Antigo
Swim Lessons
INFANT | Toddler | Preschool | SCHOOL AGE
Swim Lessons - Skills for Life
With a focus on water safety and skill development, the YMCA Swim Lesson program is effective at helping children and adults learn to swim and, most importantly, be safe around water.
The Y was the first organization to establish certification programs for lifesaving, swimming and aquatic instruction, and it's a tradition we're proud to continue today.
Swim Lesson class times will be announced soon!
Questions? Contact:
Email: Abby Tesch
Woodson YMCA Senior Director of Aquatics & Competitive Sports
Location:
Clara R Mckenna Aquatic Center in Antigo
Address: 111 Western Rd, Antigo, WI 54409
Phone: (715) 627-0497

Stage A/B: Parent/Child
6 Months - 3 Years | Parent & Child
Parents work with their children to explore body positions, floating, blowing bubbles, and fundamental safety and aquatic skills. Infants and toddlers learn swim readiness skills through fun and confidence building aquatic experiences.
Stage 1: Water Acclimation
Ages 3+
Stage 1 is for children who are not yet comfortable going underwater voluntarily.
Children will develop comfort with underwater exploration and learn to safely exit in the event of falling into a body of water.
In Water Acclimation, your child will:
- Bob to submerge in the water
- Front and back glide to the wall for five feet
- Front and back float for 10 seconds
- Roll from back to front and front to back
- Jump, push, turn, grab
- Swim, float, swim 10 feet
- Exit the water
Stage 2: Water Movement
Ages 3+ Based on Swim Level
Children entering Stage 2 should be able to go underwater voluntarily.
Students focus on body position and control, directional change, and forward movement in the water while continuing to practice how to safely exit if they would fall into a body of water.
Stage 2 is for children who are not yet able to do a front and back float on their own.
In Water Movement, your child will:
- Submerge to look at an object on the bottom of the pool
- Front and back glide to the wall for five feet
- Front and back float for 10 seconds
- Roll from back to front and front to back
- Jump, push, turn, grab
- Swim, float, swim five yards
- Tread water near the wall for 10 seconds
- Exit the water
Swim Lessons meet twice a week for 3 weeks.
Stage 3: Water Stamina
Ages 5+ Based on Swim Level
Children entering Stage 3 should be able to front and back float independently.
Children learn to swim to safety from a longer distance. They are introduced to rhythmic breathing and integrated arm and leg action.
Stage 3 is for children who are not yet able to swim 10-15 yards on their front and back.
In Water Stamina, your child will:
- Retrieve an object in chest-deep water
- Swim on their front and back for 15 yards
- Roll from back to front and front to back
- Jump, push, turn, grab 10 yards
- Swim, float, swim 25 yards
- Tread water for 1 minute
Stage 4: Stroke Introduction
Ages 5+ Based on Swim Level
Children entering Stage 4 should be able to swim 15 yards on their front and back independently.
They will develop stroke technique in front and back crawl and learn the breaststroke kick and butterfly kick. Water safety is reinforced through treading water and elementary backstroke.
In Stroke Introduction, your child will:
- Swim the front crawl with rotary breathing for 15 yards
- Breaststroke kick for 15 yards
- Butterfly kick for 15 yards
- Elementary backstroke for 15 yards
- Dive from a sitting position
- Tread water using a scissor and whip kick for one minute
- Swim any combination of strokes for 25 yards
Swim Lessons meet twice a week for 3 weeks.
Stage 5 & 6: Stroke Development & Mechanics
Ages 5+ Based on Swim Level
Children entering Stage 5 should be able to swim 25 yards of front and back crawl and working on breaststroke.
They will work on stroke technique and learn all major competitive strokes. Emphasis on water safety continues through treading water and sidestroke.
In Stroke Development, your child will:
- Swim the front crawl with bent-arm recovery for 25 yards
- Swim front crawl for 50 yards with a flip turn
- Breaststroke for 25 - 50 yards
- Butterfly with simultaneous arm action and kick for 15 - 25 yards
- Back crawl for 25 - 50 yards with a flip turn
- Sidestroke for 25 - 50 yards
- Dive from a kneeling and standing position
- Tread water using a scissor and whip kick for two minutes
- Tread water for one minute and retrieve an object from the bottom of the pool
- Swim any combination of strokes for 50 - 150 yards