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WeAquatics offers several types of swim lessons and swim programs designed to support swimmers at every age, ability level, and goal. Each swim program follows a clear progression — from water safety and survival skills to stroke development and competitive training.

Here’s an overview of our swim courses:

Infant Swimming Resource (ISR®)

Infant Swimming Resource

Best for: Infants and toddlers (typically 6 months–3 years)
Focus: Water survival and self-rescue skills

ISR swim lessons teach infants how to float, roll onto their backs, breathe, and recover independently in the water. This safety-focused swim program uses short, structured one-on-one lessons.

Learn-to-Swim Lessons (Ages 4+ & Adults)

Best for: Children ages 4+, teens, and adults
Focus: Stroke fundamentals and water confidence

This foundational swim program helps swimmers learn proper breathing, kicking, arm coordination, and basic stroke mechanics. Lessons are individualized to match each swimmer’s experience level.

Group Swim Lessons

Best for: Swimmers who thrive in a social environment
Focus: Skill development with peer motivation

Group swim lessons combine structured instruction with the energy of learning alongside others. This swim program maintains small class sizes while encouraging teamwork and accountability.

Adaptive Swim Lessons

Best for: Swimmers with physical, sensory, cognitive, or developmental differences
Focus: Personalized pacing and inclusive instruction

Adaptive swim lessons are tailored to meet individual needs while maintaining a strong safety-first approach. This swim program emphasizes comfort, communication, and steady progress.

Narwhals Swim Team

Narwhals Swim Team

Best for: Youth swimmers ready for advanced training
Focus: Competitive technique and endurance

This swim program builds stroke efficiency, strength, teamwork, and race readiness in a structured team setting.

Adult Masters Swim

Adult Masters Swim

Best for: Adults 18+
Focus: Fitness, technique refinement, and structured workouts

Adult Masters Swim offers coach-led training sessions designed to improve endurance, efficiency, and overall conditioning.

How Do I Choose the Right Swim Program?

Choosing the right swim lessons depends on:

• Age and developmental readiness
• Current skill level
• Comfort in the water
• Long-term goals (safety, recreation, competition, fitness)

If you’re unsure which swim program is best, our team can help guide you toward the right starting point.

Contact us to find the right swim lessons for your swimmer.

Our ISR lessons can be taken by infants as young as 6 months. We have the experience and know-how to work with everyone from 6 months old to adults.

Infants and toddlers might lack the coordination and development to learn strokes, but they can learn the fundamentals of breath control, floating, and water propulsion. Young children often don’t have the self-doubt adults have, making it an ideal time for them to pick up a new skill.

Our ISR program is ideal for children from 6 months to 4 years old.

Our Learn-To-Swim lessons are best for children at least 4 years old or who have completed the ISR program. Learn-To-Swim Lessons are aimed at individuals at least 4 years old. Adults are also welcome to our Learn-To-Swim program. No prior swimming experience is necessary.

Young Masters is for children (4 or older) who have graduated from the Learn-To-Swim program.

Every age group learns differently in swim lessons because physical development, attention span, and emotional readiness all play a role. Our swim programs are designed to match each swimmer’s stage — building safety first, then skill, then strength.

6 Months – 3 Years

Infant Swimming Resource (ISR®)

Infant Swimming Resource

Focus: Survival & Self-Rescue Skills

Infants and toddlers learn:

• How to roll onto their back to float
• How to maintain a float and breathe
• How to recover independently if placed face-down in water
• Breath control and comfort in the water

At this stage, swim lessons are short, structured, and focused entirely on water safety.

Ages 4 – 6

Early Learn-to-Swim Foundations

Focus: Water Confidence & Basic Skills

Children in this age range learn:

• Submerging comfortably
• Independent floating (front and back)
• Basic kicking and arm movement
• Introduction to freestyle and backstroke mechanics
• Listening skills and pool safety rules

This stage builds the bridge from survival skills to true swimming ability.

Ages 7 – 12

Stroke Development & Endurance

Focus: Technique & Skill Refinement

Swimmers begin developing:

• Coordinated freestyle with side breathing
• Backstroke technique
• Introduction to breaststroke and butterfly
• Flip turns and streamlining
• Increased stamina and lap swimming

Swim lessons at this level focus on strong mechanics and efficiency, not just distance.

Teens (13 – 17)

Focus: Advanced Technique & Conditioning

Teens work on:

• Stroke efficiency and refinement
• Endurance and interval training
• Competitive skills (if joining team pathways)
• Confidence and independence in deep water
• Personal goal setting

Many teens transition into structured team training such as the Narwhals Swim Team

Adults (18+)

Focus: Confidence, Technique & Fitness

Adult swim lessons support:

• Overcoming fear or past negative experiences
• Learning to float and breathe comfortably
• Proper freestyle and backstroke technique
• Endurance and lap swimming
• Triathlon or fitness training

Adults may also join structured programs like Adult Masters Swim for coach-led workouts and community support.

How Skills Progress Over Time

Across all ages, our swim programs follow a natural progression:

Safety → Comfort → Coordination → Technique → Endurance → Performance

Each swimmer advances when they demonstrate skill mastery — not simply after a set number of weeks.

Swim lessons are individualized, and every swimmer progresses at their own pace. Instead of a set “graduation date,” our swim programs focus on mastering skills with confidence and consistency.

Infant Swimming Resource (ISR®)

Infant Swimming Resource

• Initial session: Typically 1 to 2 months
• Lessons are short and frequent (often daily, Monday–Friday)
• Refresher sessions are recommended periodically

ISR focuses on survival skills, so completion means the child can consistently demonstrate independent floating and recovery skills.

Learn-to-Swim Lessons (Ages 4+ & Adults)

• Most beginners show measurable progress within 8–12 weeks of consistent weekly lessons
• Skill mastery may take several months to a year, depending on goals
• Advanced stroke refinement can continue long-term

Because this swim program is individualized, lessons continue until the swimmer reaches their personal goals.

Group Swim Lessons

• Many swimmers progress through a level in 8–10 weeks
• Advancement depends on skill demonstration, not time spent

Group programs allow steady development while maintaining clear skill benchmarks.

Adaptive Swim Lessons

• Timelines vary based on comfort, communication style, and learning pace
• Progress is measured by confidence and functional skill development

There is no “rush” — success is defined by safe, consistent progress.

Narwhals Swim Team

• Ongoing program with seasonal benchmarks
• Swimmers typically train multiple sessions per week
• Advancement is based on endurance, technique, and readiness for competition

This is a developmental swim program rather than a short-term course.

Adult Masters Swim

• Ongoing fitness-based swim program
• Many adults see improved endurance and technique within 4–8 weeks
• Participation can continue indefinitely for fitness and community

What Impacts How Fast a Swimmer Progresses?

• Consistency of attendance
• Age and developmental readiness
• Comfort level in the water
• Practice outside of lessons
• Individual learning style

ISR students will swim five days a week (Monday–Friday) for ten minutes each lesson. This frequency is necessary until the student has completed his or her training, which is generally 6–8 weeks. After this time, optional maintenance lessons can be taken at intervals appropriate to the student’s age and the frequency of swimming done outside of lessons.

We observe all major US holidays. For specific dates, please reference our calendar: https://weaquatics.com/calendar/.

LTS students swim once a week until they gain the skills necessary for group training sessions.

Generally speaking, expect ISR classes to take six to eight weeks. That being said, we do not like to provide a specific timeline on how long the program will take as all students learn at different paces. Our coaches ensure your child completes the program, no matter how long it takes. We are fully committed to seeing each child master the necessary skills to self-rescue.

The tuition is paid upfront with no additional costs.

YM workouts do not have makeup sessions. Due to capacity limits, it is imperative you notify us at least 24 hours prior to workouts if you are unable to attend.

Pricing varies by location and program selection. To get exact pricing, simply go to our Customer Portal and follow the prompts to choose the program and location that works best for you.

Madeira School (McLean, VA): 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Chinquapin Park Rec. Center (Alexandria, VA): 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Waterside Fitness and Swim Club (Washington, DC): 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Bethesda Marriott Suites (Bethesda, MD): 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Trinity Washington University Center (Washington, DC): Opening set for September 7, 2021. We’ll post information as it’s available.

With the current safety protocols in place, we prefer our coaches meet with students in a class setting after enrollment. We’ll update information and protocols as the situation progresses.

Waterside Fitness and Swim Club does not have its own parking. We advise parking on 6th Street.

We are providing ISR classes at the Madeira School (McLean, VA) from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., Chinquapin Park Rec. Center (Alexandria, VA) from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Bethesda Marriott Suites (Bethesda, MD) from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

We recommend classes based on age, as well as progression of swimming skills.

We are located in Alexandria, VA; McLean, VA; Bethesda, MD; and Washington, DC. For more information, see our locations page: https://weaquatics.com/locations/.

Other than major holidays, we do teach year-round. See our calendar for more information: https://weaquatics.com/calendar/.

The Bethesda Marriott Suites and Waterside Fitness and Swim Club pools are heated.

No, all our host pools are indoors.

Yes, all our instuctors are vaccinated.

Please visit the Safety Protocols page to learn more.

Our swim lessons are led by experienced, professionally trained coaches and instructors who are passionate about water safety and skill development. Each instructor is carefully selected for their technical expertise, teaching ability, and commitment to creating a supportive learning environment.

WeAquatics instructors work across our swim programs — including Infant Swimming Resource (ISR®), Learn-to-Swim lessons, Group Swim Lessons, Adaptive Swim Lessons, Narwhals Swim Team, and Adult Masters Swim — ensuring swimmers receive consistent, high-quality instruction at every stage.

All instructors follow a safety-first approach and focus on building confidence, proper technique, and long-term swimming success.

Visit our Swim Instructors page to meet our team and learn more about their experience and certifications.

At this time, we are not currently offering at-home private swim lessons.

Once you sign up for classes, your enrollment will be approved, denied, or added to a waiting list.

Please visit our Customer Portal (https://app.iclasspro.com/portal/weaquatics/locations) to enroll. Once you sign up for classes, based on availability, your enrollment will be approved, denied, or added to a waiting list.