All swim lessons will be free for youth, ages 4-14 between April 15 through October 31 thanks to the SEEK Grant. Please read below for more information.

SUMMER EXPERIENCES & ENRICHMENT FOR KIDS (SEEK) GRANT PROGRAM (AGES 4-14)

Kids can learn to swim for free at Mount Rainier Pool this spring and summer, thanks to a grant through the Washington State Superintendent of Public Instruction’s office.

In addition to the lessons, the $89,575 Summer Enrichment and Experience for Kids grant will provide free practice time and a free swim package with a swimsuit, goggles, towel, and swim bag. The funding runs from April 2022 to the end of October. The grant aims to eliminate barriers to learning a lifesaving skill and give kids access to water-based recreational activities.

EMAIL NOTIFICATION SYSTEM

We are working to grow the free swim lessons program and may have a periodical need to make adjustments. Please click here to sign up for our email notification list. We will email any updates. Also, please add info@mtrainierpool.com to your email contacts to ensure you do not have this email blocked or going to a spam/junk folder.

Due to the overwhelming demand for free swim lessons and large numbers of people on our waitlists, we are not taking new waitlist participants for Fall 2022. For Winter 2023, we will be changing our processes to give residents a higher priority. We should have an update out in early Decmeber. Click here to sign up for our email notification list for future updates.

• NEW! Waitlist participants will be given two hours to return calls when spots are open. If contacted, please call us at 206.824.4722 to claim your spot. (If you do not return the call, we will move onto the next spot.)
• If no spots become available during a session, you will receive an email notifying you that all spots are full for that session.
• Waitlist spots will end at the end of the current sessions and will not carry over into 2023. We will announce a new process in December for 2023.

Fall weekday classes will have only one session to focus on trainings for Winter 2023. Our goal is to improve the quality of our lessons.

Class Dates	Current Student Registration	Calls to Waitlists
October 2-26, 5-7pm	Wednesday, September 21, 4:00pm	Next Day.
Winter 2023 Dates	Coming in December	New Process

Class Dates	Current Student Registration	Calls to Waitlists
October 8 – December 10 (No Oct 29 nor Nov 26)	Wednesday, Sept 21, 4:00pm	Following Day.
Winter 2023 Dates	Coming in December	New Process

 Adult classes will be held from 7:30-8am. Parent and Child classes will be held during classes. Both classes will only be offered on Saturdays due to SEEK Grant.

Please follow the guidelines below for Current, Transfer and New students. This helps setup your child for success and ensures group lessons best meet everyone’s needs.

CURRENT STUDENT	TRANSFER STUDENT	NEW STUDENT
Student currently attending swim lessons at Mount Rainier Swim Lessons.	Student transferring from program other than Mount Rainier Swim Lessons. (Note-all programs have different ways of assessing aptitude.)	These are students who have not taken swim lessons or have not taken a swim evaluation.
Students & parents will be notified the class before registration. *	Must take swim evaluation. (Doesn’t include Parent & Child and Adult lessons). Swim evaluations are offered during Family Swims.	New Students can only register for the first level of each class. This includes parents that neglect to have their child take a swim evaluation.

*It is important to us to ensure that a child is ready for the next level of classes. This is for safety and ensures the child is comfortable in future lessons.

 

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. (Note – People applying for Parent and Child, Preschool 1, Level 1 and Adult classes do not need to take a swim test.)

Thanks to an extension for the SEEK Swim Lesson grant until October 31. All Monday & Wednesday classes are free (for all Pre and Level classes for children, ages 4-14) and Saturday Classes will be discounted to include three free classes.

Class Dates	Parent & Child	(Ages 4-14*)
Monday & Wednesday	Not Available	Free
Saturday	$47 ($60NR)	$41.25 ($50NR)*

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

*Adult classes, ages 15 & older will be regular prices ($66 ($80NR).

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