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Youth Aquatics

Children are almost never too young to begin a lifelong love of the water. Swimming and other water activities benefit youngsters through teens for so many reasons. Here are just a few:

  • Water safety skills
  • Improved swimming strokes
  • Increased muscle mass
  • Improved self-esteem
  • Improved flexibility and strength
  • Builds endurance and stamina
  • Improves the physique
  • Teaches patience
  • Children have fun while they learn

At YWCA Greenwich, there are swimming lessons for all ages and levels. Class sizes are kept small to allow for individual attention for each student.

Dolphin Babies
Dolphin Tots
Dolphin Prep
Lessons, Swim Clinic, and Lap Swim
American Red Cross Lifeguarding

Dolphin Babies

Dolphin Babies 1 (6 months to 23 months old)

A great introduction to the water for you and your baby. The purpose of this course is to develop in very young children a high comfort level in the water while at the same time training parents in water safety and drowning prevention. One parent or caregiver must be in the water with each child. Swim diapers required.

Dolphin Babies 2 (2-3 years old)

This course does not teach children to become accomplished swimmers or survive in the water; it does provide a confidence building, fun, loving experience. 

Dolphin Babies 3 (2.5 to 3.5 years old)

This without caregiver beginner class provides a foundation that helps children achieve comfort with basic swim skills. Students will also learn some basic water safety while working with the instructor. This beginner class provides a foundation that helps children achieve comfort with basic swim skills. Students will also learn some basic water safety while working with the instructor.

Dolphin Babies Schedule

Tuesday- 9:30 AM

Thursday - 10:00 AM and 10:30 AM

Saturday - 9:30 AM and 10:30 AM

*Dolphin babies 3 classes are at tot times*

Classes are 30 minutes.

Financial Aid is available for qualifying applicants.

Makeups are available when public schools are closed.

For more information, contact Shanna Sudderth at s.sudderth@ywcagreenwich.org

Summer Session: June 16th - August 9th (No classes July 4th)

Fall Session: September 2nd - November 25th (No classes September 23rd and October 2nd)

Winter Session: December 1st - March 14th (No classes December 22nd - January 3rd and February 9th - 14th)

Spring Session: March 16th - June 13th (No classes April 6th - 11th and May 25th)

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Dolphin Tots

Dophin Tots teaches swimming basics to 3-to-5-year-olds.

Children take classes either once or twice a week. They learn basic swim coordination, entering and exiting the pool, getting their faces wet, floating and gliding and using proper arm and leg motions. They also are introduced to side-breathing techniques and formal strokes including front crawl, back crawl and butterfly.

Dolphin Tot classes are small and most classes have a ratio of one instructor to four swimmers. The classes are taught by certified American Red Cross water safety instructors and water safety aides. Dolphin Tot parents or caregivers must remain in the YWCA viewing section above the swimming pool during their child’s class.

Dolphin Tots Levels

Red Dolphins: Able to learn swim readiness without a parent:

  • Building confidence in the water without parent in the water.
  • Learns how to get in and out of the pool safely.
  • Learns basic skills during water exploration.

Orange Dolphins: Ready to improve swim readiness skills:

  • Builds confidence in the water.
  • Expands on water safety.
  • Will explore the pool with the use of equipment.

Yellow Dolphins: Able to swim five yards independently with a basic stroke on their front and back:

  • Gains independence in the pool as well as underwater.
  • Proper stroke technique is introduced with proper breath control.
  • Explore the pool without the use of equipment.

Dolphin Tots Schedule:

Monday through Thursday - 10AM, 1:00 PM, 1:30 PM, 3:00 PM  

Saturday - 9:00 AM, 9:30 AM, 10:00 AM, 10:30 AM 

Classes are 30 minutes.

Financial Aid is available for all qualifying applicants.

For more information, contact Shanna Sudderth at s.sudderth@ywcagreenwich.org

Summer Session: June 16th - August 9th (No classes July 4th)

Fall Session: September 2nd - November 25th (No classes September 23rd and October 2nd)

Winter Session: December 1st - March 14th (No classes December 22nd - January 3rd and February 9th - 14th)

Spring Session: March 16th - June 13th (No classes April 6th - 11th and May 25th)

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Dolphins Clinic

Able to swim 25 yards of each stroke and pay attention to what they need to learn. This clinic is designed to help improve swimmers for our competitive swim team:

  • Proper breath control and body position.
  • Basic understanding of all strokes (freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly).

Dolphin Prep

Our Dolphins Prep aquatics programs (ages 5 to 18) further build skills and agility.

The Dolphin Prep Learn-to-Swim program helps your child gain confidence while improving water skills. This progressive program follows the new American Red Cross Learn-to-Swim guidelines. Classes are taught by certified American Red Cross water safety instructors and water safety aides. Participants must be tested and placed into the appropriate level by the aquatics supervisors.

Levels include all ranges of ability from no experience to accomplished swimmers and range from Level I through Level VI. Participants are taught the fundamentals and mechanics of beginning swimming and learn formal strokes. Swimmers are encouraged to perfect skills through a structured program that improves technique and builds endurance. Class sizes are small and range from 6-9 children per level.

Dolphin Prep Levels:

Level 1:

  • For the beginner who is comfortable in the water.
  • Swimmers learn basics of swimming: bobbing, going under water, supported front and back floating, supported rolling over from front to back and back to front, supported gliding, supported flutter kick, supported front crawl arms and jumping in.

Level 2:

  • Swimmers should already be able to: swim 15 yards front crawl and 25 yards back crawl.
  • Swimmers should already be able to float on front and back and put their head under water.
  • Swimmers will work on: independent front and back floating , independent rolling over from front to back and back to front, independent front and back glides, front crawl arms and kicks, back crawl arms and kicks, retrieving underwater objects, and jumping into water over their head.

Level 3:

  • Swimmers should already be able to: swim 25 yards of front crawl (freestyle) and backcrawl (backstroke), some understanding of breaststroke
  • Swimmers should already be comfortable swimming front stroke and swimming on their back.
  • Swimmers will work on: gliding, freestyle with side breathing, backstroke, breast stroke and dolphin kicks, retrieving objects in deeper water, treading water, jumping into deep water and compact dives.

Level 4:

  • Swimmers should already be able to: swim freestyle and backstroke 50 yards, 25 yards of breaststroke and some understanding of butterfly.
  • Swimmers will work on: rotary breathing, freestyle, backstroke, elementary backstroke, scissors kick and sidestroke, whip kick and breaststroke, intro to turning at wall, treading water with modified scissors, and diving in kneeling position.

Dolphin Prep Schedule:

Monday - 3:15 PM, 3:45 PM, 4:30 PM 

Tuesday - 3:45 PM

Wednesday - 3:45 PM 

Thursday - 3:45 PM, 4:30 PM 

Saturday - 9:00 AM *, 10:00 AM *

Classes are 45 minutes.

Financial Aid is available for all qualifying applicants.

For more information, contact Shanna Sudderth at s.sudderth@ywcagreenwich.org

*Classes are 30 minutes, 4 students maximum

Summer Session: June 16th - August 9th (No classes July 4th)

Fall Session: September 2nd - November 25th (No classes September 23rd and October 2nd)

Winter Session: December 1st - March 14th (No classes December 22nd - January 3rd and February 9th - 14th)

Spring Session: March 16th - June 13th (No classes April 6th - 11th and May 25th)

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Lessons, Clinics, and Lap Swim

An age-appropriate program for advanced swimmers that builds technique, fitness and endurance. Participants also learn competitive swimming as well as advanced safety and rescue skills. Juniors/Teens enrolled in classes, or on the Dolphins Swim Team, may also participate in the clinic.

Fitness Clinic: This clinic is for older students who want a non-competitive swim team:

  • Ages 8-15
  • Swimmers should already be able to: swim freestyle, breaststroke and backstroke 25 yards, scissors kick, whip kick, treading water, and dive.
  • Swimmers will work on: alternate breathing, stride jump, refinement of: freestyle, backstroke, elementary backstroke, sidestroke, breaststroke, dolphin kick and butterfly, open turn on front and back, feet-first surface dive, and treading water.

Private Lessons

Individual lessons teach toddlers, children (3 and older) and adults to swim in a safe and positive environment. Experienced and competitive swimmers can also take lessons to improve their technique. By appointment only.

Individual Lessons or PackageFees
30-minute lesson$75
Package of 4 lessons$275
Package of 8 lessons$500
Package of 12 lessons$720
Package of 24 lessons$1,350
30-minute lesson for Competitive Dolphins$50
60-minute lesson for Competitive Dolphins$100

Financial Aid is available for all qualifying applicants

To schedule private lessons, please click here

YWCA Membership is required for all programs.

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American Red Cross Courses

Blended Learning Lifeguard Training

Ages 15 and above

BLENDED LEARNING FORMAT – Our lifeguard training courses are offered in a blended learning format which allows participants to complete approximately 7 hours worth of ONLINE content outside of class. The online coursework will prepare them to attend the in-person skill sessions where they will practice skills and demonstrate competency.

$450

Participants MUST REGISTER ONE WEEK IN ADVANCE to allow ample time to start the online coursework prior to Day 1 of training. The instructor (o.mcgovern@ywcagreenwich.org) will email the Student Syllabus detailing how to access the online coursework 3-5 days before the class.

Prerequisites

Swim-Tread-Swim Sequence

  • Swim 150 yards using the front crawl, breaststroke or a combination of both. Swimming on the back or side is not permitted. Swim goggles are allowed.
  • Maintain position at the surface of the water for 2 minutes by treading water using only the legs.
  • Swim 50 yards using the front crawl, breaststroke or a combination of both.

Timed Event - Complete a timed event within 1 minute, 40 seconds.

  • Starting in the water, swim 20 yards. The face may be in or out of the water. Swim goggles are not allowed.
  • Surface dive (feet-first or head-first) to a depth of 7 to 10 feet to retrieve a 10-pound object.
  • Return to the surface and swim 20 yards on the back to return to the starting point, holding the object at the surface with both hands and keeping the face at or near the surface.
  • Exit the water without using a ladder or steps.

Refund / Cancellation / Transfer Policy:

Transfer requests with more than 7 days' notice will be honored as availability permits without penalty.
Cancellation within 7 days prior to the start of Day 1 of your course — no refund applies.
Transfer requests within 7 days prior to the start of your course, $75 transfer processing fee applies.
No refunds for those who do not successfully meet all course completion requirements.
Failed pre-requisite swim skills evaluation on Day 1 of training constitutes cancellation. No refund applies. However, those who do not pass the pre-req swim skills evaluation on Day 1 of training may request that their registration fee be applied toward a future course offering.

Financial Aid is available for qualifying applicants.

For questions contact the YWCA Aquatics Department at 203-869-6501, ext. 121 or contact Shanna Sudderth at s.sudderth@ywcagreenwich.org

To register, click here.

Waterfront Training Add-On

Ages 15 and above

Provides entry-level participants the knowledge and skills to prevent, recognize and respond to aquatic emergencies and to provide care for breathing and cardiac emergencies, injuries and sudden illnesses until EMS personnel take over, including in aquatic facilities in non-surf, open-water areas found at public parks, resorts, summer camps and campgrounds.

$150 and can be added to any class or taken on its own.

Prerequisites

Swim-Tread-Swim Sequence

  • Swim 350 yards using the front crawl, breaststroke or a combination of both. Swimming on the back or side is not permitted. Swim goggles are allowed.
  • Maintain position at the surface of the water for 2 minutes by treading water using only the legs.
  • Swim 200 yards using the front crawl, breaststroke or a combination of both.

Timed Event - Complete a timed event within 1 minute, 40 seconds.

  • Starting in the water, swim 20 yards. The face may be in or out of the water. Swim goggles are not allowed.
  • Surface dive (feet-first or head-first) to a depth of 7 to 10 feet (consistent with the maximum water depth participants will train in) to retrieve a 10-pound object.
  • Return to the surface and swim 20 yards on the back to return to the starting point, holding the object at the surface with both hands and keeping the face at or near the surface.
  • Exit the water without using a ladder or steps.

Underwater Swim

  • Swim 5 yards, submerge and retrieve three dive rings placed 5 yards apart in 4 to 7 feet of water, resurface and continue to swim another 5 yards.

Participants who successfully complete this course receive an American Red Cross certificate for Lifeguarding/First Aid/CPR/AED and Waterfront Skills, both valid for 2 years.

Water Safety Instructor Course

Ages 15 and above

If you are a proficient swimmer, you can become an American Red Cross Water Safety Instructor. This course will help you teach skills that may save a life and prepare you to teach swimming and aquatic awareness.

$500

Prerequisites

  • Be at least 15 years of age on or before the final scheduled lesson of this course.
  • Demonstrate the ability to perform the following swimming skills: 1. Swim the following strokes consistent with the Stroke Performance Charts, Level 4 (see Appendix B) { Front crawl—25 yards { Back crawl—25 yards { Breaststroke—25 yards { Elementary backstroke—25 yards { Sidestroke—25 yards { Butterfly—15 yards 2. Maintain position on back for 1 minute in deep water (floating or sculling). 3. Tread water for 1 minute.

Lifeguarding Blended Learning

2026 Dates:

February 11, 12, 13

March 16, 17, 18

April 8, 9, 11

April 12, 19, 26

June 25, 26, 27

Pre-Requisite Swim Skill Evaluation

2026 Dates

February 28

March 7

March 14

April 4

May 2

June 6

Times vary. To sign up for evaluation, please email instructor Olivia McGovern at o.mcgovern@ywcagreenwich.org.

Lifeguarding Recertification Class

$300

To register, click here.

2026 Dates:

February 22

May 9

May 16

CPR Professional Skills Class

$150

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