Summer Swim Lessons: Ages 6mo+

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SWIM LESSONS at the Southbury Town Pool at Ballantine Park

Swim lessons at the Southbury Town Pool are offered on a first come first served basis. Class size is limited so please register early. There are many lessons to choose from on weekday mornings and evenings and Saturday mornings.
 
 
Swim Lesson Sessions for Summer 2026 are as follows:
 
          Monday & Wednesday Morning      Session A     June 22 – July 8
          Monday & Wednesday Morning      Session B     July 13 – July 29
         
          Monday-Thursday Evening             Session A     June 22 – July 9
          Monday-Thursday Evening             Session B     July 13 – July 30
         
          Saturday Morning                         One Session     June 27 - August 8
                                                                                   *no class July 4


All morning lessons are 30 minutes long; the evening Level 5 lesson will run for 45 minutes.


Swim Lesson Level Descriptions:
 
Parent & Tot Lessons: AGES 6 mo.-3yrs.
This is an introduction to water where the parent/guardian is in the water with the child. Children will enjoy splashing, floating, kicking, and group activities with parents and other children their age. The goal is to acclimate our youngest pre-swimmers to an aquatic environment at an early age so they are comfortable, happy and ready to learn the basic swimming skills at the next level without a parent.  Any children who are not potty-trained MUST wear a swimming diaper AND a bathing suit OR plastic pants.
 
This program is for children ages 6 months to 3 years old.

 
Preschool Lessons: AGES 3-5yrs.
This water readiness class enables younger swimmers to enjoy the water without a parent/guardian. Together with instructors, they will take part in various games, songs and activities designed to make them comfortable in the water while providing the basics needed to swim. The goal of this lesson will be for the child to feel confident enough to put their face in the water. All participants should be able to separate from their parent easily.

 
Level 1  BUBBLERS
This lesson helps children feel comfortable in the water while they learn elementary water and safety skills. Swimmers must be able to separate easily from parents. The goal is to build confidence and begin to feel comfortable with breath holding, putting their face in, blowing bubbles, bobbing with bubbles, and forward movement. The goal is to and move forward in the water at least 5 feet with their face in.
 

Level 2 FLOATERS
Level 2 FLOATERS must be able to put their face in, hold their breath, bob and blow bubbles. Swimmers will learn to float on their front and back and glide a bit on both sides. Fundamental kicking and breathing skills will be introduced. Focus will be on encouraging floating and gliding forward in the water for several feet.  
 
 
Level 3 KICKERS
Level 3 KICKERS must be able to hold their breath and float independently. Swimmers will learn to combine kicking with gliding on their front and on their back. They will work to develop endurance needed to kick 15 feet. Jumping into deep water will be introduced with gliding and kicking back to the wall encouraged.   


Level 4 CRAWLERS
Level 4 swimmers will continue to build confidence in the water and will continue to work on breathing, gliding and kicking on top of the water, both on their fronts and on their backs. Swimmers will work to get their arms out of the water, on their fronts and on their backs. Rotary breathing with freestyle arm stroke will be added, and swimmers will work to coordinate breathing with freestyle arms and legs in order to swim for at least 20 feet. The goal will be to swim a full lap without stopping.


Level 5 SWIMMERS
Swimmers will continue to build endurance in the water and will continue to work on the freestyle technique. Emphasis will be on coordinating freestyle breathing with freestyle arms and legs, as well as proper arm rotation with backstroke kicking. Breaststroke and butterfly will be introduced. The goal is to swim 2 laps of the pool without stopping. Racing starts will be introduced in this lesson.

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Swim Lesson Need to Know:
 
Please arrive 5 minutes prior to your child’s lesson so they benefit from the entire lesson and do not have to join once the lesson is underway.
 
Children should arrive for lessons in their swim suit. Children with long hair should have their hair tied up in a ponytail. Please have goggles for your child if they want to wear them. The pool will not be able to supply goggles.
 
Once delivering your child to the designated lesson area, please move to a chair away from the poolside. We encourage you to watch the lesson but advise that you remain away from the pool side. Please do not hover; don’t send the message to your child that you don’t trust the instructors by lingering at the side of the pool. Please remain in your viewing spot throughout the entire lesson.
 
Instructors reserve the right to determine your child’s skill level and adjust class placement if necessary.

Program registration is for the totality of the program. Make-up lessons due to weather cancellations are not always possible.



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STP Swim Lesson Weather Policy:
 
We hope for beautiful, warm and sunny days for our swim lessons. However, Mother Nature often has a different plan. 
 
Swim lessons at STP will take place as scheduled if it is drizzly or raining. We will not hold lessons if there is torrential rain, thunder or lightning. 
 
We will make the decision to hold lessons a half hour prior to the start of the first lesson of the day. Please check for Alerts posted on the MyRec Home page.


We look forward to seeing you at the pool!

In order to serve you better, Southbury Parks and Recreation's programs are subject to change. All Parks and Recreation programs are covered by the Universal Disclaimer.