Aquatics - South Sound YMCA

Aquatics

For every age and ability

AQUATICS ACTIVITIES FOR ALL

Swim lessons, lap swim, water exercise, and more. The Y offers something for all. Browse through our aquatics offerings and pick out something new to try in the pool.

SWIM LESSONS

GENERAL INFORMATION

  • Swim Lessons are available to non-facility members
  • Registration opens two weeks prior to the first day of swim lesson sessions
  • If you’re unsure of what class to sign up for, please use our Level Selector
  • Priority registration for Family Memberships opens the first week of the registration window
  • Financial assistance is available – please stop by the Welcome Center to learn more
  • Stay up to date with our current Aquatic Guidelines

$49 FAMILY MEMBERSHIP | $85 YOUTH & PROGRAM MEMBER
YMCA youth swim lessons focus on safety, fun, and technique. We want kids to learn the basics of safety around water, how to enjoy being in and around water, as well as swimming techniques and stroke mechanics. As swimmers progress through the 6 levels of our program, they will build on the foundational skills and continue to gain confidence in the water. To maximize safety, lifeguards are always on the pool deck during lessons.

Youth swim lessons are organized into different skill levels. To understand which level you should sign your children up for, view our swim lesson level selector before registering. 

FALL 2022 SWIM LESSON DATES:

4-Week Lessons (afternoons; M/W or T/Th):

  • September 6-29 (no lessons September 8)
  • October 3-27
  • November 1-23 (no lessons November 24 (Thanksgiving Day) - T/Th pro-rated)
  • November 28-December 22

8-Week Lessons (Saturday mornings):

  • September 10-October 29
  • November 5-December 17 (7 week session,
    pro-rated)

$49 FAMILY MEMBERSHIP | $85 YOUTH & PROGRAM MEMBER
Accompanied by a parent, infants and toddlers learn to be comfortable in the water and develop swim readiness skills through fun and confidence building experiences, while parents learn about water safety, drowning prevention, and the importance of supervision. Register now. 

$69 FAMILY MEMBERSHIP | $122 YOUTH & PROGRAM MEMBER
If you prefer to work one-on-one with an instructor or are looking to focus on a specific aspect of swimming, private lessons are an option. One session consists of four 30-minute lessons; these 4-week session dates will run in conjunction with the group swim lesson dates. Semi-private lessons are also available for 2 students to work with the same instructor. This is a great option for siblings! Register Now.

Adult swim lessons are currently only available at the Briggs Community YMCA. Register now.

$24.50 for Facility Members | $42.50 for Program Members

REGISTER NOW

OTHER AQUATICS SERVICES

Experience the thrill of competition, learn valuable skills, and build strength in and out of the water with the Y's Shelton Youth Swim Team! Teams are open to anyone age 6-18. Practices will be held at the pool at Shelton High School.

There are three levels available:

  • Novice
    • Practice M/W/F - 5:30-6:30pm
    • For kids who have level 6 swim lessons and are looking to get into competitive swimming. Focus on developing the basics for the four competitive strokes.
  • Junior
    • Practice M/W/F - 5:30-7pm
    • For kids who have developed and are ready for more of a challenge. More focus on fine tuning stroke mechanics and building endurance.
  • Senior
    • Practice M/W/F - 5:30-7:30pm
    • For kids who have mastered the four competitive strokes and are looking for a serious challenge. Longer practice time focused on developing speed and endurance.

You MUST pre-register to attend tryouts.

Group placement tryouts are September 28th @ Shelton High School.
Practice begins October 3rd.

REGISTER

The Olympia Youth Swim Team (OYST) is all about competitive fun! Swimmers can accomplish the impossible, learn to believe in themselves, and discover they can do more than they ever imagined.

  • For intermediate to advanced swimmers.
  • All potential new team members must:
    • have passed our Intro to Swim Team class to sign up for the Novice team
    • be evaluated to sign up for the Junior or Senior team
  • Questions? Please contact your practice site for details. You can also contact our Aquatics Lead Anne Hoffer at hoffera@ssymca.net.

Olympia Youth Swim Team season begins September 2022

  • First day is September 7 – Practices are M/W/F until June with occasional meets on Saturdays vs other YMCA’s
  • Novice weekly practice times: 4:00pm-5:00pm, 5:00pm-6:00pm, or 6:00pm-7:00pm ($65/$88 per month)
  • Junior weekly practice times: 4:00pm-5:30pm or 5:30pm-7:00pm ($85/$112 per month)
  • Senior weekly practice times: 5:00pm-7:00pm ($105/$134 per month)

IS LOG ROLLING SAFE?
Log rolling is very safe. The physics of a round object floating in the water and your body weight pushing you away from it when you fall are the basic principles that prevent major injuries. As you begin to lose balance you will fall either forward or backward into the water with your body weight leading the way. In many cases, the roller simply steps off of the log as you lose balance.

WHAT DO I WEAR?
Appropriate swim wear (bathing suit/swim trunks). The Key Log also has a traction surface, which was specifically designed to be rough enough to prevent slipping while not too rough for bare feet.

WHO MAY PARTICIPATE?
This is an activity for anyone who can pass a swim test.

  • Tread water for 30 seconds.
  • Swim unassisted one length of the pool using front crawl stroke
  • Demonstrate good side-breathing technique with face in the water
  • Children nine and under must have a parent present on pool deck to participate

WHERE/HOW DO I SIGN UP MY SELF/CHILD?
At this time, registrations are not required. Please view our Classes and Schedules page for our Log Rolling schedule at the Shelton Family YMCA.

DOES IT COST EXTRA?
There are no additional fees for “Open-Roll” segments for Facility Members. A day pass will need to be purchased for non-facility members.

As interest is generated and growth for this program expands, instructional and lesson-based enrollment, to prep for future events and tournaments, will require a fee.

A big thank you to Windermere for sponsoring the YMCA Log Rolling Program.

NO RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED

As of November 10, 2021, we no longer require members and guests to make a reservation for Recreational Swim at any of our facilities.

  • Non-members must purchase a Family Day Pass to participate in Family Recreational Swim.

SWIM TEST

All children 14 years of age and younger must take a swim test each time they visit the YMCA and wish to use the deep end of the pool. YMCA lifeguards will administer the test using the following protocol:

  • Child can jump in the deep end (child does NOT need to touch the bottom).
  • Child can immediately begin treading water without touching the wall.
  • Child can tread water for 30 seconds.
  • Without touching the wall – child can swim to the shallow end using Front Crawl with over arm recovery (arm strokes must be out of the water, not under the water), the face must be in the water for some of this swim with rhythmic side breathing.
  • Swim continuously to the pool wall at the shallow end.
  • Child must exhibit comfortability and safety in the water.
  • Child must be competent using the front crawl with face in the water and arm stroke outside of water.
  • Lifeguards can demonstrate arm stroke and breathing prior to the test.
  • Child can re-take the swim test if they do not pass.
  • Passing the swim test once does not automatically mean the child will pass it every time. Swim skills vary depending upon frequency using the water. Child must exhibit swim skills each visit they are wanting to use the deep end of the pool.
  • Lifeguards on duty will make their decision for the safety of the child and staff.

HAVE YOU EVER CONSIDERED BECOMING A LIFEGUARD?

If so, there’s never been a better time to take one of our lifeguarding certification classes offered at the YMCA. Becoming a lifeguard can not only open the door to new job opportunities, but it provides essential safety education that’s focused on preventing accidents in and around the water—and that’s good for everyone. YMCA and American Red Cross courses are designed to provide the participants with the knowledge and skills needed to be a lifeguard.

This course provides entry-level lifeguard participants with the knowledge and skills to prevent, recognize and respond to aquatics emergencies and to provide care for breathing and cardiac emergencies, injuries, and sudden illnesses until emergency medical services (EMS) personnel take over.

Learn to save a life at the Y! A 3-day course is offered at selected South Sound YMCA branches to earn three certifications:

  • American Red Cross Lifeguard
  • First Aid
  • CPR/AED for Professional Rescuers

Lifeguard Certification

Dates: Click the registration button below for current training dates
Cost: $200 Facility Members/$260 Program Members
Eligibility: Open to everyone from ages 15+

Must attend all in-person training sessions.

REGISTER

Briggs Training Contact: Jackie Barratt – Aquatics Coordinator
Shelton Training Contact: Pearl Freckleton - Aquatics Coordinator

As of July 5, 2021, reservations are no longer required for lap swim. You can view the lap swim schedule here.

Deep Water Exercise - A vigorous deep-water workout, designed to increase your stamina by combining various water exercises and swimming.

Water Exercise - Enjoy the entire length of the pool in this class, to achieve a total body workout. You will learn how to use the resistance of water to increase your cardiovascular endurance and muscular strength.