Learning to swim is an invaluable life skill, offering a fantastic way to boost your overall health, improve fitness levels, and ensure personal safety around water. NYC Parks is dedicated to making swimming accessible to everyone in New York City by providing free swimming lessons across our recreation centers. Don’t miss the opportunity to gain confidence in the water – register for the NYC Parks Learn to Swim lottery today!
Who is Eligible to Learn Swimming?
Our Learn to Swim program is open to everyone, regardless of age or background! We offer specialized classes designed to cater to different age groups and skill levels, ensuring a comfortable and effective learning environment for all:
- Tots (Ages 1 ½ – 5): Introduce your little ones to the joys of water early! These classes focus on water familiarization, helping toddlers become comfortable with splashing, floating, and breath-holding in a playful setting.
- Children (Ages 6-17): From beginners to advanced swimmers, our children’s classes cover a wide spectrum of skills. We build a strong foundation in basic swimming techniques and progress to more refined strokes and watermanship.
- Adults: It’s never too late to learn! Our adult classes are designed for individuals of all abilities, from those who are completely new to the water to those looking to improve their technique and stamina.
- Seniors (Ages 62 and Over): Swimming is a low-impact, highly beneficial exercise for seniors. Our senior classes emphasize water safety, gentle exercises, and basic swimming skills to promote health and well-being.
What Will You Learn in Our Swim Programs?
The curriculum in our Learn to Swim program is thoughtfully structured to match your age and current skill level, ensuring you receive the most relevant and effective instruction.
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For Tots: Our youngest learners will focus on developing water comfort and basic aquatic skills. This includes getting used to having water on their face, learning to float with support, and practicing holding their breath for short periods. These early experiences are crucial for building water confidence and setting the stage for future swimming success.
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For Adults and Seniors: Adult and senior classes emphasize fundamental swimming and water safety skills. Participants will learn essential techniques such as breath control, proper floating methods, basic arm and leg strokes, and how to stay safe in various water environments. We aim to equip you with the skills and knowledge necessary for confident and safe swimming.
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For Children: Our children’s program offers a progressive learning pathway. Starting with basic water acclimation and foundational swimming skills, children can advance through various levels, learning different strokes, improving their endurance, and mastering more advanced swimming techniques. We provide a supportive environment for children to develop a lifelong love for swimming.
Explore the detailed schedule below to discover the specific programs available and find the perfect class tailored to your needs and goals.
Discover More Free Aquatic Programs
NYC Parks offers a diverse range of free aquatic programs to further enhance your water experiences. Be sure to check out these fantastic opportunities:
- Adaptive Aquatics Program: We are committed to inclusivity. Our adaptive aquatics program provides swimming instruction and water activities for individuals with disabilities, ensuring everyone can enjoy the benefits of being in the water.
- Water Exercise Classes for Adults and Seniors: Looking for a fun and effective workout? Join our water exercise classes designed for adults and seniors. These classes offer low-impact, full-body workouts that are gentle on the joints and invigorating for the body and mind.
- Swim Team for Advanced Youth Swimmers: For talented young swimmers seeking to take their skills to the next level, our swim team provides advanced training, competitive opportunities, and a supportive team environment.
How to Register for Learn to Swim Classes
We believe that every New Yorker should have the opportunity to learn to swim. To ensure fair access to our popular Learn to Swim program, registration is conducted through a lottery system. Here’s what you need to know to participate in the lottery:
- Select Only One Class Option: To give everyone a fair chance, please register for only one class per person, per lottery session. Registering multiple times will not increase your chances of selection.
- Individual Registration for Each Child: If you have multiple children interested in participating, remember to register each child separately for the lottery.
- Non-Transferable Applications: Lottery selections are non-transferable. If you or your child is selected for a spot, that spot is reserved for the registered individual and cannot be given to another person, even within the same family.
Need assistance with the lottery registration process? Visit our Managing Your Account page for guidance on creating an account and navigating the system. Alternatively, you can receive in-person support at your nearest recreation center. Our friendly front desk staff are ready to assist you! visit your nearest recreation center
What Happens If You Are Selected in the Lottery?
Congratulations! If you or your child is chosen in the online lottery, here are the next important steps:
- Confirm Your Slot Within Three Days: You will have a 3-day window from the lottery closing date to confirm your registration and secure your spot in the Learn to Swim class. Be sure to check your email regularly for notification and instructions.
- Mandatory Water Test for Children (Saturday Classes): Children selected for Saturday classes are required to attend a mandatory water test before the classes begin. This assessment helps us ensure proper class placement and safety. Failure to attend the water test and the first day of class will result in being dropped from the session to allow someone from the waitlist to participate.
- Class Attendance Policy: Consistent attendance is crucial for progress and fairness to others on the waitlist. Swimmers who miss two consecutive classes will be removed from the class and replaced by someone from the waitlist.
What If You Are Not Selected?
Don’t be discouraged! Here are your options if you are not initially selected in the lottery:
- Join the Waitlist: If you are not selected initially, you will automatically be placed on a waiting list. While we cannot provide updates on your specific position on the waitlist, spots often become available.
- Re-apply for Future Sessions: The Learn to Swim program is highly popular, and demand often exceeds available spots. We strongly encourage you to re-apply for the next session! We hold lotteries for each session (Fall, Winter, and Spring), and summer classes are also offered at outdoor pools.
Learn to Swim Session and Registration Schedule
Our Learn to Swim program runs throughout the year with three main sessions: Fall, Winter, and Spring. Lottery registration opens before each session. Summer lessons are also available at our outdoor pools.
Key Registration Dates to Remember:
- Winter Lottery Registration Dates: Monday, December 16 – Monday, January 6
- Saturday Children Learn to Swim Mandatory Water Test: Saturday, January 18, 2025, 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
- Walk-in Registration (Waitlist): Saturday, January 18, from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. On this day, you can visit a recreation center to add your name to the in-person waitlist. If spaces become available, participants will be selected from this walk-in waitlist after the online waitlist is exhausted.
The Flushing Meadows Corona Park Aquatics Center has unique program schedules and dates. Please check their specific information for details, particularly regarding their children’s water test schedule:
- Flushing Meadows Pool Children Learn to Swim Mandatory Water Test: January 13 – January 16, 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m., and Saturday, January 18, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Program Costs
The best part? Our Learn to Swim classes are FREE with a NYC Parks recreation center membership! To participate, all Learn to Swim participants, including children, adults, and parents of tots, must have a valid recreation center membership.
Find out more about becoming a recreation center member and the many benefits it offers recreation center member. Join our community and dive into the world of swimming!
