Our Learn to Swim Programs Work With Every Age and Stage

Discover Learn to Swim Programs, From Group to One-on-One

If you’re at the point where you recognize that you or your child needs to learn to swim, you’re probably wondering, “What type of program should I enroll in?” And it’s not a simple answer, because there is no one-size-fits-all solution.

A nervous, small child will need something completely different from a confident, older child who already enjoys the water. And both of those are different than an adult who wants to learn to swim because they don’t want to miss out on cruise ship activities and excursions this summer.

So instead of wondering what the best class is, it’s more about what makes sense for where we are right now.

The right program for you today may not be what you needed last year or next year. So let’s look at the different types of learn to swim programs and how they cater to every life stage.

What Each Learn to Swim Program Actually Does

ISR (Infant Swimming Resource™) is all about water survival. If your baby or toddler finds themselves alone in the water, ISR teaches them to use muscle memory to flip onto their back, float, and breathe until help arrives. This isn’t learning strokes or becoming a competitive swimmer. It’s about giving very young kids the skills that could save their lives if the worst happens.

Learn-to-Swim programs are your traditional swimming lessons for ages four through adult. Getting comfortable in water, learning breath control, figuring out how to float and kick, and eventually learning actual strokes. Some individuals do this one-on-one with an instructor. Others do better in our group classes, where they learn alongside kids their own age.

Group Swim Classes are the newer option we’re offering—30-minute sessions organized by age and skill level, starting at 4 years old. Some kids absolutely thrive with the social energy of a group. They watch other kids, they make friends, they push each other. Other kids need more individual attention, at least starting out.

Adaptive Swim Lessons are specifically designed for children and adults with ADHD, autism, anxiety, sensory sensitivities, or motor challenges because everyone deserves access to water safety and the enjoyment of swimming.

Narwhals Prep are small-group classes for swimmers focused on their competitive side. Swim Team Prep teaches the technical elements like flip turns and racing starts. Full conditioning is training for kids who are serious about competition.

The Narwhals Swim Team is our year-round competitive program for ages 4-18 who’ve mastered the basics and want to explore competitive swimming without the high-pressure intensity of club teams. It’s technique-focused training in a supportive team environment, and perfect for swimmers who’ve outgrown learn-to-swim classes but aren’t sure they want to dive into serious competition yet.

Adult programs serve two crowds: people who never learned to swim and want to fix that, and experienced swimmers working on technique. Adult Learn-to-Swim is totally judgment-free and built for beginners. Stroke School helps you refine what you already know by building technique and training for your goals.

Adult Masters Swim Team is for individuals over 18 who want to train with a coach in a small community of other adults, whether you’re competing, training, or swimming for fitness and enjoyment.

Age Gives You a Starting Point

Your swimmer’s age helps narrow things down, even though it’s not the only thing that matters.

Babies and toddlers (6 months to 4 years) need safety as the priority. If you’ve got a pool at home, if you’re around lakes or beaches a lot, if you just want peace of mind—ISR makes sense. Parents tell us all the time that knowing their baby has those survival skills helps them sleep better during those vulnerable early years.

Preschoolers (4-5) are usually ready to transition from pure survival into actually learning how to swim. If your child has already completed ISR, they’re perfectly set up for Aqua Tots group classes. These are beginner-level, age-appropriate, and fun. Some 4- and 5-year-olds still need private lessons, though, especially the cautious ones who need extra one-on-one time. In this case, Learn-to-Swim classes once a week will help them develop the confidence they need.

Elementary kids (6-8) are at the sweet spot for developing real technique. Group swim classes for this age split into beginner, intermediate, and advanced, so kids are with others at a similar level. Small groups can be really motivating because some kids feed off each other’s energy. One-on-one Learn-to-Swim lessons still work well for kids who learn better individually or want to develop their skills faster.

Tweens (9-12) usually have clearer goals by now. Maybe keeping up with friends on swim teams, maybe swimming for exercise, maybe just wanting to nail all four strokes. Group classes for this age focus more on technique and endurance. This is also the perfect time to try Swim Team Prep if your kid is curious about competitive swimming but not ready to commit fully.

Teens (13-18) tend to have specific reasons for wanting lessons: prepping for high school swim tryouts, perfecting the butterfly, or staying in shape with low-impact exercise. Our programming for teens adapts to whatever they’re going for. Stroke School is good for technique work. Swim Team Conditioning is built for competitive athletes.

Adults (18+) come to swimming for all kinds of reasons. Maybe you grew up near water but somehow never learned properly. Maybe you’re anxious about deep water and tired of sitting out during beach vacations. Maybe you want to do a triathlon or swim laps, but you know your form is terrible.

It’s Not Just About Age

What you’re actually trying to accomplish matters just as much as how old you are.

Safety first? For young kids, that’s ISR. For older kids and adults, the basics of water safety come from learning to swim—floating, treading water, and knowing how to help yourself if things go wrong. Every swimmer needs these basics before worrying about perfect technique.

Building confidence and skills gradually? That’s what learn to swim lessons do, whether one-on-one or group. Groups add social energy and peer motivation. One-on-one lessons let you work at your own pace without feeling rushed or held back.

Fitness and staying active? Swimming delivers serious cardio without destroying your joints like running does. Adult Stroke School and group classes give you workouts while also cleaning up your technique.

Competitive swimming? Typically, you’d start with learn to swim fundamentals, then move into Narwhals Prep. Those hour-long sessions cover the technical stuff—turns, starts, pacing, all that. The Narwhals Swim Team for year-round competition. Adults can join Masters Swim Team, which has both fitness-focused swimmers and competitive ones.

Need adaptive instruction? Adaptive Swim Lessons provide personalized attention built around specific abilities. Same goals as any program—water safety and enjoying being in the water—just tailored to what each swimmer needs.

You Can Change Your Mind

This isn’t a permanent decision you’re locked into forever. We watch swimmers move between programs constantly as they develop and their goals shift.

Young children start in ISR, then transition to learn to swim lessons. Families try group classes, switch to private lessons for focused work on one skill, then rejoin a group. Recreational swimmers discover they love competition and move into team programs they never expected to want.

Our coaches look at where each swimmer is currently and recommend what makes sense for that moment. If someone’s flying through material or struggling and needs a different approach, we talk about adjustments. The whole point is matching the program to the swimmer.