A UCSF Fitness & Recreation membership is required for at least one parent and the child (ages 3+ ) enrolled in lessons.
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Current Session: March 14-April 25 (7 sessions)
Next Session: May 9-June 27 (7 sessions; no class 5/23)
Registration opens: Saturday, April 25th, 2026, at 4:00 pm
Registration closes: Saturday, May 16th, 2026, at 1:00 pm
Classes start at 9:00 am and run every 30 minutes until 12:10 pm
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Lesson Levels
Parent Tot
In this class, we offer our younger swimmers, ages 6 months to 3 years, the opportunity to participate and learn alongside their parents. This class teaches parents how to keep their children safe in and around water. The program includes games, riddles, songs, and basic skills that will help your child build confidence around water.
Super Tot
Ages 3 to 6 years old; no parent participation. Your children will advance through the following levels as their skills progress:
Our Super Tot swim lessons for ages 3-6 follow the Red Cross swim standards, focusing on water safety, foundational swimming skills, and building confidence in the water. Children will learn to enter and exit the pool safely, blow bubbles, float on their front and back, and combine basic arm and leg movements. Through fun games and activities, our instructors help children get comfortable in the water, explore, and begin swimming with support. These lessons provide a solid foundation for future swimming success in a playful and supportive environment.
Children's Swim Lessons (Ages 6-16)
Level 1: Introduction to Water Skills
The objective is for children to learn basic personal water safety information and skills, while helping them feel comfortable in the water. At this level, children will learn positive attitudes, good swimming habits, and safe practices in and around the water. They will learn the basics of water safety, such as floating, blowing bubbles, and an early introduction to stroke technique.
Level 2: Fundamentals of Aquatic Skills
Children will learn basic swimming skills by developing simultaneous and alternating arm and leg actions on the front and back, laying the foundation for future strokes.
Level 3: Stroke Development
Your child works on coordinating the front and back crawl, side breathing, and survival floating. Scissors and dolphin kicks, along with the fundamentals of treading water, are introduced.
Level 4: Stroke Improvement
The focus is on improving swimming skills and increasing endurance. This level continues to build on the sidestroke and introduces the breaststroke and butterfly, along with the basics of wall turns.
Level 5: Stroke Refinement
Performance and refinement of all strokes are emphasized, with a focus on increasing distance. Flip turns are also introduced.
Level 6: Swimming and Skill Proficiency
Students refine their strokes and learn to swim with more ease, proficiency, power, and smoothness over greater distances.