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Swimming & Water Safety

Recreation and Parks provides you and your family a safe and fun environment to learn to swim. Our swimming program is for ages 6-months to adults of all abilities. We follow the American Red Cross Learn-to-Swim guidelines. If you have questions, contact Cassidy at Cassidy.Wester@brooklynpark.org

Register

View available lessons and register >

Registration Date for Spring lessons (April – May 2024) opens at 10 a.m. on Thursday, March 21.

Lessons offered

Some lessons are offered during certain seasons and are not year round. We offer the following lessons:

  • Mini & Me (PTOT – Adult & Child Swimming – 6 months to age 3)
  • Preschool lessons (ages 3 to 5 years old without adult in the water)
  • School age lessons (ages 6 and over)
  • Adult lessons
  • Women & Girls Only Swim Class
  • Aquafinners (Adaptive aquatics for ages 5 – 14)
  • Aqua, Fun, Fit (Adaptive aquatics for ages 15+)
  • High school warm-up *Summer months only
  • Intro Swim Team *Summer months only
  • Water safety aid training *Summer months only
  • Open swim hours *Summer months only

Cancellations and changes

All cancellations and changes must be done 3 days before the start of the session. No refunds are given after that point. No refunds or make up classes are given for classes you miss.

Locations

Our swimming lessons are held at two different locations. Be sure to check individual session listings for the exact location.

Brooklyn Middle School Pool
7377 Noble Ave. N.
Brooklyn Park, MN
View map of Brooklyn Junior High School

Jackson Community Pool
6000 109th Ave. N.
Champlin, MN 55316
View map of Jackson Middle School

Selecting a level

When selecting a level for your child, please refer to the descriptions of the skill levels and choose the one that most closely fits your child’s ability. Seasonal ‘Swim Assessment Day’s’ are available prior to registration openings. For more information, see the program offerings page.

Repeating levels

Children must pass each level to move forward in the program. It is common for some children to repeat a level several times before advancing onto the next level. It is our philosophy that if a child is between levels, that they be registered for the lower level to give them additional time for skill development. We prefer to ensure success at a lower level than have a child struggle in an advanced level they are not ready for. If you have questions on what level to sign up for or need help determining the proper level, please call the Recreation office: 763.493.8333.

Phone and email

Email Brooklyn Park Swim
Call our Recreation desk with questions: 763-493-8333

Preschool classes

Mini & Me (PTOT – Adult and child)

Ages Class duration Class ratio
6 month to 3 years, with adult in the water 30 minutes adult to child

Games, songs and structured activities help young children adjust to the water. This is a pre-swimming class where the adult is in the water too; adults learn to interact in the water with their child. It is a great class to spend quality one-on-one time with your child.

WaterTot 1 (WTOT)

Ages Class duration Class ratio
3 to 5 30 minutes 6:1, plus aide

For children with little or no water experience. Introduces floating, basic swim skills, kicking and hand paddling through games and songs. Children will go to Level 1 when 6 years old. To pass, your child must enjoy submerging and be able to jump in on their own.

WaterTot 2 (WTOT2)

Ages Class duration Class ratio
3 to 5 30 minutes 6:1, plus aide

For children who submerge completely and enjoy it. We will work on floating independently, jumping, submerging and swimming short distances. Children will you go to Level 1 when 6 years old. To pass, your child must float on own without support. If your child passes and turns 6, he or she will go to Level 2.

WaterTot 3 (WTOT3)

Ages Class duration Class ratio
3 to 5 30 minutes 6:1, plus aide

For children who can front and back float unsupported for 5 to 8 seconds. Introduction of rhythmic breathing and paddle stroke. We will work on independent swimming on front and back. When children turn 6 years old and are floating independently, they will go to Level 2.

School age levels

Level 1

Ages Class duration Class ratio
6 and over 35 minutes 6:1

Beginner level.

Purpose

Help students feel comfortable in the water.

Required to pass

Children must independently float on their front and back for 5 to 8 seconds.

Level 2

Ages Class duration Class ratio
6 and over 35 minutes 6:1

Purpose

Gives students success with fundamental skills. Class will work on floats, glides, treading water, swimming on front and back.

Required to pass

Children must swim 5 yards on their front and back using a combined arm and leg motion.

Level 3

Ages Class duration Class ratio
6 and over 40 minutes 7:1

Purpose

Builds on the skills in Level 2 through additional guided practice. Class will work on rotary breathing, scissors kick, kneeling/standing dives, front and back crawl, elementary backstroke and dolphin kick.

Required to pass

Children must swim front crawl, elementary backstroke and scissors kick for 15 yards each.

Level 4A

Ages Class duration Class ratio
6 and over 40 minutes 7:1

Purpose

Develops confidence in the skills learned and allow focus on endurance and fundamental Level 4 skills

Required to pass

Children must swim front crawl for 25 yards, and back crawl and sidestroke for 15 yards each.

Level 4B

Ages Class duration Class ratio
6 and over 40 minutes 7:1

Purpose

Continue working on endurance and with new confidence, swimmer is now ready to learn breaststroke and butterfly.

Required to pass

All skills from 4A and swim breaststroke and butterfly for 15 yards each.

Level 5

Ages Class duration Class ratio
6 and over 40 minutes 7:1

Purpose

Provides further coordination and refinement of strokes. Class will work on front and back crawl, butterfly, breaststroke, sidestroke, flip turns, open turns and diving.

Required to pass

Children must swim front crawl and elementary backstroke for 50 yards each, and back crawl, breaststroke, butterfly and sidestroke for 25 yards each.

Level 6

Ages Class duration Class ratio
6 and over 40 minutes 7:1

Purpose

Refines the strokes so students swim with efficiency, ease, power, and smoothness over greater distances.

Required to pass

Children must swim 500 yards continuously using the strokes in the following order: front crawl (100 yards), back crawl (50 yards), breaststroke (50 yards), elementary backstroke (100 yards), sidestroke (50 yards), butterfly (50 yards), and choice of stroke (100 yards). They also must perform a feet-first surface dive and retrieve an object from a depth of 7 feet, and tread water for 5 minutes.

Aqua-Teen

Ages Class duration Class ratio
11 to 15 35 minutes 7:1

Purpose

Help teens who can’t swim feel more comfortable in the water. Class will focus on getting teens ready to join level 4 including practicing floating, front crawl, back crawl, elementary backstroke and more.

Private & Paired Swim Lessons

Taking private (1:1) or paired (2:1) lessons are a great way for your swimmer(s) to get the one-on-one help they may need to work through a difficult skill or pass a challenging level. Private/Paired lessons can only be held during group lessons times. They are not available on a day-by-day basis – participants must commit to the entire session.

Registration

Unless specifically listed, private/paired lessons run concurrently with group lessons and are arranged through enrollment to our Private/Paired swim lesson interest list. Spots in private/paired swim lessons are allotted only when there is sufficient pool space and with instructor availability. Private/Paired lesson spots are distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis on the interest list.

Inclusion into swimming lessons

If your child has a disability, behavior concern, or is currently being assessed, it is very important to let us know at the time of registration. The pool can present unique challenges and opportunities that may not be present in other settings.

Support

Examples of inclusion support can include: adjusting staff-to-child ratios, providing 1:1 supports, use of picture schedules, and modification of strokes.

Registering

Please be sure to register for the level that most closely fits your child’s ability and comfort in the water. Please register early to allow enough time to set up inclusion support. We appreciate registration 2 weeks before the start of the session.

If you have additional questions about inclusion, contact Adaptive Recreation Specialist, Erin Bonikowske at Erin.Bonikowske@brooklynpark.org

Adult lessons

Ages Class duration Class ratio
18 and up 30 minutes group: 7:1

This class is for adults who want to learn to swim or need help with specific basic skills. Class will be broken into groups of similar ability.

Intro Swim Team

For ages 7 to 12 years.

Introductory program to competitive swimming for the swimmer who has passed Level 4B and wants to do more swimming in a fun atmosphere. These are not typical swim lessons. This program focuses on mechanics, endurance, how to read a time clock, basic swimming sets and the four competitive strokes: freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly. Swimmers must be able to comfortably swim 25 yards freestyle, backstroke and breaststroke. The program meets Monday through Thursday morning for 6 weeks. You choose how often you come.

High School Warm-up

For kids entering grades 8 to 12 in the fall.

Are you a high school swimmer looking to get in shape? Join us this summer to get ready for the upcoming season. The program meets Monday through Thursday morning for 6 weeks. You choose how often you come.