Youth Aquatics

The Boston College Recreation Complex offers a variety of aquatic classes for youth. Please review our schedule below and click on a class name for a full description. To register for classes, please come to Member Services during office hours » ***All lessons are taught by certified Red Cross WSI instructors. The Learn-to-Swim Program is designed for group instruction. These group lessons follow the design and format of the Level 1-6 Learn-To-Swim program skills.***

Youth Private & Semi-Private Lessons

For more information on private & semi-private lessons, click here.

Youth Learn-To-Swim Group Sessions

Price is per child, per class. Parents are invited to sit on the Pool Mezzanine to watch. While classes are listed as 30 minutes, there will be about 25 minutes of instruction in the water and 5 minutes to transition for the next class.

Parent-Tot Level A
This class will work with infants who are able to sit up on their own and teach parents techniques to help orient their child to the water. 6 – 18 months (We will not be offering this class for fall 2011 due to lack of participation)

Parent-Tot Level B
This class will be for the slightly older child who still needs a parent’s support. This class will help the child gain confidence in the water, become more comfortable working with another adult, and prepare them for higher level classes. 18 months – 3years

Level 1: Introduction to Water Skills
Explore the water through floating, submerging, kicking skills, breathing control and elementary swimming skills. Must be at least five years old, or receive aquatic manager approval.

Level 2: Fundamental Aquatic Skills
Learn to turn over, additional breathing, combined front and back strokes and basic safety skills. Child must successfully complete and demonstrate level 1 skills.

Level 3: Stroke Development
Learn to dive, front crawl, back crawl, elementary back stroke, tread water and additional safety skills. Child must successfully complete and demonstrate level 2 skills.

Level 4: Stroke Improvement
Learn deep water skills, endurance and distance swimming, breaststroke, sidestroke, turning at the wall and emergency rescue breathing techniques. Child must successfully complete and demonstrate level 3 skills.

Level 5: Stroke Refinement
Children will learn diving, the sidestroke, and breaststroke. Students must be able to perform the skills of the above listed courses including the crawl stroke with rotary breathing and the elementary backstroke. Child must successfully complete and demonstrate level 4 skills.

Level 6: Swim Club
For children who already know all the strokes and want to get more of a workout. Skills that will be taught include: flip turns, starts, interval training, perfecting of strokes. Children must be able to swim 100 yards continuously prior to signing up.

Click here to learn about the instructors