Lessons

Swim lessons for all abilities are available for students year round, from 6 months of age through Senior Citizens. Placement tests are held free of charge to determine proper class level. Specialty classes are offered, including Lifeguard Training, Water Safety Instructor, Diving, Pre-Comp, and CPR. Private and semi-private lessons are also available. Please call for class schedule and registration information.

Registration Policy

With the necessary placement test, registration can be done by phone or in person. Lesson series are open for registration, with payment, three months before they begin. Each patron may be registered in a maximum of two lesson series, including the current lesson series. Phone registration is accepted with VISA, MasterCard, or Discover. Classes not sufficiently filled may be moved, combined, or canceled. A practice card is issued with each set of swimming lessons. Each punch represents one admission to scheduled Adult, Lap, Public or Family Swims. Adult lessons are also available. Please call or stop by the pool to schedule your lessons.

Free Placement Test

Patrons who have not attended lessons in the six months prior to the start of a lesson series, are required to have a placement test before registering for lessons. The placement test includes an introduction to the pool and evaluates a student's readiness, responsiveness and skill knowledge. Proper class placement is vital to a student's success. Placement Tests are available M – Th at 11:30 am and at 7:30 pm. Please come 15 minutes early.

Credit and Refund Policy

Because of scheduling, we do not make up classes. All refunds and credits are subject to King County Park System refund policy. This is posted at the pool and is available by phone. A $5.00 refund processing fee may be applied to each lesson registration or other cancellation.

King County Parks offers swimming lessons that follow the American Red Cross "Learn to Swim" program and are grouped by age, learning ability, and swimming skill. The four age groupings are:

Parent Infant and Parent Toddler (6 months - 3 years with parent)
Preschool (3 - 5 years)
Youth (6 - 14 years)
Adult (15 and up)

Preschool and Youth students who have not attended lessons in the six months prior to the start of a lesson series are required to have a placement test before registering for lessons. The placement test includes an introduction to the pool and evaluates a student's readiness, responsiveness, and skill knowledge. Proper class placement is vital to a student's success.

We want every child's swimming instruction experience to be positive and fun filled. If you have questions or concerns about the instruction program, please talk to the pool manager, senior instructor, or your child's instructor.

Instructors teaching parent-tot, adults, and all advanced level courses are certified Red Cross Water Safety Instructors (WSI). Instructors teaching beginning level classes are certified Red Cross Water Safety Instructors (WSI) or Water Safety Aides (WSA). All swimming instructors are certified Red Cross Lifeguards.

Parent Infant and Parent Toddler (Ages 6 Months - 3 Years with parent)
The infant learning progression of this program provides a basic introduction to the aquatic environment focusing on the parent and child as one learning unit. Course Objectives: observation and practice of safe and effective use of floatation devices; introduction to supported movement and other skills in the water; positive exposure to water adjustment activities; and, introduction to appropriate water safety skills. It is important to understand that this program is not designed to teach children to become accomplished swimmers, or even to survive in the water on their own. The program provides information and techniques for parents to orient their children to the water and to learn how to safely supervise all water activities.

Preschool 1 (Ages 3 - 6 Years)
Preschool Level 1 develops a comfort level in and around water, as well as a readiness for "Learning to Swim." Course Objectives: positive exposure to water adjustment skills; introduction to elementary propulsion in the water, and introduction to basic water safety skills.

Preschool 2 (Ages 3 - 6 Years)
Preschool Level 2 develops a comfort level in and around the water, as well as swimming skills. Course Objectives: develop floating skills: front and back; introduction to unassisted swimming; develop breath control -- rhythmic breathing skills and safety skills.

Preschool 3 (Ages 3 - 6 Years)
Preschool Level 3 introduces crawl stroke; combined stoke on the back and deep-water adjustment. Course Objectives: development of crawl stroke; development of combined stroke on back; adjustment to deep water and safety skills.

Preschool 4 (Ages 3 - 6 Years)
Preschool Level 4 further develops advanced swimming skills. Course Objectives: develop strength and endurance; refine crawl stroke and deep water skills; and safety skills.

Preschool 5 (Ages 3 - 6 Years)
Preschool Level 5 provides students who have completed the basic preschool series the opportunity to become efficient in advanced skills. Course Objectives: introduction to advanced swimming strokes and skills; maintain proper stroke technique for long distances; and increased awareness of personal water safety.

Youth 1 (Ages 6 - 14 Years)
Youth Level 1 is an introduction to personal water safety education. Course Objectives: positive exposure to adjustment skills; development of skills basic to swimming; and introduction to personal safety awareness in and around the water.

Youth 2 (Ages 6 - 14 Years)
Youth Level 2 introduces crawl stroke and combined stroke on the back. Course Objectives: introduction to crawl stroke and rotary rhythmic breathing; development of basic swimming skills on the back; rescue skills and safety skills.

Youth 3 (Ages 6 - 14 Years)
Youth Level 3 introduces elementary backstroke, develops rotary rhythmic breathing and continues to refine and strengthen the crawl stroke. Course Objectives: further development of crawl stroke and rotary breathing; swimming in deep water and development of other deep water skills; rescue skills and safety skills.

Youth 4 (Ages 6 - 14 Years)
Youth Level 4 emphasizes increased coordination and endurance. Course Objectives: further development of deep-water skills; increased endurance and refinement of crawl stroke and backstroke; introduction to breaststroke and sidestroke; and safety skills.

Youth 5 (Ages 6 - 14 Years)
Youth Level 5 promotes self-help skills and introduces advanced stroke technique and further develops endurance levels. Course Objectives: further development of elementary backstroke, breaststroke and sidestroke; perform crawl stroke, backstroke and elementary backstroke with increased distances; diving from diving board; introduction to self-help skills; and safety skills.

Youth 6 (Ages 6 - 14 Years)
Youth Level 6 polishes strokes so students swim them with more ease, efficiency, power, and smoothness over greater distances. Course Objectives: improved endurance and proficiency of crawl stroke, backstroke, sidestroke, and butterfly; introduction to approach stroke, flip turns, surface dives, and spinal injury management; and safety skills.

Youth 7 (Ages 6 - 14 Years)
Youth Level 7 promotes proficiency in fundamental strokes and skills. Students will be exposed to good water safety habits. Course Objectives: improved endurance and proficiency of crawl stroke, backstroke, sidestroke, and butterfly; proper springboard diving techniques and back flip turns; spinal injury management and conditioning principles; and safety skills.

Adult (Ages 15 +)
Adult lessons are structured to meet the needs of the individual students.