Swim Lessons

We follow the Red Cross "Learn to Swim" program with WSI-certified swim instructors Jordan Otten, Mallory Otten Prerna Karmacharya, and Ashleigh Lent (see our Staff page). Valley Pond is too small to offer a standard 4–6 week swim lesson program — instead, we offer small group swim lessons (maximum of five children per class), and parents may choose the number and frequency according to their family's schedule. Our small class size allows instructors to focus on skills and graduate your swimmer to the next level once they've mastered the required skills.

In 2024 we'll be offering lessons on weekdays starting at 10:30 a.m. To sign up your child for lessons, please use the link below. If you're unsure of you child's swim lesson level, that's completely fine — the instructor will figure that out during the first few minutes of the lesson and then begin teaching from wherever your child is at.

Valley Pond swim lesson signup

Waterfront Director David Trant will adjust the schedule periodically based on staff and student interest as well as progress of current participants.

Fees

1–6 lessons: $35 per lesson per child
7–10 lessons: $32 per lesson per child
11 or more lessons: $27 per lesson per child

Parents will be billed by the Valley Pond bookkeeper when we conclude our swim lesson program as determined by availability of staff and student participation.

Private lessons are also available at the following rates:

Preschool Aquatics levels 1-3: $45 per 30-minute lesson
Learn to Swim levels 2-5: $60 per 45-minute lesson

Swim lesson levels

Preschool Aquatics 1

Preschool aquatics will teach basic aquatics skills that children will continue to build on into the Learn to Swim levels. The instructors will encourage children to develop good attitudes and safe practices around the water. They will work on locomotion skills in the water and on using simultaneous and alternating arm and leg actions. Before moving to the Learn to Swim program, students should have more independence in the water. Designed for ages 3-5.

Preschool Aquatics 2

This level is meant for students who have limited experience in the water. PSA 2 introduces the most basic stroke mechanics and water skills. It continues to develop the child's comfort in the water.

Preschool Aquatics 3

This level is meant for students who are comfortable in the water and are working to pass the Red Test (see Swim Areas and Tests). In this level, we primarily focus on stroke development, floating and treading.

Learn to Swim Level 1

Learn to Swim Level 1 is for the beginner who's comfortable in the water. Swimmers learn basics of swimming: bobbing, going under water, supported front and back floating, supported rolling over from front to back and back to front, supported gliding, supported flutter kick, supported front crawl arms and jumping in.

Learn to Swim Level 2

This level is for students who have comfortably passed the Red Test. This level focuses mainly on breathing and stroke technique, endurance, and the introduction of breast stroke and backstroke mechanics.

Learn to Swim Level 3

This level is for those who are looking to work towards passing the White Test. This level refines stroke technique, furthers endurance, and introduces diving technique.

Learn to Swim Level 4

Level 4 is for those who have passed the white test, and want to continue refining technique and increasing endurance.

Learn to Swim Level 5

Level 5 looks to perfect technique and achieve maximum endurance. This is for the most advanced swimmers.

Fees

The fee structure for small group swim lessons is as follows:

1-6 lessons: $27 per lesson
7-10 lessons: $24 per lesson
11+ lessons: $20 per lesson

Private lessons are also available at the following prices:

Preschool Aquatics levels 1-3: $45 per 30-minute lesson
Learn to Swim levels 2-5: $60 per 45-minute lesson

Billing will occur when we conclude our swim lesson program as determined by availability of staff and student participation. You will be invoiced at that time by the Valley Pond bookkeeper.