Aquatics, great experiences and fun activities are provided to teach infants and young children to:

  • Enter and exit the water safety
  • Feel comfortable in the water
  • Submerge and explore breath control
  •  Explore floating on the back and front
  • Change body position in the water
  • Play safely in the water
  • Experience wearing a life jacket

Parents, you also learn!:

  • How to hold and support your child in the water
  • How to select and fit a life jacket for your child
  •  Valuable water safety information to make your family safe in and around the water

Once infants or young children are able to comfortably perform the skills in Level 1, they should progress to Parent & Child Aquatics Level 2. It is common for infants or young children to participate in several sessions of Level 1 before moving on to Level 2. That is okay! It is not important how quickly they move through a level, but that they acquire each skill. 

Preschool Aquatics Level 1: Ages 4 - 6 years
What happens in Preschool Aquatics Level 1? For each level of Preschool Aquatics, our instructors follow a plan to introduce new swimming and water safety skills that are developmentally appropriate for young children. Preschool Aquatics puts the “fun” in fundamentals. Each class is loaded with enjoyable, engaging and challenging activities that motivate children to want to perform and learn to swim. In Preschool Aquatics Level1, your child is introduced to basic skills. These skills lay the foundation for future skilldevelopment of swimming strokes. Certain milestones are necessary for successful completion of Level 1, including: 

  • Entering the water independently using the ladder, steps, or side and travel at least 5 yards.
  • Submerging mouth and blowing bubbles for at least 3 seconds.
  • Exiting the water safely.
  • Gliding on front for at least 2 body lengths.
  • Rolling to back and floating for 3 seconds.
  • Recovering to a vertical position.

It is quite common for children to participate in several sessions of Level 1 before they are able to successfully demonstrate all the skills. That’s okay! It is not important how quickly they move through a level, but that they acquire each skill.

Preschool Aquatics Level 2: Ages 4 -6 years
In Preschool Aquatics Level 2, our instructors follow a plan to introduce new swimming and water safety skills that are developmentally appropriate for young children. Preschool Aquatics puts the “fun” in fundamentals. Each class is loaded with enjoyable, engaging and challenging activities that motivate children to want to perform and learn to swim.

Some of the milestones in Level 2 include:

  •  Gliding on front at least 2 body lengths.
  • Rolling to back, floating on back for 15 seconds then recovering to a vertical position.
  • Gliding on back for at least 2 body lengths.
  •  Rolling to front, floating for 5 seconds then recovering to a vertical position.
  • Swimming using combined arm and leg actions on front for 3 body lengths.
  • Rolling to back, floating for 15 seconds, rolling to front then continuing to swim on front for 3 body lengths.

It is quite common for children to participate in several sessions of Preschool Aquatics
Level 2 before they are able to successfully demonstrate all the skills. That’s okay! It is
not important how quickly they move through a level, but that they acquire each skill.

Preschool Aquatics level 3: Ages 4 - 6 years
In Preschool Aquatics Level 3, our instructors follow a plan to introduce new swimming and water safety skills that are developmentally appropriate for young children. Preschool Aquatics puts the “fun” in fundamentals. Each class is loaded with enjoyable, engaging and challenging activities that motivate children to want to perform and learn to swim. Some of the milestones in Level 3 include:

  • Stepping from the side into chest-deep water.
  • Moving into a front float for 15 seconds, swimming on front and/or back for 5 body lengths.
  • Moving into a back float for 15 seconds, rolling to front then recovering to a vertical position.
  • Pushing off and swimming using combined arm and leg actions on front and/or back for 5 body lengths.
  • Rolling to back, floating for 15 seconds, rolling to front then continuing to swim for 5 body lengths.

It is quite common for children to participate in several sessions of Level 3 before they are able to successfully demonstrate all the skills. That’s okay! It is not important how quickly they move through a level, but that they acquire each skill.

Learn-to-Swim Level 1: Ages 7-14 years
For every level of Learn-to-Swim, our instructors follow a plan to introduce new swimming and water safety skills and build on previously learned skills. Each class is loaded with fun, engaging and challenging activities that motivate children to want to perform and learn to swim.

In Learn to Swim Level 1 – Introduction to Water Skills, your child is introduced to basic skills as the foundation for future skills. Certain milestones are necessary for successful completion of Learn to Swim Level 1, including:

  • Entering the water independently using ladder, steps, or side
  • Traveling at least 5 yards, bobbing 5 times, then safely exiting the water
  • Gliding on front supported at least 2 body lengths
  • Rolling to a back float for 5 seconds with support
  • Recovering to a vertical position with support

It is common for children to participate in several sessions of Learn to Swim Level 1 before they successfully demonstrate each skill. That is okay! It is not important how quickly they move through a level, but that they acquire each skill.

Learn-to-Swim Level 2: 7 - 14 years
In Learn-to-Swim Level 2 – Aquatic Skills builds on skills learned in Level 1. Our instructors follow a plan to introduce new swimming and water safety skills and build on previously learned skills. Each class is loaded with fun, engaging and challenging activities that motivate children to want to perform and learn to swim. Some of the milestones that are necessary for successful completion of Level 2 include:

  • Stepping from the side into chest-deep water.
  • Moving into a front float for 15 seconds, swimming on front and/or back for 5 body lengths, then safely exiting the water.
  • Moving into a back float for 15 seconds, rolling to front then recovering to a vertical position.
  • Pushing off and swimming using combined arm and leg actions on front for 5 body lengths, rolling to back and float for 15 seconds, then roll to the front then continue swimming for 5 body lengths.

It is common for children to participate in several sessions of Learn to Swim Level 2 before they successfully demonstrate each skill. That is okay! It is not important how quickly they move through a level, but that they acquire each skill.

Learn-to-Swim Level 3: Ages 7 - 14 years
In Learn-to-Swim Level 3 – Stroke Development, our instructors follow a plan to introduce new swimming and water safety skills and build on previously learned skills. Each class is loaded with fun, engaging and challenging activities that motivate children to want to perform and learn to swim. Some of the milestones in Learn to Swim Level 3 include:

  • Jumping into deep water from the side.
  • Swimming the front crawl and/or elementary backstroke for 25 yards.
  • Maintaining position by treading or floating for 1 minute.
  • Swimming front crawl for 15 yards and swimming elementary backstroke for 15 yards.

It is common for children to participate in several sessions of Learn to Swim Level 3 before they successfully demonstrate each skill. That is okay! It is not important how quickly they move through a level, but that they acquire each skill.

Learn-to-Swim Level 4: Ages 7-14 years
In Learn-to-Swim Level 4 – Stroke Improvement, our instructors follow a plan to introduce new swimming and water safety skills and build on previously learned skills. Each class is loaded with fun, engaging and challenging activities that motivate children to want to perform and learn to swim. Some of the milestones in Level 4 include:

  • Swimming the front crawl for 25 yards.
  • Swimming the elementary backstroke for 25 yards.
  • Swimming the breaststroke for 15 yards.
  • Swimming the back crawl for 15 yards.
  • Swimming 3-5 body lengths underwater without hyperventilating.
  • Open turns on the front and back.

It is common for children to participate in several sessions of Learn to Swim Level 4 before they successfully demonstrate each skill. That is okay! It is not important how quickly they move through a level, but that they acquire each skill.

Learn-to-Swim Level 5: Ages 7-14 years
In Learn-to-Swim Level 5 – Stroke Refinement, our instructors follow a plan to introduce new swimming and water safety skills and to build on ones previously learned. The expectations are higher for participants now in regards to distance and quality. Each class is loaded with engaging and challenging activities and drills to build endurance and improve technique. Some of the milestones in Learn to Swim Level 5 include:

  • Performing a shallow-angle dive into deep water.
  • Swimming the front crawl for 50 yards.
  • Swimming elementary backstroke for 50 yards.
  • Swimming the breaststroke for 25 yards.
  • Swimming the back crawl for 25 yards.

It is common for students to participate in several sessions of Learn to Swim Level 5 before they successfully demonstrate each skill. That is okay! It is not important how quickly they move through a level, but that they acquire each skill.

Learn-to-Swim Level 6: Ages 7 - 14 years
As in all the other levels, in Learn-to-Swim Level 6 – Personal Water Safety and Fitness Swimmer, our instructors follow a plan to refine swimming and water safety skills that were taught throughout the levels. The expectations are quite high in regards to distance and quality. Additionally, in Level 6, you learn more complex safety skills that may help you survive in an emergency. Some of the skills include:

  • Swimming 500 yards continuously using any 3 strokes of choice, swimming at least 50 yards of each stroke.
  • Jumping into deep water and performing a survival float for 5 minutes and a back float for 5 minutes.
  • Performing a surface dive, retrieving an object from the bottom of the pool at a depth of 7-10 feet, returning to the surface and returning to the starting point.

It is common for children to participate in several sessions of Learn to Swim Level 6 before they successfully demonstrate each skill. That is okay! It is not important how quickly they move through a level, but that they acquire each skill. Once participant complete Learn-to-Swim Level 6 they may want to continue with Learn to Swim Level 6 to further refine their strokes or are eligible to participate in our Competitive Swimming class. Participants that are 11-14 years of age are also eligible to participate in our Aquatic Volunteer Academy, which is the first step to becoming a volunteer junior lifeguard and swim lesson instructor aide.

Adult Swim Lessons: Ages 15 +
Adult Swim Training is offered as a two-part course for beginners and intermediate swimmers. This is a course specifically designed for adults who wish to learn and improve swimming technique and proficiency.

Beginner Swimmers will learn fundamental swimming techniques and how to be comfortable in water. They will use kickboards and other equipment to augment skills as they progress, and for practicing skills, such as alternating kicking and stroke-work. Instructor-led drills and demonstrations will help swimmers grasp concepts in alternating stroking and kicking.

The beginner course includes skills such as:

  • Safe Entry and Exit of the Water
  • Getting comfortable in shallow and deep water
  • Stepping or jumping from side in deep water
  • Bobbing to Safety
  • Floating and maintaining body position on front
  • Floating and maintaining body position on back
  • Rolling from front to back and back to front
  • Changing from a vertical to horizontal position on back and front
  • Maintaining a horizontal body position in the water
  • Treading using arm and leg actions
  • Alternating and Simultaneous Kicking Actions
  • Gliding on Front, with and without Kicking Actions
  • Rotary Breathing
  • Introduction to Crawlstroke and stroke development
  • Introduction to Breaststroke
  • Introduction to Scissors Kick
  • Introduction to Elementary Backstroke
  • Changing from a vertical to horizontal position on back and front
Registration Information

  • All registration is in-person or by phone. Registration starts at 4:00pm on weekdays and 8:00am on Saturdays
  • No online registration. All registration is in-person or over the phone.
  • All classes are 30 minutes long unless otherwise noted.
  • Three students must be registered to run a class. In cases where only one student is registered, parents can opt to transfer to another class, get a credit on their account, request a refund, or pay for the second student.
  • Children learn better in the appropriate level. Swim tests are available for proper lesson placement, please call us to schedule an appointment for placement testing.
  • Don’t miss out on all the exciting opportunities at the Mount Rainier Pool! Please note that classes fill up quickly. Registration is done on a first-come-first-served basis through our online registration page. Payment is due at the time of registration

Scholarships

The Mount Rainier Pool now offers scholarships of up to 90% of registration costs. Non-residents are now eligible. There are three options to apply. The District board has allocated $23,000 in scholarships for 2020. All scholarships are awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis. Get pre-approved today.

Click here to view more information on scholarship opportunities.

 

Mandatory (Free) Placement Tests

DURING FAMILY SWIMS

All participants are required to complete a placement test before registering for classes. There are no appointments as tests will be done drop-in on a first-come, first- serve basis. We will stay until all tests are completed. Parent or Guardian must be present during test. Placement tests are held during Family Swims. For more information, please scroll down this page.

*Note – Mandatory swim tests are not required for Parent & Child, Preschool 1 and Level 1 classes.

Click here to view schedule for Family Swims to complete your placement tests.

Cancellation and Refund Policy

Refunds are subject to management approval. If requested before the start two (2) business days before the start of the session, a full refund will likely be given. For approved refunds requested following the start of the session, only the remaining balance will be given (prorated by days left in session). Parents may also opt to have a credit placed on the student’s pool account. Please complete the attached Refund Request Form.

Refund Request Form

Wait List Procedures

If a class becomes full, the students name will automatically be placed on a waiting list. If a space in the class opens, we will notify you by telephone.

Make-ups

There are no make-ups for classes. Each participant will be given a Practice Card ($18.75 Value) in order for participants to improve their swimming abilities outside of scheduled class times. You may also schedule a Private Swim Lesson (at your own cost) to schedule a make-up.
Contact

Do you have more questions or would like to speak to someone in person? Our Aquatics Coordinator, Lauryne Newman, is here to help. You can call her directly at (206) 824-4722 or email her at lauryne.newman@desmoinespool.org.