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. 

Register for Swim Lessons

Registration for Fall 2025 Swim Lessons Session 1 closed Saturday, August 23, 2025 at 11:59 p.m.

Fall 2025 Swim Lessons Session 1 - Lesson Dates

Session Start Date: Tuesday, September 2, 2025

 

Week 1

Week 2

Week 3

Week 4

Week 5

Week 6

Sundays9/79/149/219/2810/510/12

Mondays

9/89/159/229/2910/610/13

Tuesdays

9/29/99/169/239/3010/7

Wednesdays

9/39/109/179/2410/110/8

Thursdays

9/49/119/189/2510/210/9
Fridays9/59/129/199/2610/310/10

 

Fall 2025 Swim Lessons Session 2 - Registration Dates

Session Start Date: Sunday, October 19, 2025

Tuesday, October 7 at 9amwednesday, October 8 at 9amThursday, October 9 at 9am
  • Private Lessons
  • Parent Child 1
  • Parent Child 2
  • Preschool Aquatics Level 1
  • Preschool Aquatics Level 2
  • Preschool Aquatics Level 3
  • Adult Level 1
  • Adult Level 2
  • Learn to Swim Level 1
  • Learn to Swim Level 2
  • Learn to Swim Level 3
  • Learn to Swim Level 4
  • Learn to Swim Level 5
  • Learn to Swim Level 6

Registration closes Tuesday, October 14, 2025 at 11:59 p.m.

Fall 2025 Swim Lessons Session 2 - Lesson Dates

Session Start Date: Sunday, October 19, 2025

 

Week 1

Week 2

Week 3

Week 4

Week 5

Week 6

Sundays

10/19

10/26

11/2

11/9

11/16

11/30

Mondays

10/20

10/27

11/3

11/10

12/1

12/8

Tuesdays

10/21

10/28

11/4

11/11

12/2

12/9

Wednesdays

10/22

10/29

11/5

11/12

12/3

12/10

Thursdays

10/23

10/30

11/6

11/13

12/4

12/11

Fridays

10/24

10/31

11/7

11/14

12/5

12/12

Register Here

Register for either group or private lessons by clicking the link below.

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

Registration FAQ

What time can I login to be placed in the queue?

You can be placed in the queue by visiting our website 15 minutes before registration opens and clicking the yellow Online Registration button. Please make sure you sign in to our online registration portal before the queue opens using this link.

Can I register multiple participants at the same time or do I need multiple devices?

You can register multiple participants at the same time. You will pick the level and offering and then can select each participant at that one time as long as they are added correctly in the system and are the right age.

Can I register for swimming lessons from my mobile device?

Yes; however we do not recommend doing it as there are often difficulties signing the waiver. We recommend registering for lessons from a computer using the Google Chrome browser.

Do I need to have my dependents assigned to my accounts?

Yes, in order to register your participant(s) for lessons, you will need to have them added to your Recreational Services account as dependents. If you create a dependent their own account, you will be unable to register as they are a minor.

It is recommended that you add your dependents ahead of the registration period.

How do I add a dependent to my account?

In order to register for swimming lessons, please follow these instructions to add your dependent on your account. 

1. Navigate to https://connect.recserv.uiowa.edu/ and log in with your UIOWA credentials or create an account using a personal email

2. Go to your profile in the upper right-hand corner and add your dependent as a family member

3. Wait a few minutes for the system to update

Do I have to be a Rec Services member?

No, our swimming lessons are available to everyone regardless of their status with Recreational Services or the University of Iowa. The cost for lessons remains the same for everyone.

Does my participant have to be the minimum age at the time of registration?

Your participant needs to be the minimum age on the first day of classes.

○ 6 months for Parent Child

○ 3 years for Preschool Aquatics

○ 5 years for Learn to Swim

○ 16 years for Adult

A group of four children sitting in the recreation pool. Two swim instructors are near them talking to the group.

Youth Group Lessons

Parent and Child Aquatics (6 months - 3 years)

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: $45.00 (per 6-week session)

  • 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
  • Wednesday
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

 

Preschool Aquatics (3-5 years)

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: $45.00 (per 6-week session)

  • 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.
  • Sunday
  • Sunday
  • Monday
  • Tuesday
  • Wednesday
Preschool Aquatics 2
  • 4:15 - 4:45 p.m.
  • 5:15 - 5:45 p.m.
  • 6:15 - 6:45 p.m.
  • 6:15 - 6:45 p.m.
  • 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.
  • Sunday
  • Sunday
  • Thursday

Learn to Swim (5-16 years)

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: $55.00 (per 6-week session)

  • Minimum Enrollment: 3
  • Maximum Enrollment: 6

Registration details listed above. 

LevelTimeDay
Learn to Swim 1
  • 10:00 - 10:45 a.m.
  • 6:00 - 6:45 p.m.
  • 5:00 - 5:45 p.m.
  • 6:00 - 6:45 p.m.
  • Sunday
  • Sunday
  • Monday
  • Tuesday
Learn to Swim 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.
  • 6:00 - 6:45 p.m.
  • 6:00 - 6:45 p.m.
  • Sunday
  • Sunday
  • Sunday
  • Monday
  • Wednesday
  • Thursday
Learn to Swim 3
  • 11:00 - 11:45 a.m.
  • 4:00 - 4:45 p.m.
  • 6:00 - 6:45 p.m.
  • 6:00 - 6:45 p.m.
  • 7:00 - 7:45 p.m.
  • Sunday
  • Sunday
  • Sunday
  • Monday
  • Tuesday
Learn to Swim 4
  • 11:00 - 11:45 a.m.
  • 7:00 - 7:45 p.m.
  • 7:00 - 7:45 p.m.
  • 7:00 - 7:45 p.m.
  • 5:00 - 5:45 p.m.
  • Sunday
  • Sunday
  • Monday
  • Wednesday
  • Thursday
Learn to Swim 5
  • 10:00 - 10:45 a.m.
  • 5:00 - 5:45 p.m.
  • 6:00 - 6:45 p.m.
  • 7:00 - 7:45 p.m.
  • Sunday
  • Sunday
  • Sunday
  • Thursday
Learn to Swim 6
  • 7:00 - 7:45 p.m.
  • 7:00 - 7:45 p.m.
  • Sunday
  • Tuesday

Adult Lessons (16 years+)

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: $55.00 (per 6-week session)

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

 

Two swim instructors in the Recreation pool demonstrating a backstroke to children.

Adult Group Lessons

Adult Aquatics

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: $55.00 (per 6-week session)

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

 

A swim instructor holding a child in the pool. The child is lying on their back floating, with their face pointed up towards the ceiling.

Private Lessons

Overview

Private lessons offer one-on-one instruction. 

Lessons are scheduled based on instructor and participant availability as well as pool scheduling. All private lessons last 30 minutes.

  • Registration Date: Tuesday, August 12, 2025 at 9:00 a.m.
  • Fee: $155.00 (per 6-week session)

Scheduling

Fall Session 1 Private Lesson Schedule
SundaysSept. 7 - Oct. 12

12:00 / 12:45 / 1:30 /

2:15

MondaySept. 8 - Oct. 13

4:30

TuesdaySept. 2 - Oct. 74:30 / 5:15 / 6:00 / 6:45
WednesdaySept. 3 - Oct. 84:30
ThursdaySept. 4 - Oct. 95:15 / 6:00 / 6:45
FridaySept. 5 - Oct. 104:30 / 5:15 / 6:00 / 6:45

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

allyson-herman@uiowa.edu 

Swim Lesson Policies:

Registration and payment

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- 4967.

General policies

  • 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.

Cancellations, refunds, and missed classes

  • 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.

Swimwear policies

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.

Additional FAQs

Do you offer makeup lessons?

Make-up lessons are only offered in cases where the cancellation is unexpected and initiated from Recreational Services. For example, inclement weather, concerns of water quality, etc.

Can I use the facility before or after lessons?

Only Rec Services members or day pass holders may utilize the facility before or after lessons. For more information regarding membership or day passes, please visit our membership page.

Do I need to stay with my dependent during lessons?

Individuals 14 years of age and younger must be directly supervised by an adult during the entirety of the swim lesson.

Contact us

Allyson

Allyson Herman

Title/Position
Aquatic Coordinator