Learn to swim and develop your strokes at the Rec Pool! 🏊🏼♀️Swim lessons are offered year-round for UC Davis students, affiliates and community members! Youth swim lessons are available during summer sessions.
Swim Lessons
Adult Swim Lessons
Our adult swim lessons provide a supportive and welcoming environment for adults of all skill levels to build confidence and improve their swimming ability. Group lessons are led by experienced instructors and focus on developing water safety, stroke techniques, and overall comfort in the water. Small group classes with a 3:1 participant-to-instructor ratio provide personalized instruction and individual feedback.
- Academic Year: One 45‑minute class per week for eight weeks
- Summer Sessions: Two 45‑minute classes per week for four weeks
Offerings
Adult Beginner
Build confidence in the water while learning the fundamentals of swimming in a supportive, beginner-friendly environment. Participants will learn basic water safety skills, breathing techniques, and proper body position, along with an introduction to freestyle, backstroke and breaststroke. The course is designed for individuals with little or no previous experience.
Prerequisites: None.
Adult Intermediate
Refine your swimming skills and build efficiency in the water with a focus on stroke development. Participants will improve stroke techniques, including freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly. Ideal for adults who are comfortable in the water and have basic swimming experience.
Prerequisites: Participants must be able to swim at least 25 yards independently to register in this offering. Note: This class is designed for participants who already have basic swimming skills and feel comfortable swimming independently, but want to develop their technique or learn advanced strokes.
Registration Questions? Send us a message at [email protected].
Youth Swim Lessons
Our youth program is designed with flexibility in mind, helping young swimmers build confidence and learn skills ranging from basic water safety to more advanced stroke techniques.
Classes take place in the Leisure Pool (3.5 ft depth, kept at a warm 80°) — an inviting and accessible environment for swimmers of all experience levels. Each lesson is taught by our team of UC Davis student instructors, all trained in water safety, age‑appropriate lesson planning, and effective verbal and hands‑on teaching strategies. Our Youth Swim Lessons run in two‑week sessions during summer sessions with eight 30‑minute classes per session. Whether your child is just starting out or ready to refine their strokes, we’re here to help them grow, splash, and have fun along the way!
Class Offerings
Tadpoles (6 months–3 years) – Parent & Tot
Our Tadpoles class gives little ones their very first splash into the water! This 6:1 class ratio is designed for children ages 6 months to 3 years. Swimmers explore water safety, gentle acclimation, and early motor‑skill development. and parents learn supportive holding and guiding techniques. Expect lots of songs, splash-friendly games, and simple water activities that help your child build confidence while you learn supportive holding and guiding techniques.
Prerequisite: Parent or guardian participation required; no swim experience (for parent or tot) needed.
Starfish (3–5 years)
Starfish is the perfect first step for young swimmers who are ready to explore the water on their own! This beginner‑friendly class helps children build a positive, safe, and comfortable relationship with the water, supported by a 4:1 class ratio. Starfish swimmers explore sensory activities, breath control, buoyancy, and learn how to submerge and float with confidence. Lessons include bubble games, treasure hunts, kickboard adventures, and plenty of fun to keep kids engaged and excited.
Prerequisite: No prior swimming experience needed, but swimmers must be able to enter the water on their own and participate without a parent or guardian.
Sea Horses (5–7 years)
Sea Horses is ideal for swimmers who already feel comfortable in the water and are ready to move independently. This 4:1 class ratio builds the foundation for longer, more coordinated swimming by focusing on front crawl arm movements, coordinated kicking, and rolling to get a breath. Swimmers build skills through imaginative games, playful challenges, and fun technique‑focused activities that help them move confidently through the water.
Prerequisite: Swimmers should be able to comfortably submerge and float independently.
Manta Rays (7–12 years)
Manta Rays is designed for swimmers ready to turn their basic water movement into real stroke development. With a 4:1 class ratio, this level helps swimmers refine their skills and gain confidence in longer distances. The curriculum focuses on freestyle pull, kicking, and side‑breathing, while introducing backstroke and breaststroke movements. Practice includes stroke‑building drills and games that make learning the competitive strokes fun.
Prerequisite: Swimmers should be able to swim independently for 5 yards (15 feet).
Individual Class (3–17 years)
One‑on‑one youth swim lessons are designed to meet each child exactly where they are—whether they’re just getting comfortable in the water or refining advanced skills. Every session begins with an assessment of your child’s current abilities, learning style, and confidence level. From there, our instructor creates a personalized lesson plan that focuses on skill development, water safety, and fun.
Registration Questions? Send us a message at [email protected].
