American Red Cross Learn-to-Swim courses offer something for everyone. Through a progressive, six-level instructional approach, participants learn a variety of strokes, including the front crawl, back crawl, elementary backstroke, breaststroke, sidestroke and butterfly. They are also introduced to a wide range of personal safety skills and diving techniques. Courses are fun and interactive with hands-on training. More advanced-level students refine their skills, learn the basics of springboard diving and how to incorporate swimming into a lifetime fitness plan.

Where you can find swim lessons

Please contact a facility near you for dates, times and class fees.

American Red Cross Learn-to-Swim courses include:

Builds basic water safety skills for both parents and children, helping infants and young children ages 6 months to about 3 years become comfortable in the water so they are willing and ready to learn to swim. These basic skills include adjusting to the water environment, showing comfort while maintaining a front or back position in the water and demonstrating breath control, including blowing bubbles or voluntarily submerging under water.

Level 1
Introduces basic skills to parents and children, including safety topics.

Level 2
Builds on the skills introduced in Level 1, with participants improving these skills and learning more advanced skills.

Gives young children around ages 4 and 5 a positive, developmentally appropriate aquatic learning experience that emphasizes water safety and survival concepts. Skills are age-appropriate, helping participants achieve success on a regular basis while in a class environment with their peers

Level 1
Helps participants feel comfortable in the water and enjoy the water safely.

Level 2
Builds on the skills learned in Level 1 and gives participants success with fundamental skills such as floating and basic locomotion.

Level 3
Builds on the skills in Level 2 and improves participants’ coordination of simultaneous arm and leg actions and alternating arm and leg actions.

Based on a logical, six-level progression that helps swimmers of all ages and varying abilities develop their swimming and water safety skills. It is designed to give participants a positive learning experience.

Level 1: Introduction to Water Skills
Helps participants feel comfortable in the water.

Level 2: Fundamental Aquatic Skills
Participants gain success with fundamental skills.

Level 3: Stroke Development
Builds on the skills in Level 2 through additional guided practice in deeper waters.

Level 4: Stroke Improvement
Participants develop confidence in the skills learned and improves other aquatic skills.

Level 5: Stroke Refinement
Provides further coordination and refinement of strokes.

Level 6: Swimming and Skill Proficiency
Refines the strokes so participants swim them with ease, efficiency, power and smoothness over greater distances. This level is designed with options that focus on preparing participants for lifetime fitness and safety.

Provides individuals such as public safety personnel, aquatic fitness instructors and aquatic therapists, with information and skills necessary to prevent, recognize and respond to aquatic emergencies. This course will also prepare individuals for aquatic emergencies by teaching them how to protect themselves while assisting others.

Designed to teach school-age children about water safety and drowning prevention. Fun classroom based activities covering a range of water safety topics, including lessons on sun safety, water safety around the home, and water safety in different environments, such as waterparks, lakes and rivers.