Aquatics

Group Swim Lessons

Simpkins Family Swim Center offers year-round group swim lessons for students of all ages and abilities! Staff instructors work with small groups of students based on swim level. Group lessons are fun and aim to improve comfortability in the water and develop healthy swim technique!
Due to COVID-19, information on this page is subject to change.
Please check for updates.

Group Swim Lessons Levels

Review the swim levels below to determine which group lessons are the best match!
Once you've determined your level, register online.

Sea Horses (Parents & Tots)

Ages 6 months & up. Parents are in the water with staff instructors to learn how to teach their child age-appropriate swim skills in a safe and encouraging environment. Participation in songs and games makes the experience a positive one. Children must wear disposable swim diapers and tight-fitting swim suits (2 layers of protection) if not yet toilet trained.

Barnacles (Level 1)

Ages 2 1/2 & up. Prerequisite: Comfortable in the water without a parent & able to listen and follow teacher's instruction. Skills introduced: Blowing bubbles, supported front/back floats, facial submersion and kicks. Class emphasis is on water adjustment and having fun!

Guppies (Level 2)

Ages 3 & up. Prerequisite: Barnacle graduate or capable of fully submerging face, blowing bubbles for 10 seconds two times in a row and floating and kicking on front and back with support. Skills introduced: Rhythmic breathing "bobs", jumping in, unassisted front and back floats, assisted swim on front and back with arm strokes, kicks, and breathing, and basic water safety.

Goldfish (Level 3)

Ages 3.5 & up. Prerequisite: Guppy graduate or must be comfortable with face in the water while using arm strokes for at least 10 seconds, float unsupported on front and back for at least 5 seconds, bob with rhythmic breathing 10 times in a row, and retrieve objects in chest-deep water. Skills introduced: Rhythmic breathing "bobs", jumping in, unassisted front and back floats, assisted swim on front and back with arm strokes, kicks and breathing, and basic water safety.

Sea Turtles (Level 4)

Ages 4 & up. Prerequisite: Goldfish graduate or capable of unassisted strokes on front using alternating arm action and breaststroke arm action with breathing for 10 yards, unassisted back stroke with alternating arm action for 10 yards, front and back glides with push offs from the wall, bobbing with rhythmic breathing 15 times. Skills introduced: Front crawl with side breathing, back crawl, elementary backstroke, breaststroke, kneeling dives, treading water,changing directions, increased swimming endurance, and basic water safety.;

Sea Otters (Level 5)

Ages 5 & up. Prerequisite: Sea Turtle graduate or capable of swimming 25 yards (1 lap) of front crawl with side breathing, backstroke at least 10 yards, elementary backstroke 25 yards, and the ability to tread water for at least 1 minute. Skills improved: Front crawl breathing technique & endurance, back crawl, elementary backstroke, treading water. Skills introduced: sidestroke, survival float, butterfly kick, open turns at wall and standing dives.

Sea Lion (Level 6)

Prerequisite: Sea Otter graduate or capable of swimming 25 yards front crawl with side breathing, 25 yards backstroke, 10 yards elementary backstroke, breaststroke kick for 10 yards, scissor kick for 10 yards, capable of standing dives and able to tread water for at least 2 minutes. Skills improved: Front crawl, backstroke, breaststroke, side stroke, elementary backstroke, dives and treading water. Skills introduced: Butterfly, turns at the wall.

Barracudas (Level 7)

Designed to be taken multiple sessions to refine swimmers' techniques and increase endurance. Coaches lead swim workouts and skill lessons to match your swimmer's ability level. Prerequisite: Sea Lion graduate or capable of swimming 50 yards front crawl with side breathing, 50 yards back crawl, 10 yards breaststroke, 25 yards elementary backstroke, 10 yards sidestroke, dolphin kick 10 yards, and tread water for 2 minutes. Skills improved: All competitive swimming strokes and endurance. Skills introduced: Endurance swimming, competitive swimming strokes, turns and techniques, and basic lifeguarding skills.

Pre-Competition

Offered in late-spring only. For ages 8-15. Pre-Competition (Pre-Comp) promotes a recreational approach to competitive swimming. It is designed to improve and strengthen swimming skills as preparation to join a swim team, or to prepare for a Junior Lifeguard program. Aquatic Staff Coaches will lead workouts with an emphasis on the four competitive swimming strokes, along with starting and turning techniques. A fitness component will also be emphasized. Prerequisite: A repeat Barracuda swimmer, or capable of: swimming 100 yards front crawl with side breathing, 100 yards backstroke, 25 yards breaststroke, 15 yards butterfly, and tread water for 3 minutes.

Register for Group Swim Lessons

Learn more details and how to register below!

How to Register Online
  • Create an account on ActiveNet.
  • Navigate to Swim Lessons.
  • Select your desired lesson.
  • Register and complete payment.
  • Thank you for choosing to take swim lessons with us!
Group Swim Lesson Details
  • If after reading the level descriptions you are unsure which level your child should be in, you can schedule a FREE swim lesson assessment! A parent or guardian must accompany all swimmers under age 18. Please call the swim center.
  • All lessons are 30 minutes and sessions meet in various weekly formats.
  • Registration for swim lessons is on a first-come, first-served basis.
  • Questions? Contact Us!
Pools & Amenities
  • Swim lessons will take place in either the 50-meter lap swim pool or warm water pool, depending on programming.
  • Amenities include locker rooms, bathrooms, ADA-accessible hot showers, lockers (bring your own lock), and swimsuit spinners. No towel service is available.
Accessibility

A water wheel chair is available at the swim center. Each pool has stationary, ADA compliant lifts plus a mobile lift for entry into the pools. An additional gender-inclusive bathroom is available with an ADA shower, changing bed, locker, and toilet.
Questions? Contact Us!

Missed Lessons & Cancellations

Make-up lessons are not available for missed classes.
If the participant has attended only one or two class meetings and issues cannot be resolved, a refund may be issued.
Credits or refunds are not available once a class has met three times, or if a participant fails to attend a program
If a class is cancelled by the Swim Center, a full refund will be issued within 4 weeks.

Contact Us

Phone:

(831) 454-7960 (Swim Center)

(831) 454-7953 (Swim Lesson Registration Line)

Monday – Friday 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, except holidays

Our physical office is open, but staff availability is limited.