ITASCA COUNTY FAMILY YMCA

YMCA swim lessons are available for infants, toddlers, and kids, helping them build essential life-saving skills while increasing their confidence, ability, and stamina. The Y believes swimming is a vital life skill and provides certified, caring instructors trained to support swimmers of all ages and abilities. Our skill-based approach maximizes physical activity, emphasizes safety, and promotes positive values that build self-esteem and character—all while kids have fun.

We suggest registering by age group. Our swim instructors will place participants in the appropriate level based on skill and then track their progress.

Can the student respond to verbal cues and jump on land or is the student comfortable working with an instructor without a parent in the water? Swim Starters is a class designed for parents and children; a parent must be in the pool with their child at all times. Infants and toddlers learn to be comfortable in the water and develop swim readiness skills through fun and confidence-building experiences, while parents learn about water safety, drowning prevention, and the importance of supervision.

Will the student go underwater voluntarily? This stage increases students’ comfort with underwater exploration and introduces basic self-rescue skills performed with assistance.

Can the student do a front and bank float on his or her own? In this stage, students focus on forward movement in water and basic self-rescue skills performed independently.

Can the student swim 10-15 yards on his or her front and back? In this stage, students develop intermediate self-rescue skills performed at longer distances than in previous stages.

Can the student swim 15 yards of front and back crawl? This stage introduces basic stroke technique in front crawl and back crawl and reinforces water safety through treading water and elementary backstroke.

Can the student swim front crawl, back crawl, and breaststroke across the pool? This stage introduces breaststroke and butterfly and reinforces water safety through treading water and sidestroke.

Can the student swim front crawl, back crawl, and breaststroke across the pool and back? This stage refines stroke technique on all major competitive strokes and encourages swimming as part of a healthy lifestyle.

Aquatic Staff

Infant

Bryce Firth

Aquatic Specialist

More informaton coming soon.

Infant

Kisha Harms

Swim Lessons Coordinator

Hi! I’m a Grand Rapids native and grew up right here at the YMCA, starting with swim lessons as a kid and later taking fitness classes as a teen. After studying English Literature at the University of North Dakota, I worked in early childhood education in Edina, but I always knew I’d come back home. In 2016, my family and I returned to Grand Rapids to raise our two daughters and stay close to our roots. I love working with kids and helping them feel confident in the water, and teaching swim lessons at the Y feels especially meaningful because it’s where my own love for swimming began. I’m excited to be part of your child’s swim journey!

Not sure which level to choose? Register by age—our instructors will place swimmers by skill level. Parent Information

Registration Now OPEN

Private Swimming Lessons

Contact Kisha Harms, Swim Lesson Coordinator, for more information and instructor/pool availability at (218) 327-1161 or contact form.

Private Swim Lesson 

Financial Assistance

Financial assistance applications are available at the membership desk or online.

Cancelation Policy

In the case of a cancellation, credit vouchers may be granted.  NO REFUNDS. If circumstances dictate closing of the pool or early ending of session by the YMCA, prorated vouchers may be granted from closure time till reminder of session