We are so excited to welcome you to swim lessons, instructional sports, dance and more.


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Fall II Programming starts October 28!
Member registration opens Saturday, October 12 and community registration opens Saturday, October 19. Session availability varies by branch location. Explore your branch offerings today and Join the Y today for early access and discounts!


Youth Instructional Sports, Dance, & Arts

Need Help?

For more information, please contact Sports Arts and Movement Director, Anisya Reese.  Please note that classes are not refundable or transferable.

Ballet, Ages 3-8

The basics of ballet are introduced with patience and care, not to mention fun! Our programs nurture kids’ sense of self-confidence and introduce them to positive, fun activities that build athletic, social and interpersonal skills.

Instructor: Samuel Humpherys

Register

Basketball, Ages 6-12

Learn and master the basics of passing, dribbling, and shooting and practice your offense and defense in fun scrimmages.

Tuesday Instructor: Abie Rodriguez

Register

 

Ceramics for Kids, Ages 5-8

A fun ceramics class designed especially for this age group. Children will explore the entire ceramics process including making, glazing and firing their work. 

Instructor: Sybil Costello

Register

Gymnastics, Ages 4-10

This co-ed class focuses on learning basic gymnastics skills, such as floor routines and developing proper conditioning, as well as increased use of each apparatus.

Instructor: Raquel Daley

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Youth Hip Hop, Ages 6-8

Students will learn a series of stylistic moves with Hip Hop paired with Hip hop music to help work on musicality, coordination, cognitive awareness, and personalization. Students will work on moving to the beat, remembering dance moves, and expressing themselves within the choreographed movement.

Monday Instructor: Charisma Young

Register

Jin Sei Ryu Karate, Ages 4-12

Our progressive karate program teaches physical education, self-defense, and meditation. Regular participation in this program develops strength, agility, flexibility and coordination as well as focus and peace of mind.

Instructor: Melvin Ramsey

Register

 

Theater Magic and Exploration, Ages 5-8

September 28th & October 6th
Instructor: Kelsey Lappeggard

Member: $115 | Community: $165

Register

Intro to Theater Workshop, Ages 5-8

September 28th & October 6th
Instructor: Kelsey Lappeggard

Member: $115 | Community: $165

Register

No Idea is Too Crazy - Improve, Ages 8-10

ALIEN SPACESHIPS INVADE! Let’s see what happens! 

No napkins are allowed at the restaurant! Let’s see what happens! 

No idea is too big (aliens!) or too small (napkins!) when it comes to improvising. All we have to do is say YES! More aliens and fewer napkins please! Let’s see what happens next. 

In this improv workshop, kids ages 8-12 will explore the art of spontaneous performance through games, exercises, and creative challenges. Our focus is on fostering imagination, building confidence, and having a blast! 

This class is great for kids who want to communicate their unique ideas in a supportive environment. No idea is too big – or small! Everything is and can be funny. All that matters is that YOU’RE interested in what you’re saying, and the rest will flow out from there.

September 8, 22 & October 13
Instructor: Allyson Kloster 

Member: $170 | Community: $230

Register

Fancy Pants Acting, Ages 8-10

Step into your fancy pants and discover the magic of acting! This beginner-friendly class is designed for kids ages 8-12 who are eager to explore the world of theater and performance. Through fun exercises and creative activities, students will learn the basics of acting while building confidence and making new friends.

Students will learn how it feels to build a story together as scene partners and as an ensemble. By the end of the workshop the group will perform a final Fancy Pants Recital where they will demonstrate what they have learned and let their silliness shine.

September 15, 29 & October 6, 20
Instructor: Allyson Kloster 

Member: $230 | Community: $270

Register

Swim Lessons, Parents & Child

Need Help?

For more information, please contact Aquatics Director, Melanie Torres, at torresm@ymcanyc.org. Please note that classes are not refundable or transferable. Make up classes will be scheduled upon availability if the classes is not fully booked. Please contact Melanie to for make up inquiries. 

Stage A: Water Discovery, Ages 6-18 months
  • Class length: 30 minutes
  • Qualification: None needed 
  • Adult participation: One parent or guardian per child must be in the pool for each lesson

The class introduces infants and toddlers to the aquatic environment through exploration.
 
 

Register

Stage B: Water Exploration, Ages 12-36 months
  • Class length: 30 minutes
  • Qualification: Child is comfortable in the water or child has taken Stage A Water Discovery
  • Adult participation: One parent or guardian per child must be in the pool for each lesson

Focuses on exploring body positions, blowing bubbles, and fundamental safety and aquatic skills.

 

Register

Stage 1 Water Acclimation with Parent, Ages 2.5-5
  • Class length: 30 minutes
  • Qualification: None needed. This class is for kids who aren’t yet comfortable going under water voluntarily.
  • Skills Practiced:
    ○ Bob to submerge in water
    ○ Front and back glide to the wall for 5 feet with no help
    ○ Front and back float for 10 seconds with help
    ○ Roll from back to front and front to back with help
    ○ Jump, push, turn, grab with help
    ○ Swim, float, swim 10 feet with help
    ○ Exit the water

Preschoolers develop comfort with underwater exploration and are introduced to basic self-rescue skills performed with assistance.

 

Register

 

Swim Lessons, Preschool

Stage 1 Water Acclimation, Ages 3-5
  • Class length: 30 minutes
  • Qualification: None needed. This class is for kids who aren’t yet comfortable going under water voluntarily.
  • Skills Practiced:
    ○ Bob to submerge in water
    ○ Front and back glide to the wall for 5 feet with no help
    ○ Front and back float for 10 seconds with help
    ○ Roll from back to front and front to back with help
    ○ Jump, push, turn, grab with help
    ○ Swim, float, swim 10 feet with help
    ○ Exit the water

Preschoolers develop comfort with underwater exploration and are introduced to basic self-rescue skills performed with assistance.

 

Register

Stage 2 Water Movement, Ages 3-5
  • Class length: 30 minutes
  • Qualification: Child must be able to demonstrate all Stage 1 skills as follows:
    ○ Go underwater and comfortably open eyes without goggles
    ○ Float on front and back with minimal assistance
    ○ Jump into the pool, submerge, and return to the wall with assistance
    ○ This class is for kids who are not able to do a front and back float on their own.
  • Skills Practiced:
    ○ Submerge to look at an object on the bottom of the pool
    ○ Front and back glide to the wall for 5 feet
    ○ Front and back float for 10 seconds
    ○ Roll from back to front and front to back
    ○ Jump, push, turn, grab
    ○ Swim, float, swim 5 yards
    ○ Tread water near the wall for 10 seconds
    ○ Exit the water

Preschoolers 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 water.

Register

Stage 3 Water Stamina, Ages 3-5
  • Class length: 30 minutes
  • Qualification: Child must be able to demonstrate all Stage 2 skills as follows:
    ○ Float on front and back unassisted
    ○ Push off the wall on stomach with face submerged for 10 feet unassisted
    ○ Swim, float, swim 15 feet unassisted
    ○ Jump into deep water and return to the wall unassisted
    ○ This class is for kids who are not able to swim 10-15 yards on their front and back.
  • Skills Practiced:
    ○ Retrieve an object in chest-deep water
    ○ Swim on front and back for 10 yards
    ○ Roll from back to front and front to back
    ○ Jump, push, turn, grab 10 yards
    ○ Swim, float, swim 15 yards
    ○ Tread water for 30 seconds
    ○ Exit the water

Preschoolers learn how to swim to safety from a longer distance than in previous stages. The class also introduces rhythmic breathing and integrated arm/leg action.

 

Register

Swim Lessons, School Age, Teens & Adults

Stage 1 Water Acclimation, Ages 5-12
  • Class length: 30 minutes
  • Qualification: None needed. This class is for kids who aren’t yet comfortable going under water voluntarily.
  • Skills Practiced:
    ○ Bob to submerge in water
    ○ Front and back glide to the wall for 5 feet with no help
    ○ Front and back float for 10 seconds with help
    ○ Roll from back to front and front to back with help
    ○ Jump, push, turn, grab with help
    ○ Swim, float, swim 10 feet with help
    ○ Exit the water

Students develop comfort with underwater exploration and are introduced to basic self-rescue skills performed with assistance.

 

Register

Stage 1 Water Acclimation, Ages 12+ and Adults
  • Class length: 45 minutes
  • Qualification: None needed. This class is for kids who aren’t yet comfortable going under water voluntarily.
  • Skills Practiced:
    ○ Bob to submerge in water
    ○ Front and back glide to the wall for 5 feet with no help
    ○ Front and back float for 10 seconds with help
    ○ Roll from back to front and front to back with help
    ○ Jump, push, turn, grab with help
    ○ Swim, float, swim 10 feet with help
    ○ Exit the water

Student develops comfort with underwater exploration and are introduced to basic self-rescue skills performed with assistance.

 

Register

Stage 2 Water Movement, Ages 5-12
  • Class length: 30 minutes
  • Qualification: Child must be able to demonstrate all Stage 1 skills as follows:
    ○ Go underwater and comfortably open eyes without goggles
    ○ Float on front and back with minimal assistance
    ○ Jump into the pool, submerge, and return to the wall with assistance
    ○ This class is for kids who are not able to do a front and back float on their own.
  • Skills Practiced:
    ○ Submerge to look at an object on the bottom of the pool
    ○ Front and back glide to the wall for 5 feet
    ○ Front and back float for 10 seconds
    ○ Roll from back to front and front to back
    ○ Jump, push, turn, grab
    ○ Swim, float, swim 5 yards
    ○ Tread water near the wall for 10 seconds
    ○ Exit the water

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 water.

 

Register

Stage 2 Water Movement, Ages 12+ and Adults
  • Class length: 45 minutes
  • Qualification: Child must be able to demonstrate all Stage 1 skills as follows:
    ○ Go underwater and comfortably open eyes without goggles
    ○ Float on front and back with minimal assistance
    ○ Jump into the pool, submerge, and return to the wall with assistance
    ○ This class is for kids who are not able to do a front and back float on their own.
  • Skills Practiced:
    ○ Submerge to look at an object on the bottom of the pool
    ○ Front and back glide to the wall for 5 feet
    ○ Front and back float for 10 seconds
    ○ Roll from back to front and front to back
    ○ Jump, push, turn, grab
    ○ Swim, float, swim 5 yards
    ○ Tread water near the wall for 10 seconds
    ○ Exit the water

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 water.

 

Register

Stage 3 Water Stamina, Ages 5-12
  • Class length: 30 minutes
  • Qualification: Child must be able to demonstrate all Stage 2 skills as follows:
    ○ Float on front and back unassisted
    ○ Push off the wall on stomach with face submerged for 10 feet unassisted
    ○ Swim, float, swim 15 feet unassisted
    ○ Jump into deep water and return to the wall unassisted
    ○ This class is for kids who are not able to swim 10-15 yards on their front and back.
  • Skills Practiced:
    ○ Retrieve an object in chest-deep water
    ○ Swim on front and back for 10 yards
    ○ Roll from back to front and front to back
    ○ Jump, push, turn, grab 10 yards
    ○ Swim, float, swim 15 yards
    ○ Tread water for 30 seconds
    ○ Exit the water

Students learn how to swim to safety from a longer distance than in previous stages. The class also introduces rhythmic breathing and integrated arm/leg action.

 

Register

Stage 3 Water Stamina, Ages 12+ and Adults
  • Class length: 45 minutes
  • Qualification: Child must be able to demonstrate all Stage 2 skills as follows:
    ○ Float on front and back unassisted
    ○ Push off the wall on stomach with face submerged for 10 feet unassisted
    ○ Swim, float, swim 15 feet unassisted
    ○ Jump into deep water and return to the wall unassisted
    ○ This class is for kids who are not able to swim 10-15 yards on their front and back.
  • Skills Practiced:
    ○ Retrieve an object in chest-deep water
    ○ Swim on front and back for 10 yards
    ○ Roll from back to front and front to back
    ○ Jump, push, turn, grab 10 yards
    ○ Swim, float, swim 15 yards
    ○ Tread water for 30 seconds
    ○ Exit the water

 

Students learn how to swim to safety from a longer distance than in previous stages. The class also introduces rhythmic breathing and integrated arm/leg action.

 

Register

Stage 4 Stroke Introduction, Ages 5-12
  • Class length: 45 minutes
  • Qualification: Child must be able to demonstrate all Stage 3 skills as follows:
    ○ Submerge and retrieve an object in chest-deep water
    ○ Swim front crawl 15 yards while taking a breath
    ○ Swim, float, swim 15 yards
    ○ Jump in and tread water for 30 seconds
    ○ Swim to wall and exit
    ○ This class is for kids who are not able to swim 15 yards of front and back crawl.
  • Skills Practiced:
    ○ Swim the front crawl with rotary breathing for 15 yards
    ○ Breaststroke kick for 15 yards
    ○ Butterfly kick for 15 yards
    ○ Elementary backstroke for 15 yards
    ○ Dive from a sitting position
    ○ Tread water using a scissor and whip kick for one minute
    ○ Swim any combination of strokes for 25 yards

Having mastered the fundamentals, students learn additional water safety skills and build stroke technique.

 

Register

Stage 4 Stroke Introduction, Ages 12+ and Adults
  • Class length: 45 minutes
  • Qualification: Child must be able to demonstrate all Stage 3 skills as follows:
    ○ Submerge and retrieve an object in chest-deep water
    ○ Swim front crawl 15 yards while taking a breath
    ○ Swim, float, swim 15 yards
    ○ Jump in and tread water for 30 seconds
    ○ Swim to wall and exit
    ○ This class is for kids who are not able to swim 15 yards of front and back crawl.
  • Skills Practiced:
    ○ Swim the front crawl with rotary breathing for 15 yards
    ○ Breaststroke kick for 15 yards
    ○ Butterfly kick for 15 yards
    ○ Elementary backstroke for 15 yards
    ○ Dive from a sitting position
    ○ Tread water using a scissor and whip kick for one minute
    ○ Swim any combination of strokes for 25 yards

Having mastered the fundamentals, students learn additional water safety skills and build stroke technique.

 

Register

Stage 5 Stroke Development, Ages 5-12
  • Class length: 45 minutes
  • Qualification: Child must be able to demonstrate all Stage 4 skills as follows:
    ○ Front crawl and back crawl 25 yards
    ○ Swim breaststroke kick and dolphin kick 15 yards
    ○ Tread water using multiple kicks for 1 minute
    ○ This class is for kids who are not able swim the front crawl, back crawl, and breaststroke across the pool.
  • Skills Practiced:
    ○ Swim the front crawl with bent-arm recovery for 25 yards
    ○ Breaststroke for 25 yards
    ○ Butterfly with simultaneous arm action and kick for 15 yards
    ○ Back crawl for 25 yards
    ○ Sidestroke for 25 yards
    ○ Dive from a kneeling position
    ○ Tread water using a scissor and whip kick for 2 minutes
  • ○ Swim any combination of strokes for 50 yards

Students work on stroke technique and learn all major competitive swimming strokes.

 

Register

Stage 5 Stroke Development, Ages 12+ and Adults
  • Class length: 45 minutes
  • Qualification: Child must be able to demonstrate all Stage 4 skills as follows:
    ○ Front crawl and back crawl 25 yards
    ○ Swim breaststroke kick and dolphin kick 15 yards
    ○ Tread water using multiple kicks for 1 minute
    ○ This class is for kids who are not able swim the front crawl, back crawl, and breaststroke across the pool.
  • Skills Practiced:
    ○ Swim the front crawl with bent-arm recovery for 25 yards
    ○ Breaststroke for 25 yards
    ○ Butterfly with simultaneous arm action and kick for 15 yards
    ○ Back crawl for 25 yards
    ○ Sidestroke for 25 yards
    ○ Dive from a kneeling position
    ○ Tread water using a scissor and whip kick for 2 minutes
  • ○ Swim any combination of strokes for 50 yards

Students work on stroke technique and learn all major competitive swimming strokes.

 

Register

Stage 6 Stroke Mechanics, Ages 5-12
  • Class length: 45 minutes
  • Qualification: Child must be able to demonstrate all Stage 5 skills as follows:
    ○ Swim the front crawl with bent-arm recovery for 25 yards
    ○ Swim back crawl with stroke rotation for 25 yards
    ○ Swim butterfly with over arm recovery
    ○ Swim breaststroke for 25 yards achieving stroke rhythm
    ○ Dive from kneeling position
    ○ This class is for kids who are not able swim the front crawl, back crawl, and breaststroke across the pool and back.
  • Skills Practiced:
    ○ Swim the front crawl for 50 yards and do a flip turn
    ○ Breaststroke for 50 yards and do an open turn
    ○ Butterfly for 25 yards
    ○ Back crawl for 25 yards and do a flip turn
    ○ Sidestroke or elementary backstroke for 50 yards
    ○ Dive from a standing position
    ○ Swim any combination of strokes for 150 yards
  • ○ Swim any combination of strokes for 50 yards

Students refine stroke technique on the major competitive strokes, learn about competitive swimming and discover how to incorporate swimming into a healthy lifestyle.

 

Register

Stage 6 Stroke Mechanics, Ages 12+ and Adults
  • Class length: 45 minutes
  • Qualification: Child must be able to demonstrate all Stage 5 skills as follows:
    ○ Swim the front crawl with bent-arm recovery for 25 yards
    ○ Swim back crawl with stroke rotation for 25 yards
    ○ Swim butterfly with over arm recovery
    ○ Swim breaststroke for 25 yards achieving stroke rhythm
    ○ Dive from kneeling position
    ○ This class is for kids who are not able swim the front crawl, back crawl, and breaststroke across the pool and back.
  • Skills Practiced:
    ○ Swim the front crawl for 50 yards and do a flip turn
    ○ Breaststroke for 50 yards and do an open turn
    ○ Butterfly for 25 yards
    ○ Back crawl for 25 yards and do a flip turn
    ○ Sidestroke or elementary backstroke for 50 yards
    ○ Dive from a standing position
    ○ Swim any combination of strokes for 150 yards
  • ○ Swim any combination of strokes for 50 yards

Students refine stroke technique on the major competitive strokes, learn about competitive swimming and discover how to incorporate swimming into a healthy lifestyle.

Register

Aquatics Conditioning, Ages 8-17

Focusing on conditioning to build endurance and stroke technique on all major competitive strokes and encourages swimming as a part of a healthy lifestyle.

 

Register

Pre-Swim Team, Ages 8-17

Young swimmers build strength, speed and endurance while refining their stroke technique in our pre-swim team program. Swimmers enhance skills as a competitive swimmer, make friends & set individual goals. 

Assessment is required. Please contact torresm@ymcanyc.org.

 

Private and Small Group Swim Lessons

Private swim lessons are now available for members ages 3 years old and up. Contact us online to learn more >

Family and Friends Swim Lessons
Build your own lesson! This great new program allows you to register your family and friends in the same class. It doesn't matter their ages or abilities. The instructor will create an environment that will build upon any and all skills levels. This is great for families and friends that want to remain in their pod! Contact us online to learn more >

There are no refunds for any aquatics programs. Makeups are given at the discretion of the aquatics director.