Group Swimming Lessons

Swim lessons are not currently being offered due to COVID-19. Check back soon!

To register, find your class, copy the program code, and click on the ‘Register’ button. You will be redirected to our registration system, where you can paste the code and sign up.

Living in our lakefront community, water safety is an invaluable life skill. From infant and parent/child classes to school age lessons, our swim lessons teach youth to become confident swimmers, developing strong techniques, knowledge, and experience.

Swim Lessons

Life at McGaw has changed, but there are a few things that remain the same: Our responsibility to serve the Evanston community in youth development, social responsibility and healthy living. Our dedication to ensuring a safe and healthy environment for every member. Our commitment to providing lifesaving, water safety instruction. Check out all that has been happening at McGaw this summer!

While swim lessons are vital to learning to be safe in and around water, many components can be reinforced at home. Basic water safety tips can make all the difference. At McGaw, each swim lesson begins with asking permission to enter the water. Creating this habit is the most important skill your child learns in lessons. Children should always ask a parent or another adult for permission to enter the water. Asking for permission, along with adult supervision, is the best way to keep your child safe whether you are at family swim or the beach.

Family Swim Reservations

All announcements for welcoming back additional Aquatics programming will be posted on the McGaw YMCA website. We look towards the future with anticipation and excitement for the return of lessons.

To get started, just find the skill/age appropriate level for your child, and you can register online!

Preschool Program Overview

School Age Program Overview

Swim Lesson FAQs

Still having doubts about your child’s level? Email Erin at erins@mcgawymca.org or call 847-475-7400 x208 to set up a free trial class and evaluation!

Caregiver and Child Swim Classes (AGE: 6 months–3 years)

Monthly Rate for School Year 19–20: $55 M ($85 NM)

6 months to 2 and a half years – (Level A) Parents accompany children in this stage, which introduces infants and toddlers to the aquatic environment through exploration and encourages them to enjoy themselves while learning about water.

30-Minute Lessons

Sunfish (Ages 2.5 – 3 years) – (Level B) Parents work with their children to explore body positions, blowing bubbles, and fundamental safety and aquatic skills.

30-Minute Lessons

Preschool Lessons (AGE: 3–5 years)

Monthly Rate for School Year 19–20: $55 M ($85 NM)

Pike – (Level 1) Students develop comfort with underwater exploration and learn to safely exit in the event of falling into a body of water. This stage lays the foundation that allows for a student’s future progress in swimming.

Eel – (Level 2) Students focus on body position and control, directional change, and forward movement in the water while also continuing to practice how to safely exit in the event of falling into a body of water. Students should be comfortable with blowing bubbles and basic swim skills with limited instructor support.

Ray – (Level 3) Students learn how to swim to safety from a longer distance than in previous stages. This stage also introduces rhythmic breathing and integrated arm and leg actions. Students begin to build endurance with no instructor support.

Starfish – (Level 4) Students continue to develop stroke technique in front crawl and back crawl and learn breaststroke basics. Water safety is reinforced through treading water and elementary backstroke.

School Age Lessons (AGE: 6–13 years)

Monthly Rate for School Year 19–20: $60 M ($88 NM)

Beginner Polliwog – (Level 1) Students develop comfort with underwater exploration and learn to safely exit in the event of falling into a body of water. This stage lays the foundation that allows for a student’s future progress in swimming.

Advanced Polliwog – (Level 2) Students focus on body position and control, directional change, and forward movement in the water while also continuing to practice how to safely exit in the event of falling into a body of water. Students should be comfortable with blowing bubbles and basic swim skills with limited instructor support.

Guppy – (Level 3) Students learn how to swim to safety from a longer distance than in previous stages. This stage also introduces rhythmic breathing and integrated arm and leg actions. Students begin to build endurance with no instructor support.

Minnow – (Level 4) Students continue to develop stroke technique in front crawl and back crawl and learn breaststroke basics. Water safety is reinforced through treading water and elementary backstroke.

Fish – (Level 5) Students work on stroke technique and learn all major competitive strokes. The emphasis on water safety continues through treading water and sidestroke. Students should be able to swim 50 yards with confidence.

Flying Fish and Shark – (Level 6) Students refine stroke technique on all major competitive strokes, learn about competitive swimming, and discover how to incorporate swimming into a healthy lifestyle. Students should be able to swim 100 yards with confidence.

For more information you can:

Learn about our private swim lessons
E-mail Megan Baxa at MeganB@mcgawymca.org or call 847-475-7400 x224 to speak with her directly.

Evanston Swims!

Evanston Swims is a free swimming and water safety instruction program for second graders at specific District 65 schools. It runs at the Y and the YWCA throughout the school year and is an initiative of Evanston 150 in partnership with School District 65, the YWCA Evanston/North Shore, the McGaw YMCA and Goldfish Swim School.
The goal of this program is to teach every child in Evanston how to swim and it runs once a month on District 65’s schools’ half days.