Swim Lessons Program
Small-group lessons
Small-group lessons are an excellent way for kids to learn water safety while interacting with their instructors and peers. Our curriculum is uniquely designed to teach water safety and foundational skills for all four competitive strokes in American Sign Language. The Gallaudet Swim School curriculum starts with the basics of water adjustment, breath control, and floating and builds skills through the development of whole strokes, all within a fun and exciting learning environment. This progression provides the foundation necessary for basic water safety, aquatic recreation, and future competitive development. Each class is designed to ensure every child receives quality time dedicated to their progress. No special equipment or supplies are needed to learn to swim - swim caps are recommended but optional - just bring a swimsuit, goggles, and a towel! Sometimes our pool can get a little cold. We may recommend a rashguard or swim shirt if your child gets cold quickly.
Important to Note
For parents who are not proficient in American Sign Language, don’t worry! We strongly encourage writing through the “Notes” app on your phone or a good old-fashioned paper and pen. If you have any further concerns about your child or any other questions, you may email us directly at [email protected]. There will not be an ASL interpreter on deck or in the water with your child. Gallaudet University is home to the only Deaf and hard-of-hearing college in the world, and our instructors are skilled at demonstrating skills and teaching basic signs needed for your child's lesson.
Prices
Each lesson is 30 minutes long, and swimmers attend one lesson per week for however many weeks the session is offered.
Prices: $40.00 per group class or $50.00 per private lesson
Class Days and Times:
Class days and times vary monthly as most all our staff are college students. Keep on the lookout for updates to come! If you wish to be notified when our classes will be offered, email us, and we'll add you to the list!
We try our best to accommodate families' schedules, although if you are interested in private/semi-private lessons (at a higher rate) or want to have lessons with your favorite instructor, please contact us at [email protected], and we will try our best to accommodate you and your child!
The following describes our class levels with the skills required to progress to the next level:
Toddler/Parent - To develop the foundational skills crucial for learning to swim and promote safety in the water.
Beginning 1 - To learn basic safety skills, blowing bubbles through the mouth and nose, front and back float, as well as the beginning arm and kicking movements for freestyle.
Beginning 2 - To learn to do basic freestyle and backstroke independently, and build on safety skills.
Beginning 3 - To learn to breathe to the side in freestyle with assistance, gain endurance with backstroke, and build on safety skills.
Intermediate 1 - To learn to breathe to the side in freestyle without assistance, as well as to gain endurance with backstroke. Also covered in this class is learning the breaststroke kick.
Intermediate 2 - To build more endurance in freestyle and backstroke, while refining technique in those strokes. Complete the breaststroke by adding the arms and breath, and learning the butterfly kick.
Intermediate 3 - To learn butterfly with the arm pattern, proper timing, and breath control, in addition to continuing to refine technique and build endurance for all four strokes.
Advanced - This class is for swimmers who already know how to swim freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly. In this class, swimmers will focus on improving endurance and continue to build on new skills for competition.
