Swim Lessons for Youth
Campus Recreation will not be offering American Red Cross certifications or youth group or private swim lessons until further notice due to campus-wide restrictions.
Campus Rec offers private swimming and diving lessons to children ages four years old and up. We also offer adult swim lessons. Lessons are taught at the Connell Recreation Center in Chestnut Hill, MA.
Children from Newton, Chestnut Hill, Brighton, Brookline and surrounding areas are welcome to enroll in swim lessons; an affiliation with Boston College is not required.
Whether your child is just beginning to swim or has some prior swim experience, our experienced aquatics instructors can help improve their comfort level in the water while developing their stroke technique and form.
These are 30-minute lessons where one of our instructors will work with up to three children that are of the same ability level. A lesson package must be purchased for each child. These lessons are open to children of all levels and are purchased in packs of 5.
NOTE: Campus Recreation will not be offering American Red Cross certifications or youth group or private swim lessons in Spring 2022 due to the ongoing pandemic.
Step 1: Download the Youth Private Swimming Lesson Information Sheet. Fill out all required fields in the form, referring to this list of instructors. When you are finished, select "Save As" and rename the file to the participant's first and last name (example: johnsmith.pdf).
You may need to download Adobe Reader (free download available).
Step 2: Email the completed form to mcrcaquatics@bc.edu. All emailed forms and voicemails will be returned in the order which they are received.
Step 3: Our Aquatics Staff will process all of the forms and call to schedule lessons during our Private Swim Office Hours.
Step 4: After confirming your lesson schedule with the aquatics staff, you will be contacted by a Member Services to purchase your lesson package with-in 24hrs. After confirming your lessons, please feel free to contact Member Services to pay for your lesson package.
Step 5: On the day of your lessons you no longer need to check in with Member Services. Simply give your child’s name at the Control Desk and then check in with your aquatic instructor on the Pool Deck (no more receipts needed.)
Step 6: Please arrive 15 minutes before the lesson is scheduled to begin. Doors to the Pool Deck are located at the back of each locker room or through the Family Changing Room. There are also stairs located along the far wall of the Pool Mezzanine that will lead you down to the Pool Deck. Please see our Connell Recreation Center Map or ask any member of our staff to help you navigate.
Step 7: If you need to cancel a lesson, call Member Services at 617-552-0797. For more information, please read through our full cancellation policy.
For information on upcoming Youth Programs and events, subscribe to our Youth Listserv. If you'd like to receive information about BC Rec aquatic programs, reminders about facility closures and updates on our daily schedule, please sign up for the Pool listserv. For regular updates on the Masters program, sign up for the Masters listserv.
For information on upcoming Youth Programs and events, subscribe to our Youth Listserv.
Note: During the academic year, lessons are only available to Campus Recreation members.
About Group Swim Lessons
BC Rec offers group Learn to Swim lessons for children of all ages and experience levels. Lessons are taught at the Connell Recreation Center Pool in Chestnut Hill, MA.
Children from Newton, Brighton, Brookline, Boston and surrounding areas are welcome to enroll in swim lessons; an affiliation with Boston College is not required.
Whether your child is just beginning to swim or has some prior swim experience, our experienced aquatics instructors can help improve their comfort level in the water while developing their stroke technique and form. The prices listed above are per child.
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 A
6 months - 18 months
This class is for parents and babies ages 6 - 18 months who are able to sit up on their own. The class will teach you techniques to help orient your child to the water, including fun activities like blowing bubbles and playing with water toys.
Parent Tot B
18 months - 3 years
This class is for parents and slightly older children ages 18 months - 3 years old who still needs a parent’s support in the water. This class will help the child gain confidence in the water, become more comfortable working with another adult, practice floating and kicking and prepare them for higher level classes.
Little Eagles
3 years old
This class is for children ages 3 - 4 years old, or children who have completed Parent and Toddler class and/or are comfortable putting their face in the water. The first three classes will be done with the parent and child in the water or until the child is comfortable with the instructors.
Level 1: Introduction to Water Skills
4, 5, & 6 years old
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
4, 5, & 6 years old
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
All ages
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
All ages
Learn deep water skills, endurance, distance swimming, breaststroke, sidestroke, turning at the wall and emergency rescue breathing techniques. Child must successfully complete and demonstrate level 3 skills.
Level 5-6: Stroke Refinement & Skill Proficiency
All ages
Children will develop coordination and refine technique for all strokes. Flip turns for front and back crawl will be introduced. Endurance will increase 300 - 500 yards per class. Child must complete and demonstrate Level 4 skills.
Springboard Diving
All ages
Students will learn the basics of diving from both the side of the deck and the 1 meter board. Skills will include: approach, basic hurdle, and basic forward dives. Children must be able to swim the length of dive well prior to signing up. This class is for children ages 8 - 15 years old.
NOTE: Campus Recreation will not be offering American Red Cross certifications or youth group or private swim lessons in Spring 2022 due to the ongoing pandemic.
To register or for additional information please contact Member Services at campusrec@bc.edu or 617-552-0797. Check out our Youth Policies. Please read through the page and contact Member Services at (617)552-0797 or campusrec@bc.edu if you have any questions or concerns.
Join Our Youth Email List
For information on upcoming Youth Programs and events, subscribe to our Youth Listserv. If you'd like to receive information about BC Rec aquatic programs, reminders about facility closures and updates on our daily schedule, please sign up for the Pool listserv. For regular updates on the Masters program, sign up for the Masters listserv.