Northwestern University Recreation

COURSE DESCRIPTION

The Youth Learn-To-Swim program gives children ages 4-12 the physical skills and safety knowledge necessary to maximize their enjoyment of the water. It typically consists of seven 30-minute lessons. Throughout the levels, participants build on their basic skills to learn various movements on the front and back. As the levels progress, participants learn to refine the different strokes and build endurance. Class size is limited to maintain a ratio of 4-6 children per instructor, depending on the level.

See our Parent-Tot Swim Program for children 3 and under. 

Please contact aquatics@northwestern.edu for more information about swim lessons.

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REGISTRATION

Fall registration is now open. You can register online by clicking the links below or by calling the Membership Office at 847-491-4303.
  CLICK TO REGISTER
Registration Tips:

• You will need to sign in (or create an account), add your child to your account first, and then register your child for the lessons.
  • If you don't sign in, you will not see the option to register or waitlist.
• You need to enter the birthdate of your child.
• Be sure to select the correct semester on the left side of the registration website (desktop) or at the top of the page (mobile).
• Some classes may be full at the time registration opens because current swim lesson participants have the opportunity to register prior to registration opening.
• Trouble registering? Please call the Membership Office at 847-491-4303.

 

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FALL SESSION SCHEDULES

LEVEL	CLASS TIME	REGISTRATION PERIOD
Sundays: September 28 - November 16 (No class: Oct 12)
Level 1	1:00 - 1:30 p.m.	Aug 4 - Sept 15 | Register
Level 1	1:40 - 2:10 p.m.	Aug 4 - Sept 15 | Register
Level 1	2:20 - 2:50 p.m.	Aug 4 - Sept 15 | Register
Level 2	1:00 - 1:30 p.m.	Aug 4 - Sept 15 | Register
Level 2	1:40 - 2:10 p.m.	Aug 4 - Sept 15 | Register
Level 2	2:20 - 2:50 p.m.	Aug 4 - Sept 15 | Register
Level 3	1:00 - 1:30 p.m.	Aug 4 - Sept 15 | Register
Level 3	1:40 - 2:10 p.m.	Aug 4 - Sept 15 | Register
Level 3	2:20 - 2:50 p.m.	Aug 4 - Sept 15 | Register
Level 4	1:00 - 1:30 p.m.	Aug 4 - Sept 15 | Register
Level 4	1:40 - 2:10 p.m.	Aug 4 - Sept 15 | Register
Level 4	2:20 - 2:50 p.m.	Aug 4 - Sept 15 | Register
Level 5	1:00 - 1:30 p.m.	Aug 4 - Sept 15 | Register
Level 5	1:40 - 2:10 p.m.	Aug 4 - Sept 15 | Register
Level 5	2:20 - 2:50 p.m.	Aug 4 - Sept 15 | Register
Wednesdays: October 1 – November 12
Level 1	4:15 - 4:45 p.m.	Aug 4 - Sept 15 | Register
Level 1	4:55 - 5:25 p.m.	Aug 4 - Sept 15 | Register
Level 2	4:15 - 4:45 p.m.	Aug 4 - Sept 15 | Register
Level 2	4:55 - 5:25 p.m.	Aug 4 - Sept 15 | Register
Level 3	4:15 - 4:45 p.m.	Aug 4 - Sept 15 | Register
Level 3	4:55 - 5:25 p.m.	Aug 4 - Sept 15 | Register
Level 4	5:35 - 6:05 p.m.	Aug 4 - Sept 15 | Register
Level 5	5:35 - 6:05 p.m.	Aug 4 - Sept 15 | Register

Seven classes per session
 

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LESSON FEES

• Northwestern Student/Member: $108
• Non-Member: $118

 

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LEARN TO SWIM LEVELS

To determine which level your child should enter, see the "Minimum Requirements" portion of the description.
 

• Purpose: To help students feel comfortable and safe in the water. Skills taught include breath-holding, front and back float, entering water independently, introduction to flutter kicking, and freestyle arms.
• Minimum Requirements: Should be comfortable in the water up to the shoulders and be in the water without a parent.

• Purpose: To give students fundamental and self-propulsion skills. Skills taught include unsupported front and back glide, freestyle coordination with breathing, and beginning backstroke arm action.
• Minimum Requirements: Should be able to fully submerge head while blowing out bubbles and assisted flutter kick for 10 yards.

• Purpose: Guided practice will help students improve their skills. Skills taught include coordinating freestyle and backstroke, introduction to treading, and retrieving objects
• Minimum Requirements: Should be able to perform freestyle and backstroke for at least 5 body lengths (technique is not important coming into this level) and should be comfortable in 4 feet deep water.

• Purpose: To develop confidence and endurance in the freestyle, backstroke, and elementary backstroke. Skills taught include standing dive, deep-water skills, introduction to breaststroke, sidestroke, and treading water (scissors kick, rotary kick.)
• Minimum Requirements: Should be able to perform freestyle and backstroke for at least 15 yards (technique should be learned before entering this level).

• Purpose: To refine the key strokes. Skills taught include freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly, sidestroke, elementary backstroke, surface dives, open turns, and flip turns.
• Minimum Requirements: Should be able to perform freestyle and backstroke for at least 25 yards and breaststroke for 15 yards.

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CLASS LOCATION

Classes are held on the Evanston campus at the Norris Aquatics Center located at 2311 Campus Drive. Click here for directions. Parking is available in the north campus garage, which is attached to the Norris Aquatics Center. Take elevator "A" to the first floor to reach the entrance of the facility. Parking is free on weekends and after 4p on weekdays.

The Norris Aquatics Center features a 25-yard x 50-meter pool which is home to the Northwestern Varsity Swimming and Diving teams. The water temperature is kept at a cool 80 degrees. Water depth ranges from 4 feet to 15 feet. Participants will meet on the pool bleachers before class.

Note: Family restroom and family changing rooms available
 

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INSTRUCTORS

The majority of our instructors are Northwestern students who are American Red Cross certified instructors, have experience teaching swim lessons, or are accomplished swimmers themselves.
 

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FUTURE SESSIONS (Tentative)

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REFUNDS

Click below for the aquatics refund request form and policies. You may need to save the file to your computer to utilize all the functions of the PDF.

Refund Form