WOODSON YMCA
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. No refunds for classes cancelled due to weather.
Location:
Woodson YMCA - Wausau South Pool
707 N. 3rd St., Wausau | 715-845-2177
Woodson YMCA - Aspirus Pool
3402 Howland Ave., Weston | 715-841-1850
For more information contact:
Jen Deets, Aquatics Director

Registration Dates 2023
Swim Lessons Registration - Thursday Mornings at 8 AMSession | Member Registration | Non-Member | Session Dates |
---|---|---|---|
Summer 1 | May 18 at 8:00 AM | May 25 at 8:00 AM | June 12 - June 30 |
Summer 2 | June 22 at 8:00 AM | June 29 at 8:00 AM | July 10 - July 28 |
Summer 1 Registration Opens
Thursday, May 18th at 8AM for Members
Thursday, May 25th at 8AM for Non-Members
- Scholarships are available

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.
Swim Stage A & B
Summer 1 - 6 Week Session: June 12th- June 30thMembers $30 | Non-Members $48
Tuesday/Thursday | 9:15-9:45 am | Wausau Branch |
Tuesday/Thursday | 9:50-10:20 am | Wausau Branch |
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
Due to Aspirus Pool Climate classes that include 3 & 4 year olds are only 30 minutes.
Swim Stage 1
Summer 1 - 6 Week Session: June 12th- June 30thMembers $30 | Non-Members $48
Preschool Ages 3-5 | Monday/Wednesday | 8:00-8:30 am | Wausau Branch |
Preschool Ages 3-5 | Monday/Wednesday | 5-5:30pm | Wausau Branch |
Preschool Ages 3-5 | Tuesday/Thursday | 9:15-9:45am | Wausau Branch |
Preschool Ages 3-5 | Tuesday/Thursday | 9:50-10:20 am | Wausau Branch |
Preschool Ages 3-5 | Tuesday/Thursday | 4:15-4:45 pm | Wausau Branch |
Ages 5-12 | Monday/Wednesday | 4:15-5pm | Wausau Branch |
Ages 5-12 | Tuesday/Thursday | 4:50-5:35pm | Wausau Branch |
Ages 3-12 | Tuesday/Thursday | 3:15-3:45pm | Aspirus Branch |
Ages 3-12 | Tuesday/Thursday | 3:50-4:20pm | Aspirus Branch |
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
Due to Aspirus Pool Climate classes that include 3 & 4 year olds are only 30 minutes.
Swim Stage 2
Summer 1 - 6 Week Session: June 12th- June 30thMembers $30 | Non-Members $48
Preschool Ages 3-5 | Monday/Wednesday | 8:35-9:05am | Wausau Branch |
Preschool Ages 3-5 | Monday/Wednesday | 5:35-6:05pm | Wausau Branch |
Preschool Ages 3-5 | Tuesday/Thursday | 9:15-9:45am | Wausau Branch |
Preschool Ages 3-5 | Tuesday/Thursday | 9:50-10:20am | Wausau Branch |
Preschool Ages 3-5 | Tuesday/Thursday | 4:15-4:45pm | Wausau Branch |
Ages 5-12 | Monday/Wednesday | 5:05-5:50 pm | Wausau Branch |
Ages 5-12 | Tuesday/Thursday | 4:50-5:35pm | Wausau Branch |
Ages 3-12 | Tuesday/Thursday | 3:15-3:45pm | Aspirus Branch |
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 3 is Eligible to Register for Pre-Team Classes - See Below.
Swim Stage 3
Summer 1 - 6 Week Session: June 12th- June 30thMembers $30 | Non-Members $48
Ages 5-12 | Tuesday/Thursday | 4:50-5:35pm | Wausau Branch |
Ages 5-12 | Tuesday/Thursday | 3:15-3:45pm | Aspirus Branch |
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
Stage 4 is Now a Pre-Team Class Please register for the Pre-Team Lessons
Stage 5: Stroke Development
Ages 5+ Based on Swim Level
Children entering Stage 5 should be able to swim 25 yards of front and back crawl.
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
- Breaststroke for 25 yards
- Butterfly with simultaneous arm action and kick for 15 yards
- Back crawl for 25 yards
- Sidestroke for 25 yards
- Dive from a kneeling position
- Tread water using a scissor and whip kick for two minutes
- Swim any combination of strokes for 50 yards
Stage 5 is Now a Pre-Team Class
Please register for the Pre-Team Lessons
Pre-Team
Ages 5+ Based on Swim Level
Pre-Team has the same objectives as swim lessons but increases the focus on body balance, streamlining, competitive starts, flip turns and efficient ways of teaching all 4 competitive swim strokes.
Pre-Team Stages 3 & 4 - Ages 5-7
Please register for the correct age and swim stage for pre-team.
Pre-Team Stages 4,5 & 6 - Ages 8-10
Please register for the correct age and swim stage for pre-team.
Pre-Team
Summer 1 - 6 Week Session: June 12- June 30Members $30 | Non-Members $48
Ages 5-7 Stages 3-4 | Monday/Wednesday | 4:15-5pm | Wausau Branch |
Ages 5-7 Stages 3-4 | Tuesday/Thursday | 3:50-4:35pm | Aspirus Branch |
Ages 8-10 Stages 4-5-6 | Monday/Wednesday | 5:05-5:50pm | Wausau Branch |
Ages 8-10 Stages 4-5-6 | Tuesday/Thursday | 3:50-4:35pm | Aspirus Branch |
WYNS Swim Team
WYNS Swim Team will teach your child to swim with efficiency and speed.
Our team is a YMCA and a USA sanctioned year-round swim team offering high quality professional coaching and technique instruction for all ages and abilities.
We Welcome All Ages & Swim Levels
- Our emphasis is on instructing proper competitive swimming techniques.
- The goal of our team is to provide opportunities for every member to reach
his/her potential at each stage of their development. - We give swimmers of all ages the chance to improve swimming skills.
- Build friendships and healthy habits that last a lifetime.
- Competing is not mandatory to be part of the team.
Try our Woodson Y Northern Swimmers Team for a 1 Week Trial & let your child see if they enjoys being part of our team.