Youth Swim Lessons
We will be offering limited youth swim lessons May 13 and 20, 2023.
Swim, Fun, and Safety Play will be experiential and safety-oriented swim sessions for swimmers of all abilities. We will not be teaching strokes in this course.
- It will be the same program for both sessions. May 13 is the only date for 18 months to 3 years. We ask that you only sign up for one session to allow as many families as possible to participate.
- The focus will be on water comfort, floating, moving through the water, and safety.
- We will have stations focused on different skills for the swimmers to work through. There will be instructors available and circulating throughout the stations.
- Parent participation in the water encouraged for all ages and abilities – you will learn ways to work with your child/children in the water.
- Parent participation required for younger children who cannot stand in the Rec Pool with their face above water.
- Our goal is to provide an active, experiential, fun, learning experience for all.
- Please contact Jackie Cowan James for more information.
When and where are the lessons, and how long do they last?
Spring classes will take place on Saturdays. Each session lasts 75 minutes and takes place in the Student Recreation Center pool.
Youth swim lessons are a fun and gentle way to keep your child moving and develop their endurance, flexibility, strength, and posture while also promoting heart and lung health. We offer lessons for every skill level, from those afraid of water to experienced swimmers.
Who can attend?
Open to all children 18 months and older.
When and where are the lessons, and how long do they last?
Fall classes will take place on Saturdays. Each class lasts 30 minutes and takes place in the Student Recreation Center pool.
What curriculum do you use?
The UO Student Recreation Center is an independent, authorized provider of Starfish Swimming—a nationally recognized swim instruction curriculum developed by the Starfish Aquatics Institute (SAI).
The Starfish Swimming curriculum is designed for students ages 6-months to adult. Benchmarks are established at each stage in the program that combines both swimming and safety skills. Students participate in experiential learning activities that allow them to explore the water in a creative and comfortable environment. Correct swimming techniques are taught from the very beginning, providing an easy transition to swim team.
How do I register?
For your convenience, we encourage you to take advantage of our online registration system. UO affiliates can log in with a Duck ID and password. UO alumni and community members will need to create an account through our Online Access Request Form. Completing this form is the only way to ensure that you receive the correct pricing for each participant. Therefore, all affiliations should complete the form the first time you register or when adding family members to your household. You will be contacted within two business days with your login credentials or account update. The online registration portal can be found on RecWeb.
StarTots™ (ages 18 months–3 years)
The purpose of this course is to teach and encourage young children to be more comfortable in water, while training family in water safety and drowning prevention. This course does not teach children to become accomplished swimmers or to survive in the water; it does provide a confidence-building, fun, and loving experience. At least one adult must accompany each child in the water.
Spring Session 2
| 18 months–3 years | May 2–30 | 10:50–11:20 a.m. |
Starfish Swim School (ages 3–12 years)
These courses will develop a high comfort level in the water and a readiness to swim. For children who are developmentally ready, it will teach functional swim skills. This class approaches teaching swimming through creative, fun activities in the water. Students work toward developing the five competencies and progress toward achieving the benchmarks at their own pace in a small group setting.
Stage White: Trust and Submersion
Your child is afraid of water and cannot swim at all. They will not get their face wet.
Spring Session 2
| 3–5 years | May 2–30 | 10:15–10:45 a.m. |
Stage Red: Body Position and Air Recovery
Your child swims with support, and loves the water. They will get their face wet and jump into the water.
Spring Session 2
| 3–5 years | May 2–30 | 10:15–10:45 a.m. | |
| 3–5 years | May 2–30 | 10:50–11:20 a.m. | |
| 3–5 years | May 2–30 | 11:25–11:55 a.m. | |
| 3–5 years | May 2–30 | noon–12:30 p.m. |
Stage Yellow: Submersion
Your child is not afraid of the water. They can float, jump into the water, and return to the surface.
Spring Session 2
| 4–5 years | May 2–30 | 10:15–10:45 a.m. | |
| 4–5 years | May 2–30 | 10:50–11:20 a.m. | |
| 4–5 years | May 2–30 | 11:25–11:55 a.m. | |
| 4–5 years | May 2–30 | noon–12:30 p.m. | |
| 6–12 years | May 2–30 | noon–12:30 p.m. |
Stage Blue: Body Rotation
Your child can swim underwater or on the surface, and can get an occasional breath.
Spring Session 2
| 3-5 years | May 2–30 | noon-12:30 p.m. | |
| 6–12 years | May 2–30 | 11:25–11:55 a.m. |
Stage Green: Integrated Movement
Your child can tread water for at least 15 seconds, jump into the water, and swim freestyle.
Spring Session 2
| 6–12 years | May 2–30 | 10:50–11:20 a.m. | |
| 6–12 years | May 2–30 | noon–12:30 p.m. |
Starfish Stroke School™ (ages 6–14 years)
Your child has achieved a Green Starfish Swim School Award. Students will refine freestyle and learn stroke technique for backstroke, butterfly, breaststroke, and more.
Stage White: Freestyle and Intro to Backstroke
Spring Session 2
| 6–14 years | May 2–30 | 10:15–10:45 a.m. | |
| 6–14 years | May 2–30 | 11:25–11:55 a.m. | |
| 6–14 years | May 2–30 | noon–12:30 p.m. |
Stage Red: Backstroke and Intro to Butterfly
Spring Session 2
| 6–14 years | May 2–30 | 11:25–11:55 a.m. |
Stage Yellow: Butterfly
Spring Session 2
| 6–14 years | May 2–30 | 10:50–11:20 a.m. |
Stage Blue/Green: Breaststroke and Endurance, Starts, and Turns
Spring Session 2
| 6–14 years | May 2–30 | 10:15–10:45 a.m. |