Aquatics & Swimming
Group Swim Lessons
Taught by certified YMCA instructors, our swimming lessons will give you lifelong skills to help you be safe in and around the water.
Age 0-99
North Bay YMCA, Sudbury YMCA
Learning to swim is more than stroke development — it’s about building confidence, safety, and a love of the water.
Whether your little one is splashing for the first time or you’re an adult ready to take the plunge, our group swim lessons meet every swimmer where they are. YMCA-certified instructors guide participants through a progressive curriculum designed to build water safety skills, stroke technique, and the self-confidence that comes from achieving something new.
How It Works
Register
Registration can be done via our online portal or in-person at our Member Services Desk.
Swim Lessons
Not sure where to start? Use our swim lesson selector to find the right level for your child.
Parent-Assisted Swim Lessons (0 –36 months)
Parent and Tot 1 – Splasher
Caregiver assists child to develop comfort in the water and promotes water fun through songs and games. Instruction covers skills such as splashing with arms and legs and pool area orientation
Parent and Tot 2 – Bubbler
Caregiver assists child to develop comfort in the water and promotes water fun through songs and games. Instruction covers skills such as holding on to the wall, kicking their feet, assisted front/back floats, and practicing safe swimming.
Preschool Swim Lessons (3-5 Years)
Bobber
Child gains comfort in the water without a caregiver. Instruction covers skills such as entering and exiting the pool, blowing bubbles, progression for submersion, assisted front and back floats, glides, and safety.
Floater
Child learns pool rules and is comfortable entering and exiting the pool on their own. Instruction covers skills such as swimming 10m, wearing a personal floatation device (PFD), assisted jumps into the water, retrieving objects, and unassisted front and back floats and bobs
Glider
Child is comfortable beginning the transition from shallow to deep water (water is over the child’s head when touching the bottom) with assistance. Instruction covers skills such as deep water activities and unassisted front and back floats in deep water, swims of 5m in shallow water.
Diver
Child is getting comfortable in deep water. Instruction covers skills such as side-to-side rolls, work on arm action, and increasing front and back swim distances to 10m.
Surfer
Child explores diving, surface support, creative pool entries and extends swim distances to 15m. Instruction covers skills such as retrieving object from deep water, front and back swim to 15m.
Jumpers
Child further refines front and back swim to 25m and continues deep water activities. Instruction covers skills such as front and back crawl, standing dive, and surface support for 45 seconds.
Learn to Swim (6-12 Years)
Otter
Child can glide without assistance. Instruction covers skills such as submersion, unassisted front and back glide and jumps into chest deep water from a standing position.
Seal
Child is comfortable in deep water. Instruction covers skills such as deep water jumping and breath control. Participants continue to work on glides and glide up to 5m on their back.
Dolphin
Child spends more time in deep water and works to increase endurance and stamina. Instruction covers skills such as treading in deep water for 30 seconds, front glide with kick, side breathing, front and back swim with arm and leg action to distance of 15m.
Swimmer
Child spends more time in deep water and works to increase endurance and stamina. Instruction covers skills such as treading in deep water for 30 seconds, front glide with kick, side breathing, front and back swim with arm and leg action to distance of 15m.
Stars (6-12 Years)
The Stars program takes swimmers beyond the basics, developing multi-stroke proficiency, endurance, and foundational water safety skills — including introductory lifesaving curriculum.
Star 1
Participant works on endurance to complete a 75m swim. Instruction covers skills such as enhancing front crawl to initial standard and back crawl to initial standard, introduction of elementary breaststroke, swimming on back for 25m, and treading water for 2 minutes.
Star 2
Participant continues to develop front and back crawl to intermediate standard. Instruction covers skills such as introduction of breaststroke and endurance swim of 100m.
Star 3
Participant continues to practice back crawl intermediate standard 75m, elementary backstroke initial standard 50m, and breaststroke initial standard 50m. Instruction covers skills such as eggbeater surface support, 200m swim, and starting Lifesaving Society’s Canadian Swim Patrol curriculum.
Star 4
Participant builds further endurance to swim 100m within 3 minutes. Instruction covers skills such as drowning prevention, Canadian Swim Patrol curriculum, dolphin kick 25m, eggbeater proficiency, elementary backstroke intermediate standard 75m.
Star 5
Participant works on increasing endurance to complete a 500m swim, swims 200m in 6 minutes, as well as front and back crawl of 75m each. Instruction covers skills such as sidestroke, breaststroke advanced standard, and surface dives. Rescue skills include demonstrating non-contact rescue using buoyant aid, and 5lb object support for 1 minute.
Star 6
Participant continues to develop endurance completing a 600m swim, and swims 300m in 9 minutes. Instruction covers skills such as continuing in the Canadian Swim Patrol curriculum in preparation for lifesaving courses.
Teen/Adult Lessons (13+ Years)
Whether you’re learning to swim for the first time or looking to refine your technique, our group lessons for teens and adults offer a welcoming, judgment-free environment. Available for members only. Registration is not required.
Level 1
This class is open to beginners looking to become comfortable in the water.
Level 2
This class is open to adults who can swim 20 m or one full length of the pool. The purpose of this class would be to improve strokes.
Level 3
Open to adults who are comfortable swimming 200 m. These lessons are for adults who are looking to improve speed and efficiency.
Find Your Level
Not sure where to start? Use our Swim Lesson Selector below to find the right level for your child.
Frequently Asked Questions
This is my child's first swim lesson, what do I do?
Scan your child’s membership card at the front desk and proceed to the change room. Change your child into swim attire. Enter the pool through the shower area. Locate the Aquatic Host to sign in your child to his/her lesson. You will also be required to sign out your child from swim lessons.
The Aquatic Host will help you find your child’s class. Each week you will meet your instructor at the same meeting spot.
Which change room should I use?
We respect the right of individuals to use the washrooms and change rooms that match their lived gender identity. Each of our branches offers both gendered change rooms and a Universal Changeroom, available to all users, including families with children of all ages and members with special needs who require assistance from a caregiver. Private change stalls are also available within the Universal Changeroom for anyone who prefers added privacy. Full coverage is required at all times outside of the change stalls.
Families also have the option to use the general change rooms. In compliance with our Safeguarding Children Policy, all children ages 9 and under must be accompanied by an adult age 16 or older at all times, including in washrooms and change rooms. Parents and caregivers with children ages 9 and under who are not of the same gender should use the Universal Changerooms. Children ages 9 and under may not access the change rooms alone.
Do I need to shower before swimming?
Yes. All swimmers must shower before entering the pool. It’s a public health requirement that helps keep our water clean and safe for everyone. Showers are located between the change rooms and the pool deck.
Is there anything else I should know?
When walking through the showers or onto the pool deck, outdoor footwear must be removed. You are welcome to wear indoor shoes, sandals or walk in bare feet. All food or beverages other than water in a plastic bottle must be left in the change room.
Where can I find more information?
For more information, please contact the Aquatic Supervisor:
- Sudbury: 705-688-7300 ext. 2129
- North Bay: 705-497-9622 ext. 6253
Do you offer swim passes?
Yes. A Family Swim Pass covers two adults and the children living in their household. Passes are $20.00 ($22.60 with HST) and can be purchased at the Member Services Desk.
Pool Rules & Aquatic Admission Standards
Children Ages 0–5
Ratio: 1 adult to 2 children (1:2)
An adult (16+) who knows how to swim must be in the water and within arm’s reach at all times. No deep end swimming.
Children Ages 6–9 (who have not passed the swim test)
Ratio: 1 adult to 2 children (1:2)
An adult (16+) who knows how to swim must be in the water and within arm’s reach at all times. No deep end swimming.
Children Ages 6–9 (who have passed the swim test)
Ratio: 1 adult to 4 children (1:4)
An adult (16+) must supervise from the water or pool deck.
Where children vary in age or ability, the lowest ratio must be met. Participants ages 10 and older may also be asked to complete the swim test.
If the swim test is incomplete, an adult must remain in the water within arm’s reach of the swimmers, and no deep end swimming is permitted.
Locations
Group Swim Lessons are offered at two YMCA locations in Northeastern Ontario, each equipped with a full aquatics facility and a dedicated team of certified swim instructors.
North Bay YMCA
Location
186 Chippewa Street West
North Bay, ON, P1B 6G2
Phone 705-497-9622
Ready to make a splash?
Register for Group Swim Lessons today and take the first step toward a lifetime of water confidence.