The children’s group lessons below are taught by American Red Cross Water Safety Instructors and follow the American Red Cross “Learn-to-Swim” guidelines. We will offer levels one and above. Each level is offered during most sessions so siblings of different ages and abilities can take classes during the same day and time.

Private swimming lessons are also available on a one-on-one or semi-private (maximum 3 students) basis.

Additionally, we will be offering an American Red Cross Lifeguard Training Course. This program is available for anyone fifteen years or older. A student who passes this course will be eligible for pool lifeguarding.

Children's Group Lessons

We will be offering 5 “Learn-to-Swim” levels this spring. Each level is determined by the American Red Cross “Learn-to-Swim” guidelines, which are meant to “teach aquatic and safety skills in a logical progression. The objective is to teach people to swim and to be safe in, on and around the water.”

Classes meet on Tuesday afternoons and Saturday mornings for five weeks/section. Students aged 6 and younger (primarily levels one, two, and three) have ½ hour lessons and lessons for swimmers aged 7 and above (primarily levels three and above) are 45 minutes. The lessons begin promptly at the start time listed below.

While acceptance into Levels 3, 4, and 5 is based on skill rather than age, parents are asked to send to the Office of Special Programs any documentation or swimming lessons certifications that their child/ren has/have received from other swim instructors/programs if they are new to the Sarah Lawrence College program.

To register online, click on the link below. Please be mindful that the section numbers refer to the dates/times of the class and not to the levels. Email specialprograms@sarahlawrence.edu with the level in which your child will be enrolling.

Cost:  $115/section

Saturday Lessons

Saturdays, February 6, 13, 20, 27; March 6

Section 1:  9:30-10:15 a.m. Register Online»
Section 3: 10:15-11 a.m. Register Online»
Section 5: 11 -11:45 a.m. Register Online»

Saturdays, April 10, 17, 24; May 1, 8

Section 2:  9:30-10:15 a.m. Register Online»
Section 4: 10:15-11 a.m. Register Online»
Section 6: 11 -11:45 a.m. Register Online»

Tuesday Lessons

Tuesdays, February 2, 9, 16, 23; March 2

Section 7:  3:30-4:15 p.m. Register Online»
Section 9:  4:15-5 p.m. Register Online»

Tuesdays, April 6, 13, 20, 27; May 4

Section 8:  3:30-4:15 p.m. Register Online»
Section 10:  4:15-5 p.m. Register Online»

Parent and Child Aquatics Level 1

Prerequisite: Child swimmers 6 months-2 years old.

Help familiarize your child to the water: he or she will learn how to put his or her face into the water; experience buoyancy and more. Parents will learn basic water safety rules. Class size average is six students taught by one instructor and one swim aide. Each lesson is ½ hour. A parent or caregiver must accompany each child into the water and participate in each lesson.

Offered Saturdays in Sections 1, 2 ONLY

Download a fact sheet about Parent and Child Aquatics Level 1 (PDF format)

Parent and Child Aquatics Level 2

Prerequisite: Child swimmers 2-4 years old.

Continue to explore the water through submerging, gliding and changing body position. Class size average is six students taught by one instructor and one swim aide. Students will begin developing positive attitudes, good swimming habits and safe practices in and around the water. Each lesson is ½ hour.

Offered Saturdays in Sections 1, 2 ONLY

Download a fact sheet about Parent and Child Aquatics Level 2 (PDF format)

Level 1: Introduction to Water Skills

Prerequisite: Students must be at least 4 years old.

Class size average is six students taught by one instructor and one swim aide. Students will begin developing positive attitudes, good swimming habits and safe practices in and around the water. Each lesson is ½ hour.

Offered in ALL Tuesday Sections; Offered Saturdays in Sections 3, 4; 5, 6 ONLY

Download a fact sheet about Level 1 (PDF format)

Level 2: Fundamental Aquatic Skills

Prerequisite: Students must have passed Level 1

Class size average is six students taught by one instructor and one swim aide. This level will give participants a chance to increase their fundamental skills, including learning how to float without support and to recover to a vertical position. Each lesson is ½ hour.

Offered in ALL Tuesday Sections; Offered Saturdays in Sections 3, 4; 5, 6 ONLY

Download a fact sheet about Level 2 (PDF format)

Level 3: Stroke Development

Prerequisite: Students must have passed Level 2

Class size average is eight students taught by one instructor and one swim aide. Students will build on the skills learned in Level 2 through additional guided practice in deeper water. Skills taught include the survival float, back float, treading water, rotary breathing, front crawl, elementary backstroke, flutter, scissor, dolphin and breaststroke kicks in front, and swim unsupported for 15 yards. Each lesson is 45 minutes.

Offered in ALL SECTIONS

Download a fact sheet about Level 3 (PDF format)

Level 4: Stroke Improvement

Prerequisite: Students must have passed Level 3

Class size average is eight students taught by one instructor. Here, students develop confidence in the strokes learned in Level 3 and improve other aquatic skills including swimming under water, feetfirst surface dive, front crawl and backstroke open turns, treading water using two different kicks, front and back crawl, breaststroke, elementary backstroke, butterfly, and sidestroke. Each lesson is 45 minutes.

Offered in ALL SECTIONS

Download a fact sheet about Level 4 (PDF format)

Level 5: Stroke Refinement

Prerequisite: Students must have passed Level 4

Class size average is eight students taught by one instructor. Students will learn further coordination and refinement of strokes, how to tuck, pike surface dives, submerging completely, front flip turn and backstroke flip turn while swimming, and continue to refine their breaststroke, butterfly, sidestroke, and the front and back crawl. Students will also work on building endurance by swimming longer distances. Each lesson is 45 minutes.

Offered in ALL SECTIONS

Download a fact sheet about Level 5 (PDF format)

Pre-Competitive Programs

These programs were developed as a means to teach developmental swimmers the skills needed to become a competitive swimmer. Classes are formatted based on a competitive practice with focus on increasing speed, endurance, and technique. Classes are larger to have the feel of a team practice without the competitive commitment of a team.

Youth Swim for Fitness (5-9 years)

Prerequisite:  Students must have completed Level 4 and received staff recommendation

Emphasis is on improving stroke techniques through swimming drills and endurance swimming. Some emphasis will be on competitive starts and turns depending on the make-up and skill level of the group. There is one instructor per fifteen swimmers. Each lesson is 45 minutes.

Offered in ALL TUESDAY SECTIONS

Intramurals (10 – 18 years)

Prerequisite:  Students must have completed Level 5 and received a staff recommendation

Emphasis is on endurance swimming and increasing a swimmer’s ability to race effectively. Some emphasis will be on stroke technique, but instructor will focus on the use of stroke drills and kicking during endurance building sets. Some emphasis will be on competitive starts and turns depending on the make-up and skill level of the group. There is one instructor for thirty swimmers. Each lesson is 45 minutes.

Offered Saturdays in Sections 1 and 2 ONLY

Private Swimming Lessons

Whatever your age, these lessons will help you whether you’re a beginner or seeking to improve your aquatic skills. These lessons will be taught by certified Water Safety Instructors on an individual or semi-private basis.

These lessons will be available on Saturdays and Sundays from 1:30-2:30 p.m.; from 6-6:30 p.m. on Monday–Friday evenings; or from 8-9 a.m. on Monday–Friday mornings. Sandra Clarke, the Aquatics Director will coordinate the scheduling of lessons. For more information on availability, please contact us at specialprograms@sarahlawrence.edu. You can also register by clicking on the link below.

Lessons are offered in groups of six lessons:

$300/6 lessons; one-half hour long
$450/6 lessons; 1 hour long
Register Online»

For semi-private lessons (up to 3 students), there is a 10% discount for each student or:

$270/6 lessons; one-half hour long
$405/6 lessons; 1 hour long
Register Online»

Lifeguard Training Course

Using the curriculum of the American Red Cross Lifeguard Training program, we are happy to offer students aged fifteen years and older an opportunity to gain the skills necessary to become a lifeguard. This intensive course will meet over a weekend, from Friday afternoon to Sunday evening.

The purpose of this program is to teach lifeguards the skills and knowledge needed to prevent and respond to aquatic emergencies at a swimming pool. You will learn skills needed on the job as well as first aid and CPR/AED for lifeguards.

Prerequisite: There are a number of prerequisites to this course. Please review the full program requirements before enrolling. You will need to complete page two of the attachment and return it along with your registration.

Instructors:  Sandra Clarke; Tara Vandenbosch
Summer lessons have housing and meal plans available. You must be at least 16 years old. All high school participants are supervised in the evenings by a residential counselor who is a Sarah Lawrence College student.
$400/section
Housing: $100 (3 nights housing – check-in: Friday between 4-6 p.m.; check-out: by Monday at 1 p.m.)
Meal Plan: $75 (includes dinner Friday; all meals on Saturday and Sunday; breakfast and lunch on Monday)
Register Online»

Section 1:  Friday, April 9-Sunday, April 11 (Limited to 24 students)

Class Schedule:
Friday:  4 – 8 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday:  8 am – 6 p.m.

Section 2: Saturday, June 5-Monday, June 7 (Limited to 12 students)
Section 3: Saturday, June 12-Monday, June 14 (Limited to 12 students)

Class Schedule:
Saturdays and Sundays:  8 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Mondays:  8 a.m. – 12 p.m.