Aquatics

The YMCA of Greater Providence Aquatics Program offers an opportunity for individuals to become immersed in much more than water. The therapeutic benefits of water-based activities, coupled with increased self-esteem gained from exceeding the expectations of oneself, keeps people coming back to enjoy a lifetime of fun and good health.

YMCA Aquatics is not simply a way to have fun. Learning how to swim and other water-safety activities are wholesome community activities that help prevent drownings and water-related deaths. 
 
All YMCA swim lessons have five key components: Personal Safety, Personal Growth, Stroke Development, Water Sports & Games and Rescue. Also, our swim classes are progressive in nature – each age group has levels from beginner to advanced. Children advance in levels depending on their individual progress. In the descriptions below, the levels are indicated in caps.

For details about the following offerings, click here for a program guide. 

 

  • Parent/Child Classes

    SKIP’s
    Ages 6 to 36 months with parents
    This is a parent and child enrichment program. Through songs and nursery rhymes, children are encouraged to be comfortable in the pool and learn beginning swim strokes.

  • Pike With Parent

    Ages 3 to 5 with parents
    Parents accompany children in the water. Children begin to learn skills with parents and prepare to move on to lessons independently.

  • Family Swim

    During these recreational swim times, all children under the age of 12 must be accompanied by a parent or adult guardian. Children 7 and under, and beginning swimmers must be accompanied by an adult in the water. New swimmers must be evaluated by the lifeguard and successfully pass a quick skills test to be permitted in the water without a parent. Lifeguards are able to provide noodles. Diving rings and small toys are allowed only when there are few swimmers. Lifeguards have full discretion to determine safety policies. No instructional equipment is allowed.

  • Preschool Swim Lessons

    Ages 3 to 5
    This program will focus primarily on swimming skills and safety. Preschoolers will concentrate on being comfortable in the water and improving their swimming abilities. They will learn and refine their strokes and develop personal safety skills.

    • Pike - Beginner: Children learn how to paddle on front, back, and sides, and to float on both front and back.  Instructional floatation devices used.
    • Eel - Advanced Beginner: Children work on developing endurance, rhythmic breathing, jumping in, and horizontal body position.  Instructional floatation devices used. 
    • Ray - Intermediate: Children work on swimming the length of the pool front and back, and are introduced to rotary breathing, treading water, and sitting dives.  Children must be able to swim without an instructional floatation device. 
    • Starfish - Advanced: Children develop style and technique in both swimming and diving, and learn the crawl stroke with rotary breathing and the backstroke. Children must swim without a flotation device an demonstrate an understanding of rotary breathing.



  • Youth Swim Lessons

    Ages 6 - 12
    This program will focus primarily on swimming skills and safety. Youth swimmers will concentrate on being comfortable in the water and improving their swimming abilities. They will learn and refine their strokes and develop personal safety skills.  Youth members are encouraged in addition to class instruction to come to youth lap swim once a week.

    • Polliwog - Beginner: Children learn beginning paddle skills, water safety, front and back floats, and reaching assists.  Instructional floatation device may be used.
    • Guppy - Advanced Beginner: Children begin working on front crawl, sidestroke, backstroke, and rhythmic breathing.  Child must be able to swim without an instructional floatation device. 
    • Minnow - Intermediate: Your child will work on further developing front and back crawl and breaststroke, increasing endurance, and learning emergency procedures and personal safety. YMIN
    • Fish - Advanced Intermediate: Your child will continue refining all five main strokes, including breaststroke and elementary backstroke, and begin learning the dolphin kick and basic first aid, with a goal of swimming 200 yards of front crawl, backstroke and elementary backstroke in good form. YFIS
    • Flying Fish/Shark - Advanced: Your child will continue refining all five main strokes, including inverted breaststroke, trudged crawl, and elementary backstroke, with a focus on improving efficiency and endurance, as well as the individual medley, lifesaving medley, front and back flip turns, and streamlining with a goal to swim 200 yards of front crawl, backstroke and elementary backstroke in good form. 

  • Teen Swim Lessons

    Ages 11 to 15
    You will learn basic swimming skills, such as the crawl stroke, breathing techniques, and floating, to help you gain confidence in the water. Our trained instructors will individualize the class to meet your personal needs.

  • Adult Swim Lessons

    Beginner - You will learn basic swimming skills such as the crawl stroke, breathing techniques, and floating to help you gain confidence in the water. Our trained instructors will individualize the class to meet your personal needs. This class is limited to 6 participants.

    Intermediate - Adults with some swimming skills will learn the proper technique of front crawl and backstroke, while increasing swimming endurance. This class is limited to 6 participants.

 

  • Private Swim Lessons

    Private swim lessons are available at the Kent County YMCA for swimmers of all ages. For additional information, contact Jeannie Hindle, Associate Aquatics Director at 828-0130 or at jhindle@gpymca.org.

  • Porpoise Club

    The Porpoise Club is an aquatic program that allows pre-teens ages 10 to 15 to continue to develop their swimming abilities in a non-competitive environment. In addition to swimming skills, the Porpoise Club will incorporate advanced aquatic skills in a positive, social atmosphere. Along with aquatic skills, the Porpoise Club will focus on team building and leadership training. Must be at Fish Level or above. 

  • Stroke & Endurance

    This class will concentrate on stroke mechanics of crawl, back, breast and fly stroke and endurance swimming. Students meet for class once a week and are to attend a Youth Lap swim once a week. This class is designed for Minnow level and above.

  • Aquatics Trainings

    Please see the program guide for dates and times.


  • Water Exercise

    Deep Water Exercise
    Work on cardiovascular fitness and muscular strength and endurance by alternating high- and low-intensity activities in the deep end. You will use a variety of flotation aids, such as kickboards and woggles, for a fully suspended workout with greater freedom of movement. Easy to modify for various fitness levels. 

  • Y’s Way to Water Exercise

    This popular water exercise program for men and women of all fitness levels includes both cardiovascular and stretching routines.  You don’t need to be a good swimmer to participate in this program.    

  • YMCA "Water Works" 

     This is a therapeutic water exercise program designed to increase strength, balance and mobility. Great for people recovering from an injury, or those with a medical condition such as M.S., Arthritis or Parkinson’s. This class is a low-impact workout for all levels of ability and mobility.

  • Adult Lap/ Leisure Swim

    Swimmers must be 16 years of age to attend. Lap lanes are set up for different speeds of swimmers, using a single file continuous circle formation. One lane is reserved for leisure swimming, which can include water exercise, water walking or rehab workouts which occur in single file. Lifeguards may ask swimmers to change lap lanes to accommodate all levels.

  • Facilities

     Our 25-yard, four-lane pool is host to lap swimmers, water exercisers and swim lessons for all ages and abilities.  Three feet at the shallow end to 9 feet at the deepest, the pool is kept between 82 and 84 degrees. Individual family locker rooms are convenient and offer privacy for families with children of opposite sex. 

  • Pool Rentals

    Pool rental is available to local schools and organizations on a limited basis. For more information please contact Carol Vigeant, Aquatic Director at 828-0130 or at mbombard@gpymca.org

  • Birthday Parties

    Pool Birthday Parties are convenient and fun for families who want to keep the mess out of the house, and provide the kids with a memorable party. See the program guide for details.

Back to top

  • Home Pool Program

    Ages 6 Months-14 Years
    Why not have swim lessons in your own backyard? We will bring the same quality swim instruction we offer at the YMCA to your pool. All the instructors have been trained through the YMCA in their specialty areas of Preschool and Youth Aquatic Instruction. We’ll even bring the lifeguard. For additional information, please contact Jeannie Hindle, Associate Aquatic Director at 828-0130 or at mbombard@gpymca.org.

  • Boy Scout Programs

     The YMCA in conjunction with the R.I. Narragansett Council of Boy Scouts of America is proud to offer special programs for cub scouts and boy scouts. The class will include lecture and pool/fitness time. For more details, please contact Carol Vigeant, Aquatic Director at 828-0130 or at mbombard@gpymca.org.

  • When Can I Swim?

    Click here for a current aquatic schedule


                                                                                                                              Back to top
Boy swimming with goggles