Swim Lessons

The City of Mountain View offers an American Red Cross Learn to Swim Program with some additional enhancements to provide the highest quality of swim instruction available. Our classes are taught by qualified and certified instructors. Classes may have volunteers or aides assigned to help increase the attention and practice your child receives. Lessons are tailored to age (infant, preschool, school-age) and skill level.  To register for classes please refer to the Summer Recreation Guide as posted on the main Recreation Division page.

Helpful Hints for Registration

• Children must be 6 years old before the first class for Levels I through VI. No exceptions.
• Weekday classes meet Monday through Thursday for 2 weeks.  
• Please register children for the appropriate level based on his/her skills. If you need help understanding which level your child should be registered for you can call the Senior Recreation Coordinator for Aquatics at (650) 903-6405.
• Participants will be tested on the first day of class. If a student’s ability does not meet the minimum class requirements, every effort will be made at the pool to transfer the student to the first available class at his/her level.
• Classes will not be overloaded to accommodate children registered in incorrect level.
• Students may be registered for only one class per session.
• Students progress at different rates and may take more than one session to pass a level.
• Children in diapers must wear a swim diaper during class. No exceptions.
• Classes that do not meet the minimum enrollment will be cancelled. Participants will be notified, and our best will be done to find another class.
• Our goal is to offer a ratio of 1:8 for Parent and Tot and Level III through VI and a ratio of 1:6 for Preschool Aquatics and Levels I and II.
• To register for classes please visit the Mountain View Community Center located at 201 South Rengstorff Ave Mountain View CA 94039 and refer to the Summer Recreation Guide as posted on the main Recreation Division page.

Lesson Level Descriptions

PARENT AND TOT I
Have fun with your child learning to enjoy the water in a safe and comfortable environment. Instructors will assist parents and tots in water adjustment, water entries/exits, underwater exploration, arm and leg movements, water safety and more. This class is designed for children ages 1 to 3 who cannot swim. Each child must be accompanied in the water by an adult, one child per adult. Children must wear a swim diaper.

PARENT AND TOT II
Have fun with your child learning to enjoy the water in a safe and comfortable environment. Instructors will assist parents and tots in underwater exploration, arm and leg movements, floats and glides water safety and more. This class is designed for children ages 3 to 5 years, who have a level of comfort in the water. Each child must be accompanied in the water by an adult, one child per adult. Children in diapers must wear a swim diaper.

PRESCHOOL
This class is designed for ages 3 - 5 years old who are comfortable in a class setting. Completion of a Parent and Tot class is recommended. Children will be in the water without a parent, and without a flotation device. The focus will be on increasing comfort in the water, improving skill consistency. Children in diapers must wear a swim diaper.

LEVEL I
Introduction to Water Skills-This class is for children ages 5 and up who have some level of comfort in the water and in a small-group learning environment. Students will learn elementary aquatic skills, including floats and glides, underwater exploration and kicking in a controlled direction. Water safety sills and practices in and around the water will also be taught.

LEVEL II
Fundamental Aquatic Skills–In order to enter this class, your child must be able to enter and exit the water independently, float on their front and roll onto their back (with assistance), and demonstrate alternating combined stroke on front using any type of arm and leg action.

LEVEL III
Stroke Development-In order to enter this class, your child must be able to enter the water by stepping or jumping from the side, submerge entire head (5 seconds) and blow bubbles/bob head (5 times), swim on front (combined arm and leg action) 15’ unsupported, swim on back (combined arm and leg action) 10’ unsupported, float on their front and roll onto their back (unassisted).

LEVEL IV
Stroke Improvement-In order to enter this class, your child must be able to jump into deep water from the side, front-glide and back-glide 10’ each (unsupported). In deep water change direction from horizontal to vertical position, swim front crawl and demonstrate rhythmic breathing 15 yards, back-crawl 15 yards, butterfly kick 15 and tread water for 30 seconds.

LEVEL V
Stroke Refinement-In order to enter this class, your child must be able to swim underwater at least 3 body lengths, tread water using legs and sculling for 1 minute, demonstrate 25 yards of front crawl and back crawl; and 15 yards of butterfly, breaststroke, elementary back stroke; and swim on side with a scissor kick.

LEVEL VI
Swimming Proficiency and Lifeguard Readiness/Fitness Swimmer
In order to enter this class, your child must be able to complete a shallow dive from the side; swim underwater at least 15 yards; demonstrate a flip turn while swimming on front and back; tread water for 2 minutes; swim 50 yards each front crawl and back crawl; and swim 25 yards butterfly, breaststroke, elementary backstroke and sidestroke. Sessions 1 and 3 focus on Fitness Swimmer. Sessions 2 and 4 focus on Lifeguard Readiness.

ADULT/TEEN SWIM LESSONS (15 years and older)
For the non-swimmer and beginner, basic strokes and water safety will be taught. For the beginner to intermediate-level swimmer, with some swimming ability, additional strokes will be taught with an emphasis on building endurance.