Free Swimming Lessons for NYC Kids and Adults

Photo by egarc2

The New York City Parks Department provides a variety of free, water-based programs for all ages and levels, ranging from swim lessons to recreational swimming to training for swim team competition. Programs are available for toddlers, children and adults, and both after-school swim classes and Saturday swimming lessons are available. All programs are free and offered in Brooklyn, the Bronx, Manhattan and After School Swim Classes are available in Queens.

Classes are free and space is limited. Registration is on a first come-first served basis. Here's more info on these free swimming classes and how to register:

FREE After School Swimming Lessons

Swimming lessons for children ages 6-14 will be offered at nine pools throughout the city in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and Manhattan. All classes will be held on weekdays from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Dates vary from pool to pool. To find a location near you check the Parks Dept. website.

Registration for after school swimming lessons for this Fall 2008 will be held from 9:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 11 and 18. Additional weekday registration dates for each location are listed on their website. Space is limited for this free program, and children will be accepted on a first-come-first-serve basis.

Free Saturday Swim Lessons
The Parks Department offers FREE Saturday Swimming Classes at 9 pools around NYC in Manhattan, Brooklyn and the Bronx. Saturday swimming classes take place every Saturday between 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. starting October 25 through December 20 for toddlers ages 3-5, children aged 6-14, and adults of all ages. Class locations are listed here.

Registration will be held at the pool sites (check website) on Saturday, October 11 and Saturday, October 18 from 9:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Space is limited for this free program and children will be accepted on a first-come-first-serve basis.

Swim with the Best: Join a Parks Swim Team
Have a budding Michael Phelps? Parks & Recreation invites you to join its swim team. Practice sessions will emphasize competition swimming strokes, starts and turns, rules, and sportsmanship. The swim teams train to compete in swim meets during the fall and winter seasons, and this spring’s Citywide Borough Cup Championship.

Youth between the ages of 6 and 18 who can swim 50 yards in reasonably good form may try out for the team. Locations and training times vary depending on the pool. Participating pools listed on the website.

For more information about Parks' swim programs you can also call Parks Citywide Aquatics at (718) 760-6969.

Also check out our post on Swimming Classes including Mommy and Me Swim and for children of all ages.