To view the classes we offer, check out the Our Lessons page.

Sessions are 10 to 12 weeks long, except for our summer program which is 8 weeks.

For more information, check out the Registration page.

For more information about our class schedules, check out the Our Lessons page.

Please be aware that your child’s class size can fluctuate depending on current enrollment and weekly attendance, BUT the class size will never exceed the ratios that were published when you registered for your class.  Our standard max class sizes are listed below.

• Infant/toddler: (30 min) 4 students per instructor
• Learn to Swim: (30 min) 2 students per instructor
• Stroke Discovery (30 min): 4 students per instructor
• Stroke Discovery (45 min): 5 students per instructor
• Stroke Development (30 min): 4 students per instructor
• Stroke Development (45 min): 5 students per instructor
• Intermediate Stroke Clinic (45 min): 6 students per instructor
• Advanced Stroke Clinic (45 min): 6 students per instructor
• Private lessons (30 min): 1 student per instructor

At Swim Tank we believe in team teaching so your child will have an average of 3 to 4 teachers each session depending on how many times a week they come.  In cases of extreme separation anxiety we would reduce that number for a short period of time to help your child adjust, but he or she would not have just one teacher.  If you strongly believe that your child needs to have the same teacher each class you can enroll in a private lesson.

 Children at Swim Tank get a more well-rounded swimming experience because they learn from a team of highly trained swim instructors, rather than learning from just one instructor.  If a child will only swim comfortably for 1 teacher, that child might not be able to swim with confidence when you bring them to another pool with other people.  Our goal is to create strong and confident swimmers, no matter what the situation is.

We have also found that students can become too comfortable with one teacher, and they sometimes refuse to challenge themselves to the next level. They find it easier to “opt out” of certain skills with certain teachers, but other teachers might be able to motivate them more.  It is easy for a student to get stuck on a certain skill when they are learning to swim. Every one of our instructors offers a different perspective. Introducing a new instructor offers a fresh set of eyes, which can help get a student over his, or her individual hurdles.   The practice of rotating a child’s teachers results in a team of well-trained teachers working together to get each child to the next level.

Unlike other swim programs, Swim Tank’s lessons follow a very specific curriculum and all of our instructors go through a rigorous training process, under the guidance of our managers, before they can run a class on their own.  Therefore, all of our teachers are teaching the same skills, in the same order, and using the same words.

Our managers are constantly tracking each student’s progress and overseeing the lessons so that they can make the very best decisions about what will help each child succeed. Our instructors also know what each child is capable of, based on the child’s achievement level, the notes on the class roll, and their own observations and hands on experience.  Information is also shared between managers if the child comes on 2 different days

Our Philosophy

Our Lessons

Our Staff

Swim Tank does not have a formal special needs program.  Our instructors are not formally trained to work with children who have special needs.  Because our program is designed around routine and repetition, we have had success in working with some students with special needs, on a case-by-case basis.

In many cases, if a child’s needs are not severe, we are able to mainstream the child into our “Learn to Swim” program since we retain a semi-private ratio of 2 students to 1 teacher.  In some cases, children do not have the ability to control their impulses, in which case we would recommend a 1:1 private lesson ratio.  In any case, the lessons and curriculum remain almost identical to that of our mainstream students, with only some minor adjustments being made for a child’s special needs.

Since Swim Tank instructors are not formally trained in special education it is important that we refer students with significant physical or emotional needs to a program where there are instructors who are appropriately trained to assist them.

Water adjustment starts at birth.  There is so much you can do in the bathtub to help your child develop a comfortable relationship with the water.  The earlier you introduce your child to the water in the form of swimming lessons, the sooner they will learn to swim!  We recommend that children start swimming lessons as early as 4 months old.  Water adjustment is a crucial part of learning to swim and the earlier your child learns to go under the water the better!   For more information about the Infant/ toddler classes click here.

In general, most fears will begin to emerge in your child at around age 2, so acclimating your child to the water should begin earlier than this.   However, if your child is very comfortable in the water you should have no problem waiting to start formal lessons until age 2.5 or 3 years old.   Children under 3 years old ARE capable of swimming independently and saving their own life if they fall into a pool.  They are also old enough to understand the dangers that water can present, and swimming lessons prepare them for how to react when they are in and around the water.  It is never too young to learn about water safety.

If you have a child who has a fear of water or doesn’t like getting her or his face wet, it is best to address that fear as soon as you can.  If you wait until your child is older it can be harder for them to overcome the fears they have developed over the years.   Swimming becomes less natural for them and it takes more time  to gain confidence.  Just remember that it is never too late to learn to swim!!  Swimming is a life skill and a sport that can be enjoyed throughout one’s entire life.

If you don’t get the opportunity to enroll your child in lessons while they are young that doesn’t mean that they can’t learn.  We specialize in teaching children of every age to be safe and effective swimmers, no matter when they start their swimming journey with us!

Attending class 2 times a week at the Learn to Swim level is highly recommended and it has a big impact on how fast your child learns to swim.  In every level, the more you practice the faster you will progress. However, the most crucial phase of your child’s swim development is the Learn To Swim level and that is why it is so important to attend more than once a week.

The process of “learning to swim” covers a very broad spectrum of skills and abilities. It is challenging to define what constitutes a “swimmer” since the expectations of individual parents are often involved. For example, some parents believe that if their child can tread water for a certain amount of time then they can “swim”, while others believe that they must learn all of the competitive strokes to be a “swimmer”.  At Swim Tank we initially define a child as a “swimmer” when he or she can efficiently and independently navigate across a 25 ft span, and react appropriately after jumping or falling into a pool.

At the Infant/ Toddler level we begin introducing skills that pave the way to water safety.  These skills include, water adjustment, floating with assistance, and swimming under water independently.   If you participate in the Infant/ Toddler class for 4 consecutive sessions your child should have mastered all of these skills.  Depending on your child’s age, strength, and amount of time in the program, they may even be able to swim across the pool before graduating out of this level.

At the Learn To Swim level our focus is on safety skills and independent swimming.  In this level the difference between swimming one time a week versus two times a week is crucial!  Your child’s development and progress will dramatically change if you commit to swimming more than once a week, especially if your child is under 4 years old.  Most children who are enrolled in a Learn To Swim class for 4 sessions consecutively (Sept – June) will learn to swim independently for more than 25 feet and will have mastered safety skills such as floating and wall recovery.  However, there are always exceptions to this based on your individual child’s comfort level and strength.

“Swimming” in general is a much larger picture for us.  In addition to the skills mentioned above, we also want to make sure that children can tread water for a significant period of time and float so that they have the ability to rest if they are tired. After that, we want to see them develop their strokes so that they have the option to try swim team some day, enter a triathlon, or just swim laps for exercise.  Our program has broken down all of these goals into levels, which are marked by our level achievement badge system. These guidelines for progression will give you an idea of the average amount of time it takes a child to move from one badge level to the next, but remember these are not exact time frames as every child is different!

Most water phobias exist in children who are uncomfortable getting their face wet or going under the water.  If your child has developed a phobia it is even more important that you use bath time to help adjust them to the water.  When your child is in the bathtub before you add any soap, gently use your hand to cup some water and pour it over the child’s head and face.  Try this at least once or twice every time they are in the tub and be sure to cheer and praise your child. Consistency and honesty are crucial so always warn your child first by saying, “Ready, go” before you get water on their face. Try this at least once or twice every time they are in the tub and be sure to smile and coo at your baby so they view this as a positive experience. The earlier you get your child acclimated to having water on their face, the better!

You should also encourage your child to put his or her own forehead in the water.  By leaning forward and dipping their forehead in the water your child can start to acclimate to feeling the water on their face while avoiding getting water in his or her mouth or nose. Sometimes when children focus first on putting their mouth in the water they end up “sniffing” the water up their nose and that is a terrible feeling.  Teaching children to “blow bubbles” is also a common mistake that people make.  Once a child expels all their air the natural instinct is to breath again and if their mouth or nose is near the water they will inhale the water.

Making sure that your child’s lesson manager knows and understands your child’s water history is important.  If we can understand where their anxiety is coming from we can help reassure you and your child, and come up with a plan to address those fears.  Validating your child’s fears and reassuring them through consistency and honest communication will help them the first steps towards learning to swim.

• Refunds/credits are not offered once the session has begun
• Prior to the session starting we can try to re-sell your child’s class if you notify us in writing that you cannot attend
• Class resales are not guaranteed and are subject to a $100.00 fee
• Swim Tank does not offer refunds or credits for any missed or cancelled classes

If your child is struggling with adjustment or is unhappy in class please speak to the manager as they will be able to support you through any transitional challenges that you and your child may be going through.

Swim Tank does offer a medical withdrawal for students who suffer from a medical condition that prohibits swimming for an extended period of time. All approved withdrawals are subject to a $50 processing fee.   Medical withdrawals are not applicable for short-term illness such as cold, flu, respiratory infection, ear infections, strep throat, stomach virus, etc.

We do offer make ups, but the days/times we offer are not guaranteed to work for each family’s individual scheduling needs. A limited # of make ups are offered every Sat & Sun at 5 pm and most weekdays at 7 pm. Additional make up times are listed when parents submit prior absence notifications. We also offer make up days on Columbus day, Veterans day, several days (announced yearly) between Christmas and New Years, MLK day, Presidents’ day, & during our spring break holiday (announced yearly). Make ups can NOT be used to extend a session. If you are not renewing for the next session any unused make ups will expire on the last day of the session that your child is enrolled in. The summer session is sold separately therefore unused make ups can not be used during the summer session.

Students enrolled for the full school year (4 sessions from Sept – June) can earn up to 10 make ups if they complete an absence notification form PRIOR to missing their class. Student who enroll once the school year has started can earn the following based on when they enroll. If you start in session #2 you can earn up to 8 make ups for the remainder of the school year, if starting in session #3 you can earn up to 5 make ups for the remainder of the school year, and if starting in session #4 you can earn up to 3 make ups for the remainder of the school year. Our summer session is sold separately and you can earn up 2 make ups to use during the summer session, when purchasing an 8 week class.

• Patrons are not allowed to photograph or videotape any child, including their own while they are in the pool area
• This policy is in place to protect the privacy of both our students and our instructors
• We ask that you respect this policy as it will be strictly enforced

Please note that this policy will be strictly enforced since accidents cause pool closures and class cancellations.  The swim diapers that we sell and recommend do not look or feel like a diaper.  We recommend that parents refer to them as “swim pants” and NOT swim diapers.  We even sell bathing suits for both boys and girls that have the “swim pants” built into the suits so that the child is unaware.  It is crucial that we are proactive in the prevention of any fecal contamination of the pool and we appreciate everyone’s cooperation!

• Regular diapers are never allowed in the pool and can damage the filter system
• Pull ups and disposable swim diapers are also never allowed in the pool
• ALL children under the age of 4 must wear a tight fitting reusable swim diaper to prevent fecal accidents
• We do have reusable swim diapers available for sale at both facilities
• If you would like to purchase one on your own, we recommend the Iplay or Finis  diapers

Classes can be cancelled whenever there is a mechanical or weather related concern that affects the facility. Please be sure to “text opt in” on the contacts tab of your parent portal so you can receive a text notification whenever class cancellations occur. Cancellations of this nature are out of our control and often occur without a lot of notice. If your child’s class is cancelled you will be provided an additional make-up pass. Credits and or refunds are not offered for any emergency closures.

We do not offer trial classes because you cannot get a true sense of how a child will react in the water by attending just one class. You are welcome to come by the facility and watch a class, meet the administrators, and ask as many questions as you need to.  We are happy to help you make the best decision.   Tryouts are required for our advanced classes, but they are not necessary at the Learn to Swim level.

For more information, check out the Registration page.

Please read the “Our Lessons” page to learn about each class level  There you will find the class descriptions, goals, requirements, and schedules.