Recreational Services is pleased to offer swim lessons to the UI community.  We offer swim lesson for all levels starting at 6 months up to adults in group or private settings.  Offers vary each semester. 

Group swim lessons

Group lessons are available at different levels - Parent and Child Aquatics (6 months-3 years), Preschool Aquatics (3-5 years), Learn to Swim (5-16 years), and Adult Lessons (16 years+).  More details regarding each level can be found below. Group lessons are conducted once-per-week over the course of six weeks.  Individuals interested in group swim lessons will register for a specific day of the week and time. Sessions will last 30-45 minutes in length depending on the level of the lesson. 

Fee: $40-50

Spring 2024 Session 2
  • Session start date: Sunday, March 24, 2024
 Week 1Week 2Week 3Week 4Week 5Week 6
Sundays3/244/74/144/214/285/5
Mondays3/254/14/84/154/224/29
Tuesdays3/264/24/94/164/234/30
Wednesdays3/274/34/104/174/245/1
Thursdays3/284/44/114/184/255/2

*No swim lessons Sunday, March 31. Makeup swim lesson will be Sunday, May 5.*

  • Registration Dates
    • We are staggering the opening of swim lesson registration for this session. Registration will remain open for each level following the initial opening until Friday, March 22 2024 at noon.
Monday, March 18 
8 a.m.
 Tuesday, march 19
8 a.m.
 wednesday, march 20
8 a.m
  • Private Lessons
  • Preschool Aquatics
    Level 2
  • Learn to Swim Level 1
  • Learn to Swim Level 3
 
  • Preschool Aquatics
    Level 1
  • Learn to Swim Level 2
  • Learn to Swim Level 4
  • Adult Level 1
  • Adult Level 2
 
  • Preschool Aquatics
    Level 3
  • Learn to Swim Level 5
  • Learn to Swim Level 6
  • Parent Child 1
  • Parent Child 2

 

 

 

Registration:

In person:

Interested individuals can visit either the CRWC

Online: ONLINE REGISTRATION

Location: 

All swim lessons will take place at the Campus Recreation and Wellness Center.

Address: 

309 S. Madison Street, Iowa City, IA 52242

Parent and Child Aquatics familiarizes young children (from ages 6 months to 3 years) to the water and prepares them to learn to swim in the American Red Cross Preschool Aquatics or Learn-To-Swim courses. It is not designed to teach children to become good swimmers or to survive in the water on their own. Parent and Child Aquatics give parents safety information and teaches techniques to help orient their children to the water. It also provides direction regarding how to supervise water activities in a responsible manner. These courses are a bonding experience that will fill instructors, parents and children with wonderful lifelong memories. In both level one and two, a parent must be present for each child enrolled to maintain a one-on-one parent to child ratio. In a lower enrolled class, if two parents want to participate with one child that can be allowed on a case-by-case basis.

  • Level 1 – Children 6 months-18 months. This level introduces basic skills to parents and children. Parents are taught to safely work with their child in the water, including how to appropriately support and hold their child in the water and how to prepare and encourage their child to participate fully and the try the skills. Children are introduced to basic skills that lay a foundation to help them learn to swim. Several water safety topics are also introduced that are directed to parents.
  • Level 2 – Children 18 months-3 years. This level builds on skills and the confidence level of the participants and parents. Additional safety lessons and skills are introduced. 

Schedule: Classes are 30 minutes each, once per week for six weeks.

Fee: $40.00 

  • Minimum Enrollment: 3 
  • Maximum Enrollment: 8 

Registration details listed above.

LevelTimeDay
Parent and Child 1
  • 10:15-10:45 a.m.
  • 5:15-5:45 p.m.
  • Sunday
  • Monday
Parent and Child 2
  • 4:15-4:45 p.m.
  • 5:15-5:45 p.m.
  • 5:15-5:45 p.m.
  • Sunday
  • Tuesday
  • Thursday

 

American Red Cross Preschool Aquatics, consisting of three levels, is an integral part of the overall Red Cross instructional aquatic and water safety program. The primary objective of Preschool Aquatics is to promote developmentally appropriate learning of fundamental water safety and aquatic skills by young children.

  • Level 1 – The objectives of Level 1 are to learn the most elementary aquatic skills, the foundation for the participant to continue to build on as their progress through the Preschool Aquatics and Learn-To-Swim levels. Participants are introduced to the water and start developing good attitudes and safe practices around the water.
  • Level 2 – The objectives of Level 2 are to build on the aquatic skills learned in Level 1 and to gain further successes. Skills from Level 1 are performed at a more advanced degree, but most skills are still performed with assistance. This level marks the beginning of independent aquatic locomotion skills where participants continue to explore using simultaneous and alternating arm and leg actions to gain more proficiency for future strokes. 
  • Level 3 – The objectives of Level 3 are to build on previous skills with adding guided practice of basic aquatic skills at slightly more proficient performance levels and greater distances and times. Skills at this level are performed independently, with emphasis on improving coordination and combined simultaneous arm and leg actions. This level gets participants ready to begin the Learn-To-Swim program.

Schedule: Classes are 30 minutes each, once per week for six weeks.

Fee: $40.00

  • Minimum Enrollment: 3 
  • Maximum Enrollment: 5  

Registration details listed above. 

LevelTimeDay
Preschool Aquatics 1
  • 10:15-10:45 a.m.
  • 4:15-4:45 p.m.
  • 5:15-5:45 p.m.
  • 5:15-5:45 p.m.
  • 5:15-5:45 p.m.
  • 5:15-5:45 p.m.
  • Sunday
  • Sunday
  • Monday
  • Tuesday
  • Wednesday
  • Thursday
Preschool Aquatics 2
  • 10:15-10:45 a.m.
  • 4:15-4:45 p.m.
  • 5:15-5:45 p.m.
  • 6:15-6:45 p.m.
  • 5:15-5:45 p.m.
  • Sunday
  • Sunday
  • Sunday
  • Tuesday
  • Wednesday
Preschool Aquatics 3
  • 11:15-11:45 a.m.
  • 5:15-5:45 p.m.
  • 6:15-6:45 p.m.
  • 6:15-6:45 p.m.
  • Sunday
  • Sunday
  • Monday
  • Thursday

American Red Cross Learn-To-Swim teaches aquatic and personal water safety skills in a logical progression. It consists of six lessons. Participants in Level 1 are orientated to the aquatic environment and gain some basic skills in each category. Throughout the levels, participants build on their basic skills to learn various propulsive movements on the front, back and side. As the levels increase, participants learn to refine the different strokes and build endurance. Each level includes exit skills assessments that put together many of the skills learned in the level.

  • Level 1 – Introduction to Water Skills. The objectives of Level 1 are to learn basic personal water safety information and skills, to help participants feel comfortable in the water and to enjoy the water safely. In Level 1, elementary aquatic skills are taught, with participants focusing on development of positive attitudes, good swimming habits and safe practices in and around the water.
  • Level 2 – Fundamental Aquatic SkillsThe objectives of Level 2 are to give participants success with fundamental skills. Participants learn to float without support and to recover to a vertical position. This level marks the beginning of true locomotion skills. Participants will further develop simultaneous and alternating arm and leg actions on the front and back that lay the foundation for future strokes. Additional safety skills and comprehension of previous knowledge will also be a focus.
  • Level 3 – Stroke Development. The objective of Level 3 is to build on previously learned skills by providing additional guided practice. Participants learn survival float, the front crawl and elementary backstroke and introduction to the scissors and dolphin kicks as well as building on the fundamentals of treading water. Participants will also learn rules for head first entries and begin them for the first time from the pool side. Participants that successfully complete Level 3 have achieved basic water competency in a pool environment. 
  • Level 4 – Stroke Improvement. The objective of Level 4 is to develop participants confidence in the strokes learned thus far and to improve other aquatic skills. The goal is for participants to improve their skills and increase their endurance by swimming familiar strokes for greater distances. Participants add arms to the scissors kick to do sidestroke, as well as learn the breaststroke, back crawl and butterfly and the basics of turning at the wall.
  • Level 5 – Stroke Refinement. The objective of Level 5 is to coordinate and refine strokes. Participants refine their performance of all the strokes (front crawl, back crawl, butterfly, breaststroke, sidestroke and elementary backstroke) and increase distance. Flip turns on the front and back are also introduced.
  • Level 6 – Fitness Swimmer. Objectives of Level 6 are to refine the strokes so that participants swim with more ease, efficiency, power and smoothness over greater distances. Emphasis on swimming for fitness is provided with more structured work-outs along with advanced safety skills.

Schedule: Classes are 45 minutes each, once per week for six weeks.

Fee: $50.00

  • Minimum Enrollment: 3 
  • Maximum Enrollment: 6

Registration details listed above. 

LevelTimeDay
LTS Level 1
  • 10:00-10:45 a.m.
  • 4:00-4:45 p.m.
  • 6:00-6:45 p.m.
  • 6:00-6:45 p.m.
  • Sunday
  • Sunday
  • Monday
  • Tuesday
LTS Level 2
  • 11:00-11:45 a.m.
  • 5:00-5:45 p.m.
  • 6:00-6:45 p.m.
  • 6:00-6:45 p.m.
  • Sunday
  • Sunday
  • Wednesday
  • Thursday
LTS Level 3
  • 11:00-11:45 a.m.
  • 5:00-5:45 p.m.
  • 6:00-6:45 p.m.
  • 7:00-7:45 p.m.
  • 7:00-7:45 p.m.
  • Sunday
  • Sunday
  • Sunday
  • Tuesday
  • Thursday
LTS Level 4
  • 6:00-6:45 p.m.
  • 7:00-7:45 p.m.
  • 7:00-7:45 p.m.
  • 7:00-7:45 p.m.
  • Sunday
  • Sunday
  • Monday
  • Wednesday
LTS Level 5
  • 6:00-6:45 p.m.
  • 7:00-7:45 p.m.
  • 7:00-7:45 p.m.
  • Sunday
  • Tuesday
  • Wednesday
LTS Level 6
  • 7:00-7:45 p.m.
  • Sunday

The American Red Cross Adult Lesson Program consists of three levels, to cover all ability levels from beginner to advanced. Whether you are just starting out with the basics or looking to advance your training and endurance with your strokes, there is a level for you.

  • Adult Level 1 – Learning the Basics. This class introduces basic aquatic skills, concepts to stay safe around the water, and introduces elements of the following strokes: front crawl, elementary backstroke, sidestroke and breaststroke. Other skills focused on include treading water and survival floating. This level is for beginners.
  • Adult Level 2 – Improving Skills and Swimming Strokes. This class improves participant’s proficiency in basic water skills, all six strokes are focused on in this level: front crawl, back crawl, butterfly, breaststroke, elementary backstroke and sidestroke. Distance and endurance skills are improved on. Flip turns on the front and back, as well as headfirst entries from the side of the pool are focused on. This level is for intermediate swimmers that feel comfortable in the water.

Schedule: Six lessons, 45 minutes - one instructor for every six participants.

Fee: $50.00 

  • Minimum Enrollment: 3 
  • Maximum Enrollment: 6 

Registration details listed above.

LevelTimeDay
Adult Level 1
  • 7:00-7:45 p.m.
  • 7:00-7:45 p.m.
  • Sunday
  • Monday
Adult Level 2
  • 7:00-7:45 p.m.
  • 7:00-7:45 p.m.
  • Sunday
  • Thursday

Private swim lessons

Private lessons offer one-on-one instruction.

Lessons are scheduled during the group registration period. Lessons will last 30 minutes.

For any additional information regarding Private Lessons, please contact the Aquatic Coordinator.

Please provide 24 hour notice for all cancellations to the Aquatic Coordinator:

allyson-herman@uiowa.edu

Fee: $150

Spring 2024 Session 2
  • Sunday Classes: (March 24 - May 5)
    • 10:15 a.m./11:00 a.m./12 p.m. (noon)/12:45 p.m./1:30 p.m./2:15 p.m.
  • Monday Classes: (March 25 - April 29)
    • 4:30 p.m./5:15 p.m./6:00 p.m./6:45 p.m.
  • Tuesday Classes: (March 26 - April 30) 
    • 4:30 p.m./5:15 p.m./6:00 p.m./6:45 p.m.
  • Wednesday Classes: (March 27 - May 1)
    • 4:30 p.m./5:15 p.m./6:00 p.m./6:45 p.m.
  • Thursday Classes: (March 28 - May 2)
    • 5:15 p.m./6:00 p.m./6:45 p.m.

Registration Period: Monday, March 18 at 8:00 a.m. - Friday, March 22 at noon

  • Session start dateSunday, March 24, 2024
 Week 1Week 2Week 3Week 4Week 5Week 6
Sundays3/244/74/144/214/285/5
Mondays3/254/14/84/154/224/29
Tuesdays3/264/24/94/164/234/30
Wednesdays3/274/34/104/174/245/1
Thursdays3/284/44/114/184/255/2

*No swim lessons Sunday, March 31. Makeup swim lesson will be Sunday, May 5.*

Spring 2024 Session 1
  • Sunday Classes: (Jan. 21 - Feb. 25)
  • Monday Classes: (Jan. 22 - Feb. 26)
  • Tuesday Classes: (Jan. 23 - Feb. 27) 
  • Wednesday Classes: (Jan. 24 - Feb. 28)
  • Thursday Classes: (Jan. 25 - Feb. 29) 
  • Session start dateSunday, Jan. 21, 2024
 Week 1Week 2Week 3Week 4Week 5Week 6
Sundays1/211/282/42/112/182/25
Mondays1/221/292/52/122/192/26
Tuesdays1/231/302/62/132/202/27
Wednesdays1/242/12/72/142/212/28
Thursdays1/252/22/82/152/222/29

 

 

 

Registration

In person:

Interested individuals can visit the CRWC

Online: ONLINE REGISTRATION

Location: 

All swim lessons will take place at the Campus Recreation and Wellness Center.

Address: 

309 S. Madison Street, Iowa City, IA 52242

Swim lesson policies:

How to register online:

  • If you are a community member, you can set up an account here. You can also set up an account by calling 335-9293 or by visiting the CRWC member services desk to create an account. Once that's done, you'll be good to go! 
  • If you already have a Hawk ID or have a community account, click here to go to our online registration portal. 
  • Head over to our Online Registration FAQ page to learn more about the process.

Payment:

  • Payment must be made at the time of registration online or at the membership desk. 
  • Forms of payment accepted: Cash, Check (made out to The University of Iowa), Credit Card, U-bill (Cash, Check, and U-bill are in-person only).
  • If you have questions concerning the program or level placement, please contact the Assistant Director for Aquatics at (319) 467-3147.

  • Parents of children under the age of 14 must remain in the designated pool area where their child’s lesson is taking place in order to be available to attend to their child in the case of an emergency or to accompany them to the restrooms. 
  • Individuals attending lessons with children participating in swim lessons must be members of Recreational Services in order to use the CRWC or must pay a walk-in fee. Those found in violation are subject to expulsion from participating in swim lessons. 
  • There are no makeup lessons offered if a participant must miss a class.

  • Classes require at least three participants.
  • There will be no refund issued to participants wanting to drop group lessons for private lessons. Cancellations made for group lessons prior to the end of the registration period will be honored. 
  • After the registration period ends no refunds will be given.
  • There are no makeup lessons if a participant must miss a class due to their own scheduling conflicts.
  • If a cancellation is needed due to extenuating circumstances, the participant will need to speak with the Aquatics Coordinator immediately in order for a refund to be considered.

All swimwear must be clean and appropriate in coverage. This includes full coverage of the buttocks, breasts, and groin areas. Transparent or revealing swimwear is prohibited.

For infants and children:

  • Infants and children that are not toilet trained must wear swim diapers.
  • Infants and children in swim diapers must have a swimsuit over the swim diaper at all times.

Contact us

Allyson

Allyson Herman

Title/Position
Aquatic Coordinator