SwimWest Swim School Levels
We offer group swim lessons beginning at five-months and continuing through to adults.
We also offer private and semi-private lessons for children with special needs or those who want extra attention.
The swim class descriptions and videos below are designed to help you choose the correct swimming lesson level for your child.
We offer open sessions and teach on an individual basis, you are free to join mid-session with prorated
lessons fees. If you need additional assistance in choosing the correct lesson level, please contact us.
Parent Tot
Ages 5 to 24 Months
The focus of this class is to create a nurturing aquatic environment through songs, activities, and
one-on-one attention. Join your little one as they learn the primary water
skills including back
floats, submersions, jump-ins, rollover breathing, and water play.
Little Snapper
With parent in water; ages 21 Months to 3 Years
We focus on getting your little one comfortable in the water, with mom or dad. The class will work on
beginner skills with assistance from the instructor as well as the parent. When your child's comfort
grows, the parent will gradually transition out of the class.
Angelfish
No parents in water; ages 2 to 3 Years This beginner class is designed for older toddlers who are ready to learn water skills without having
a parent in the water.
Skills include back floating with assistance, rollovers, jumping in to the
instructor, climbing out of the pool, and putting their face in the water.
Blowfish
Ages 3 to 5 Years
If your child has
little to no fear of the water and is okay with getting their
face wet in the bathtub, this class is a perfect match! We focus on floating on backs and tummies, breath control, and
safety jumps. This class will help your child achieve overall comfort in the water.
Clownfish
This is our advanced beginner class and is perfect for a child who is still working on those basic swim
skills but not quite ready to move to deeper water. Children will make the transition from assisted
swimming to swimming on their own.
Jellyfish
Our Jellyfish level is for children who are comfortable swimming on their own and are ready to learn the
strokes.
They will work on rollover breathing, sit dives, breaststoke, elementary backstroke, and safety jumps.
Jellyfish is the first level where swimmers move to deeper water and gain confidence with their skills.
Seal
Swimmers in this level should have basic knowledge of the front crawl and backstroke. We emphasize
breaststroke arms with pop-up breathing, sit dives, front crawl, side breathing, and backstroke
with a strong flutter kick.
Seahorse
Children will swim approximately a half length of our pool. Swimmers will receive an introduction
to all of the competitive strokes with a focus on freestyle, backstroke, and breaststroke.
Octopus
This level requires swimmers to have a solid freestyle and backstroke. There is an emphasis on treading
water, timing of the breaststroke, elementary backstroke, and butterfly with keyhole arms. Swimmers will
work up to swimming one full length of the pool.
Click on your desired location and session to see available Octopus classes:
Deming: Winter 2012Spring 2012Summer 2012Fall 2012
Fitchburg: Winter 2012Spring 2012Summer 2012Fall 2012
Manatee
This level is designed for advanced students who can swim one length of the pool comfortably. We work
on specific stroke techniques, standing dives, and the timing and breathing of the butterfly.
Whale
Swimmers in the Whale level must have the endurance to swim two lengths of the pool using freestyle,
backstroke, and breaststroke, as well as swim one full length of the butterfly.
Dolphin
Our Dolphin level will prepare children for our upper levels by working towards swimming four lengths
of the pool using all the competitive strokes. Swimmers will also work on starts for all the strokes, a continuous five-minute swim, and diving off the blocks.
Shark 1 - 8 years old and under
In the first level of our Swim Team, we work on stroke refinement at a competitive level. Children
will refine all of the strokes while swimming 100 yards. Swimmers will work on drills,
sprints, and relays.
Shark 2 - 9
years old & up
Shark 2 Swim Team emphasizes endurance of swimming 200 yards with refinement of all four strokes. Children will work on mastering long shallow dives off the blocks, relay starts, and flip turns.
Click on your desired session to see available Swim Team times:
Deming: Winter 2012Spring 2012Summer 2012Fall 2012
Fitchburg: Stroke Clinics are offered at our Fitchburg Location. Call for details.
Adult Class
SwimWest offers lessons for adults, too! If you're a beginner, more advanced, or just want to brush up on a particular stroke, we have the lessons for you.
We have many swimmers who join us to learn how to swim for a triathlon, for an upcoming vacation to the beach, or just for safety.
Whatever your reason, we are here to help you become a better swimmer.
Private Lessons Semi-Private: Designed for two swimmers, semi-private lessons bridge
private and group interaction. In this class, the swimmers are taught at their individual level,
taking into consideration their physical, emotional, mental, and social development. This program
is for children whose parents feel they need more individual attention before they can succeed in
a group setting.
Private: Designed for individual swimmers, private swim lessons for children
who need individual attention to achieve success. These lessons are used to develop a strong competency
in the water.
Special Needs Programs SwimWest has 20 years of experience with our Special Needs program. We offer specialized swimming lessons to children and adults with:
Physical Challenges
Hearing or Visual Impairments
Downs Syndrome
Autism
SwimWest Swim School is a safe environment where your child will gain confidence in the water and where
their personalities will really shine through. We offer private or semi-private lessons at a discounted rate,
and accommodate a child having their personal therapist in the water.
Scout Program
We have certified staff to help your Brownies, Cubs, or Scouts earn their swimming and water badges.
Our Scout Programs cover all the necessary skills while also incorporating water games. Our low
rates make it easy for all troops and children to afford to earn these special badges. For details,
click here.
Home School Program
SwimWest offers lessons to our local home school families at a discounted rate. For more information,
click here.
Open Swim Times
Looking for our Open Swim schedule?
Click Here!Free Trial Swim Class
Interested in trying a class before signing up?
We've got you covered. Every new family is welcome to a free trial class or free pass to our
family open swim. Call for details.Connect with SwimWest
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Read the latest blog entries from Karen Kittelson below:
The Fish Tales Blog |
The Safety BlogSwimWest Program Schedule
Need dates and times? Click your desired location
below for a complete program schedule.
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FitchburgSwim&Gym Summer Camp
Swimming, gymnastics, basketball, soccer, tennis, and fun theme weeks... you'll find it all at Swim&Gym Summer Camp!
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Looking for our Open Swim schedule? 
Free Trial Swim Class
Interested in trying a class before signing up?
We've got you covered. Every new family is welcome to a free trial class or free pass to our
family open swim. 
Read the latest blog entries from Karen Kittelson below:
Need dates and times? Click your desired location
below for a complete program schedule.
Swimming, gymnastics, basketball, soccer, tennis, and fun theme weeks... you'll find it all at Swim&Gym Summer Camp!