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Though it may be hard to remember after the long, chilly winter that NYC had this year, summer in the city can get pretty hot! And what’s the best way to beat the heat? By making a splash with some awesome local swim programs. Not only is swimming a quintessential part of any child’s summer experience, but it’s also an essential lifelong skill. Whether you’re looking for a parent-baby program for the smallest of tots, or you need lessons for an older child or tween—the pools of New York have the perfect fit for your family.
The 14th Street Y has a variety of aquatic programs for children of all ages. From their Baby Belugas program for newborns to the Aqua Jet Swim Team to their private swim lessons, there is something for everyone to enjoy. 14streety.org
The 92nd Street Y has swim instruction for all ages! They offer the Polliwogs program (for 6-18 months), the Minnows program (for 18-36 months), the Guppies program (for 3-5 years), and Nursery School Swim (for 3.5-5 years). Additionally, 92Y offers aquatics classes for older kids of all levels, as well as private swim instruction and the Flying Dolphins Swim Team for kids ages 6-18. 92y.org
Aqua Skills has customized swim lessons for children over the age of 4 with small and large classes. There are year-round classes for kids and teens from beginners to more advanced swim teams. There are even Mommy and Daddy swim lessons for parents and babies. aquaskills.com
Asphalt Green has a variety of sports and fitness programs for the whole family, including swim programs for babies to teens. The program is perfect both for beginners and older children searching for competitive swim team and diving lessons. asphaltgreen.org
Located in Brooklyn, Camp Olympia’s swimming programs provide instruction for children from 6 months to 18 and up. Additionally, their swim team, the Brooklyn Otters, is a USA Swimming year-round competitive program, offering professional coaching and technique instruction for all ages and abilities. campolympiany.com
The Sports Center at Chelsea Piers features a six-lane, 25-yard, competition-style indoor swimming pool—and offers aquatics programs and training opportunities for swimmers of all experience levels, from beginners to elite competitors. chelseapiers.com
The Dwight School’s Swimming Lesson Program offers classes for kids ages 6 months to 12 years and adult classes. From toddler classes to a competitive swim team, there is something for every member of the family. dwightathleticcenter.org/swim
Imagine Swimming has a great deal of swim lessons for babies and kids ages 6 and up. Locations are spread throughout Manhattan and Brooklyn, where classes meet once a week. imagineswimming.com
NYC Parks provides a variety of free aquatics programs for all ages and levels, ranging from swim lessons to recreational swimming to training for swim team competition all over the city. They offer year-round classes for toddlers (ages 1.5-5), children (6-17), and adults ages 18 and up. Visit their website for registration and location information. nycgovparks.org/programs/aquatics
Enroll your little ones in NYU Swim Camp for the summer so they can learn to swim and have a lot of fun doing so. There are two pool sessions each day, and kids will be taught swimming at their appropriate level. Campers must be between ages 5-13 by the start of camp. gonyuathletics.com
Physique Swim School has a variety of classes for kids of all ages! From beginner classes to competitive swimming to parent-child bonding lessons, there is something for the whole family that is sure to fill your summer with good memories. physiqueswimming.com
Royal Athletic Swimming offers a variety of class levels from Beginner to Swim Team. Their program, which has locations throughout Manhattan and Brooklyn, is designed for swimmers to move smoothly from one level to the next as they progress in their swimming capabilities. royalswim.com
Now’s the perfect time to dive in at SwimJim and start perfecting those swimming skills. SwimJim’s Learn to Swim Beginner program, SwimKids, offers beginners the chance to enjoy the water, gain confidence, and learn valuable skills. It is never too early or too late to learn to swim. swimjim.com
Swim Swim Swim I Say has swimming lessons for kids from 6 months all the way to adulthood. Everything from beginner classes to competitive lessons are available to the whole family. swimswimswimisay.com
Take Me To the Water offers a series of baby classes for parents to bond with their newborns and toddlers starting at 6 months. Children will be able to start beginner courses and learn how to swim in a family-friendly environment with experienced teachers.
takemetothewater.com
Teach Your Child To Swim is an e-course that turns parents into swim coaches. With three skill levels and 15 streamable video modules, you can teach at your child’s pace and help them build swimming and water safety skills. teachyourchildtoswim.com
The YMCAs (city-wide) offer swim lessons for all ages, as well as family swim, competitive teams, and adaptive swim programs for kids with special needs. The Y’s many programs include Parent-Child Swim Lessons for tots ages 6-36 months (with their caregivers) all the way up to Swim Lessons for Teens for ages 12-17. ymcanyc.org
