Heading to the pool or lake this summer with little ones? Need an activity to occupy the summer break? Want to feel more confident with your child playing in the water? Then check out our Guide to Cedar Rapids Summer Swim Lessons!

Cedar Rapids Parks and Recreation Department

The Cedar Rapids Parks and Recreation Department offers summer swim lessons to kids ages 6 months to 11 years. The department is an American Red Cross Licensed Swim Lesson Provider and offers swim lessons in the Bender (indoor), Bever, Ellis, Jones, Noelridge, and Cherry Hill pool locations. Sessions range from 2-6 weeks (depending on pool and day of the week) starting in June. Prices range from $31-$52 depending on resident/non-resident status and pre-registration is required since space is limited.

The following classes have age ranges associated with them as a guide. You need to evaluate your child’s skills to find which class is better suited for them. For further assistance, contact the department directly at 319-286-5566. Once the child graduates from one class, which may take several sessions, s/he can move up to the next level.

PuddleJumpers

Ages: 6 months-3 years
Skills: splashing, front kicking, blowing bubbles, floating front and back, submerging face, basic stroke, retrieving water toys
Locations: Bender, Bever, Ellis, Cherry Hill, Noelridge

Level 1 – Introduction to Water Skills

Ages: 3-5 years
Skills: submerging face/head, floating, blowing bubbles, gliding, bobbing, entering and exiting the water, alternating arm and leg action in preparation for performing strokes, rolling from back and front positions, retrieving submerged objects
Locations: Bender, Bever, Ellis, Cherry Hill, Jones, Noelridge

Level 2 – Fundamental Water Skills

Ages: 5-10 years
Skills: bobbing, floating, treading on water, swimming using combined leg and arm actions, swimming in chest-deep water, submerging fully, pushing off the bottom, changing positions from front to back and vertical
Locations: Bender, Bever, Ellis, Cherry Hill, Jones, Noelridge

Level 3 – Stroke Development

Ages: 5-10 years
Skills: front crawl, backstroke, jumping into the water, treading, head-first diving from a seated position, rotating in the water
Locations: Bender, Bever, Ellis, Cherry Hill, Jones, Noelridge

Level 4 – Stroke Improvement

Ages: 6-11 years
Skills: breaststroke, sidestroke, front crawl, backstroke, turning, butterfly, head-first diving from stride position, swim underwater
Locations: Bender, Bever, Ellis, Cherry Hill, Jones, Noelridge

Level 5 – Stroke Refinement

Ages: 7-11 years
Skills: diving, breaststroke, sidestroke, front crawl, backstroke, butterfly, front and back flip turns
Locations: Bever, Ellis, Cherry Hill, Jones, Noelridge

Level 6 – Fitness, Diving and Safety

Ages: 7-11 years
Skills: longer distance swimming, turns while swimming, diving from diving boards, survival floats, treading with feet only
Locations: Cherry Hill, Noelridge

For those who are a bit older and still interested in swim lessons, there are Tween/Teen (11-16yrs) and Beginner Adult (17+ years) lessons available as well.

For more information, check out the Play! Program Guide, find Class Registration and Pool Passes at the Online Registration site, or download the American Red Cross Swim App.

Eastern Iowa Swim School

The Eastern Iowa Swim School offers swim classes for students ages 3-12 at a ratio of no more than 3 students per instructor for beginner and 6 students per instructor for advanced.  Sunday (4 classes) and weekday (8 classes) sessions available. Cost varies from $60 to $115 depending on session chosen and group or private class format. A 10% discount is available for the enrollment of 3 or more students.  

During the first lesson, an assessment will be made to place the child in the correct level to properly develop their skills.

• Bobber: water comfort
• Flounder: introduction to floating, kicking, and water independence
• Minnow: increased water independence and introduction to stroke
• Dolphin: more strokes and development of freestyle & backstroke
• Shark: Swimmers will continue to refine their freestyle and backstroke skills, build endurance, and learn new skills. Must be able to swim 1 length freestyle and backstroke to enter this group (or be recommended by our staff).

Lessons are held at the Eby Fieldhouse Pool in Coe College (1220 1st Ave NE, Cedar Rapids IA 52402).

Financial assistance may be available through their booster club.

For more information, visit their website, send email to lessons@craa.org or call Coach Mary 319-382-2722.

To register for classes click here.

Linn-Mar Aquatic Center

Licensed by SwimAmerica, Linn-Mar Aquatic Center provides swimming lessons focused on technique and individual goals. Classes are offered from May 22- August 18. Cost varies from $63-$105, depending on session selected. Linn-Mar students receive a 33.33% discount.

Preschool

Ages: 3-5 years
Stages: 1-4. Introduces students to the water and teach them basic swimming skills. One teacher per 2-3 students.
Skills: water introduction, goggles, floating devices, head in water, bubbles, submerging, bobbing, floating

Beginner

Ages: 5-18 years
Stages: SwimAmerica stations 1-4. Lessons for new students who are learning basic swimming skills. One teacher per 3-4 students.
Skills: water introduction, bobbing, gliding, pushing off wall, kicking, treading water, crawl stroke

Advanced

Ages: 5-18 years
Stages: SwimAmerica stations 5-7. Classes for students who are ready to learn Freestyle with proper technique, lifetime and competitive swimming skills, and have passed the skills from Station 4. One teacher per 4-6 students.
Skills: kicking, gliding, freestyle, treading, diving, backstroke, dolphin kick, breastroke

Lessons are held at the Linn-Mar Aquatic Center (3457 North Tenth Street, Marion IA 52302).

For more information, visit their website or call 319-892-4800.

To register for classes click here.

Marion Parks and Recreation Department

The Marion Parks and Recreation Department offers several summer swim lesson options. To determine correct placement, children are assessed and placed in the corresponding level. Lessons are held from June 5th-August 4th. Sessions are two weeks long with classes on Monday-Friday, for a total of 10 classes. Registration costs $33 per child, per session. Financial assistance may be provided.

Splash!

Ages: 18 months – 2 years (with a parent)  |  Only July 10th-21st from 11:00-11:30 a.m.
Skills: Parent and child will work together in the water on games and activities designed to prepare the child for lessons.

Intro to Swim

Ages: 3 years  |  Only July 10th-21st from 11:00-11:30 a.m.
Skills: fully submerge, breathe rhythmically, floating, swimming front and back

Intro to Swim II

Ages: 10-14 years  |   For older kids who have never learned to swim. Only June 19th-30th from 11:00-11:45 a.m.

Level 1

Ages: 4+
Skills: fully submerge, breathe rhythmically, floating, swimming on front and back

Level 2

Skills: float and glide, swim a combined stroke front and back, rhythmic breathing, treading, swim on side

Level 3

Skills: front crawl, back crawl, butterfly arm and leg motions, diving, survival float, retrieve submerged object  |  Must be able to stand unassisted, in three feet of water

Level 4

Skills: front and back crawl, swim on side with scissor kick, elementary back, breaststroke, butterfly stroke, diving, underwater swimming, surface dives, open turns on front and back

Level 5

Skills: refine strokes, standing and shallow dives, pike and tuck surface dives, front and backstroke flip turns

Level 6

Skills: refine strokes, swim over greater distances. Options: personal water safety, fitness swimming, fundamentals of diving, and lifeguard readiness

Lessons are held at the Marion Municipal Swimming Pool (Willowood Park, 1855 35th Street, Marion IA 52302).

For more information visit their site, download the swim schedule, or call 319-447-3590.

To register for classes click here. Download PDF file, mail in or drop off at Marion Parks and Recreation (4500 N 10th Street, Marion IA 52302).When registering by mail, please include a self addressed, stamped envelope, for class confirmation.

YMCA of the Cedar Rapids Metropolitan Area

The YMCA offers swim lessons for youth (6-12 years), preschoolers (3-5 years), and parent/child lessons (6 months – 3 years). Sunday (4 classes) and weekday (8 classes) sessions are available. Cost varies from $20 to $78 depending on membership status, location and session.

Swim Starters 

Ages: 6 months-3 years (parent/child)
Stages: Stage A Water Discovery, Stage B Water Exploration
Locations: Helen G. Nassif YMCA, Stoney Point YMCA, Marion YMCA

Swim Basics 

Ages: Preschool (3-5 years) and Youth (6-12 years)
Stages: Stage 1 Water Acclimation, Stage 2 Water Movement and Stage 3 Water Stamina
Locations: Helen G. Nassif YMCA, Stoney Point YMCA, Marion YMCA

Swim Strokes 

Ages: Preschool (3-5 years) and Youth (6-12 years) 
Stages: Stage 4 Stroke Introduction, Stage 5 Stroke Development, Stage 6 Stroke Mechanics
Locations: Helen G. Nassif YMCA, Stoney Point YMCA, Marion YMCA

The YMCA also provides teen/adult and private swim lessons depending on instructor availability.

Locations: Helen G. Nassig YMCA, Stoney Point YMCA, Marion YMCA

For more information, visit their website, check out their program guide, or call the Aquatics Director at each branch (Helen G. Nassif: 319-366-6421, Stoney Point: 319-377-7361, Marion: 319-390-3488).

To register for classes click here.

Do you know of another great place to take Cedar Rapids summer swim lessons? Leave a comment and let us know!