Summer Information Coming in Mid-May. Sign up for email notifications to be first to receive updates.

Class Dates	Current Student Registration**	New Student Registration**
April 16-June 11 (No May 28)	Saturday, March 12@ 8am	Tuesday, March 15 @ 4pm
Summer Dates: Coming Mid-May	Coming Soon	Coming Soon

 

Summer Information Coming in Mid-May. Sign up for email notifications to be first to receive updates.

Class Dates	Current Student Registration*	New Student Registration*
May 16-June 13 (No May 30)	Monday, May 2@ 4pm	Wednesday, May 4 @ 4pm
Summer (Update coming in Mid-May)	Coming Soon	Coming Soon

 

The Mount Rainier Pool Community Swim Club and Lifeguard Prep courses are free programs through the King County Youth and Amateur Sports Grant.

Information for these programs will be presented in April 2022. Please check back or sign up for our email notification system.

NEW SWIMMER: Students that have not taken a swimming class or want to signup for the classes before can sign up for the first-level of swim lessons without having to take a swim evaluation (formerly swim test).

• Parent/Tot Swim  (6 months to 3 years)
• Preschool Level 1 (4-6 years)
• Level 1 (7-14 years)
• Adult Lessons (15+ years)

TRANSFER SWIMMER: Swimmers transferring from another swim program are required to have a swim evaluation (formerly swim test before participating. See available times for testing.

• Before July 1: Please attend an Open Swim (Tuesday & Thursday, 1:00-3:00pm) & Saturdays (11:00am-1:00pm).
• July 1 and After: Please attend a Family or Open Swim. Please notify desk when you arrive.

QUESTIONS ABOUT THE APPROPRIATE LEVEL

Click here to use this guide on skills for swim lesson levels.

WHY SWIM EVALUATIONS (FORMERLY SWIM TESTS)?

Our goal is to give participants the best experience in our swim lessons! The most important part is ensuring participants are in the right level. This not only helps the individual, but also ensures other participants get the most of their lesson time.

Class Dates	Parent & Child	All Other Classes
8-session Class	$48 ($70 NR)	$66 ($80 NR)
*7-session Class	$42 ($54.25NR)	$57.75 ($70NR)

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

Rates were updated for 2022.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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