The weather may still be doing that crazy snow-in-spring thing outside today, but it’s already time to be thinking about warm weather and swimming. Registration for summer swim lessons is taking place at programs around our area, and the time slots are known to fill up quickly!

There are a variety of options for lessons in and around St. Michael–Albertville, and each one offers something a little different from the next. Here is a list of the most popular programs in our area, loosely sorted by distance, popularity, and price.

If you have experience with any of these programs,
please share about it in the comments below!

STMA Community Education*
Lessons are available for kids starting at 18 months with a parent, or 4 years without, and they are offered at various times throughout the summer. All lessons take place at Middle School East.
See the listings under “Aquatics” in the community education brochure: http://stmamom.com/the-summer-activities-brochure-is-here | Register online at stma.ce.eleyo.com.
(Afternoon open swim hours are also listed in the brochure)

Monticello Community Education
Kids can start lessons at 16 months in this program (age 4 without a parent), and there are five different blocks of the summer to choose from, versus STMA’s four. Lessons take place at Monticello Middle School.
More info and register: monticello.ce.eleyo.com/courses/category/65/aquatics

Monticello Community Center*
The Monticello Community Center is a great place to bring your kids swimming year-round because of its fun play area and water slides (see photos). There are parent-child options at MCC as well, and the preschool swim lessons here start at age 3. Registration opens to the public May 5. Open swim is offered at this pool every day, but kids under 6 must be supervised by a paid parent, so it can get a little spendy.
Brochure: monticellocommunitycenter.com/uploads…summer_swim_lessons_2017.pdf | Register: monticellocommunitycenter.com/swim-lessons.html

Elk River Community Education
If you’re looking to give your little ones a head start in swimming, this may be your place. Babies as young as 6 months can enroll in the parent/child swim classes (there are two levels here), and the preschool swim class starts at age 3. Lessons are at VandenBerge Middle School in Elk River, which has open swim on T/Th afternoons and on weekends.
Brochure: online.pubhtml5.com/hwvx/jxlu | Register: 728communityed.com/insight/registry/catalog.asp

Elk River YMCA
The Y also offers baby swim classes starting at 6 months and preschool class that starts at 3. For very young kids who’ve already mastered basic swim technique, the Y lets kids as young as 4 into their lowest-level stroke swimming class. They also offer the option of more spaced-out lessons, with classes once a week spread out over 8 weeks instead of grouped within a couple of weeks like the other programs. Lessons here are a bit more expensive than the community programs, but members receive a discount.
More info: ymcamn.org/locations/elk_river_ymca/swim_lessons__aquatics

Buffalo Community Education
Like Elk River, Buffalo also offers lessons for babies 6 months and up. Non-parent classes start at age 4. One unique aspect to this program is the opportunity for swim lessons at Pulaski Beach during its August session. All other lessons take place at Buffalo Middle School, which also offers open swim on certain afternoons.
More info and register: bhmschools.org/community-ed/aquatics/red-cross-learn-swim-program

Foss Swim School*
Foss Swim School, located on the west side of Maple Grove is the premium option for swim lessons in our area. Although the cost is about three times that of the community ed lessons, some local parents have said that it’s worth every penny. Foss teaches infants 6 months and up with a parent in their Backfloat Baby® class, or preschoolers starting at age 3. Lessons are available year-round on a once-per-week schedule, or as 2- or 4-week “swim camps,” and the program offers discounted rates for multiple children within a family and returning students.
Registration opens May 10: fossswimschool.com

*These programs also offer private swim lessons, so please inquire if that interests you.
(I have also heard of local high school-aged swim team members giving private lessons. You can contact the Sea Devils team here.)

Happy swimming!! 😀

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