Step-up Your Skills with Swim Lessons

At the Hood River Aquatic Center, we teach life-saving swimming skills and train people of all ages to know what to do if you get “in over your head.” We strive to be informative, positive, and confidence-inspiring in every lesson.

We offer Youth Swim Lessons and Adult Swim Lessons. We are a proud partner of USA Swim Foundation “Make a Splash” to encourage safety.

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Registration Opens on Wednesday, May 22nd at 5:00 PM

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Registration Opens on Wednesday, May 22nd at 5:00 PM 〰️


Morning Lesson Schedule

Morning lessons are offered in one-week sessions. Classes take place Monday through Thursday for a total of four class sessions. Each class lasts 30-minutes, adding to a total of two hours of class time per session.


Session 1 (Morning)
Monday - Thursday
June 24th - June 27th

Registration Opens Wednesday, May 22nd at 5:00 PM

8:30 AM - 9:00 AM | Minnows, Guppies A
9:05 AM - 9:35 AM | Guppies B, Bettas A
9:40 AM - 10:10 AM | Bettas B, Level 1A, Level 2A
10:15 AM - 10:45 AM | Level 1B, Level 2B, Level 3


Session 3 (Morning)
Monday - Thursday
July 15th - July 18th

Registration Opens Wednesday, May 22nd at 5:00 PM

8:30 AM - 9:00 AM | Minnows, Guppies A
9:05 AM - 9:35 AM | Guppies B, Bettas A
9:40 AM - 10:10 AM | Bettas B, Level 1A, Level 2A
10:15 AM - 10:45 AM | Level 1B, Level 2B, Level 3


 

Session 2 (Morning)
Monday - Thursday
July 8th - July 11th

Registration Opens Wednesday, May 22nd at 5:00 PM

8:30 AM - 9:00 AM | Guppies A, Bettas A
9:05 AM - 9:35 AM | Guppies B, Bettas B
9:40 AM - 10:10 AM | Level 1A, Level 1B , Level 2A
10:15 AM - 10:45 AM | Level 2B, Level 3, Level 4


Session 4 (Morning)
Monday - Thursday
July 29th - August 1st

Registration Opens Wednesday, May 22nd at 5:00 PM

8:30 AM - 9:00 AM | Guppies A, Bettas A
9:05 AM - 9:35 AM | Guppies B, Bettas B
9:40 AM - 10:10 AM | Level 1A, Level 1B , Level 2A
10:15 AM - 10:45 AM | Level 2B, Level 3, Level 4


Session 5 (Morning)
Monday - Thursday
August 5th - August 8th

Registration Opens Wednesday, May 22nd at 5:00 PM

8:30 AM - 9:00 AM | Minnows, Guppies A
9:05 AM - 9:35 AM | Guppies B, Bettas A
9:40 AM - 10:10 AM | Bettas B, Level 1A, Level 2A
10:15 AM - 10:45 AM | Level 1B, Level 2B, Level 3

 

Session 6 (Morning)
Monday - Thursday
August 12th - August 15th

Registration Opens Wednesday, May 22nd at 5:00 PM

8:30 AM - 9:00 AM | Guppies A, Bettas A
9:05 AM - 9:35 AM | Guppies B, Bettas B
9:40 AM - 10:10 AM | Level 1A, Level 1B , Level 2A
10:15 AM - 10:45 AM | Level 2B, Level 3, Level 4


Session 7 (Morning)
Monday - Thursday
August 19th - August 22nd

Registration Opens Wednesday, May 22nd at 5:00 PM

8:30 AM - 9:00 AM | Minnows, Guppies A
9:05 AM - 9:35 AM | Guppies B, Bettas A
9:40 AM - 10:10 AM | Bettas B, Level 1A, Level 2A
10:15 AM - 10:45 AM | Level 1B, Level 2B, Level 3


Registration Opens on Wednesday, May 22nd at 5:00 PM

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Registration Opens on Wednesday, May 22nd at 5:00 PM 〰️


Online Registration

We are currently using rSchool Today for our program registration needs. If you have ever registered your child for recreation programming with Hood River Valley Parks and Recreation or with Community Education, you do not need to create a new account.

For account issues or additional questions, call the Aquatic Center at (541) 386-1303 or email HERE.


Swim Lesson Information

Pricing
The pricing below is per-session (4 total lessons)

$26.00 | In-District Resident Fee
$31.00 | Out-of-District Resident Fee
$13.00 | Scholarship Fee

Private Lessons
Wanting to teach private swim lessons on your own? Private swim lessons are scheduled through the Aquatics Supervisor. Private swim instructors must sign an agreement with HRVPRD to reserve pool space and have a liability insurance naming HRVPRD as an additional insured. We do not currently have any private swim instructors employed.

Scholarships
We are committed to making our programs accessible. Swim Lesson Scholarships are available. Please inquire about the scholarships at the front desk or when you sign up for swim lesson.

Active Rx Program
Any person who receives some sort of social service benefit is eligible for free access to the pool and our swim lesson programs. If you are on SNAP, WIC, TANF, F/R Lunch Program, OHP, or are a Foster Parent, then you and your children are eligible to receive access to the pool through this grant.
Ask the front desk for next steps when registering.


Toddler Swim Levels

Minnows (Parent Required in Water)
Taught in therapy pool.
6 months to 2 years of age
Introduce your child to swimming basics with your help. Learn tools for swimming with your child and create a solid base for future skills.

Guppies
Taught in therapy pool.
2 - 3 years old
For children with little experience or who are hesitant in the water. Child must be able to hold onto the wall, wait their turn, and follow simple instructions. Focus on comfort with basic swimming and water safety skills taught such as blowing bubbles, back floats, going underwater, and assisted forward swimming.

Bettas
Taught in therapy pool.
3 + years old
This class is for the more independent toddler who has confidence in the water, is willing to blow bubbles and go underwater prior to the first day of class. This class will focus on independent swimming, front and back floats, and buoyancy and breath control.

“Learn to Swim” Levels

Level 1
Taught in the therapy pool.
Students will continue with breath control work, working on advanced breathing skills for safety, and learning to coordinate breathing with forward swimming. Students will learn independent front and back floats, and begin to coordinate the basics of freestyle.

Level 2
Taught in the competition pool with introduction to deep water.
This class will focus on independent swimming: floating, streamline kicking, freestyle, and backstroke. Students will learn the basics of rotary breathing, swimming for distance, and treading water.

Level 3
Taught in deep end of the competition pool.
Students will get comfortable in deep water, working on diving from the deck, feet and face first surface diving, and treading water. Students will continue to refine their freestyle rotary breathing, coordination of backstroke, and introduction to breaststroke and butterfly. This class focuses on building endurance and deep water safety.

Level 4
Taught in deep end of the competition pool.
Prepare students for advanced water safety, including competition. Students will refine their freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly, and diving. Students will also work on treading water, feet, and face first surface dives, as well as beginner junior lifeguard skills.


Swim Lesson Policies

  • One child may not be enrolled in multiple classes of the same session.

  • No swimming with open wounds or contagious illness.

  • Cancellations due to low enrollment result in a credit and/or refund issued.

  • Cancellations with less than 24-hours notice of the first class that are not due to an approved illness will result in loss of lesson credits.

  • No refunds due to cancellations from inclement weather. A free pool pass for your child will be available for pick up for one day closures.

  • Lesson fees do not include free swimming before and after the class. Children that would like to swim before and after their lessons must be paid for.

Preparing Your Child for Lessons

  • Bring a towels and warm clothes.

  • Secure long hair.

  • Let the instructor know of medical conditions at the first lesson.

  • Parents MUST accompany their child in the water to help non-swimmers during lessons. Instructors will guide the lesson to build skills, confidence, and teamwork.

  • Use the restroom prior to lesson.

  • Only light meals prior to lesson time.


Adult Swim Lessons

Adult swimmers of all ability levels are welcome, from the complete beginning with possible fear of the water to the experienced swimmer who wants to master basic strokes and breathing, and improve stroke technique. Lessons will be tailored to each student’s comfort and ability level with a low teacher to student ratio.

Adult Evening Lessons are appropriate for young adults or adults with little to no experience in the water. The focus of this class is the become more confident with skills like front and back floats, rhythmic breathing, freestyle basics, and survival strategies. As participants gain strength and confidence, more skills and strokes will be added.

Stay tuned for information on free Adult lessons this August.

 

USA Swimming Foundation

Make a Splash

Hood River Valley Parks & Recreation District has joined USA Swimming Foundation’s water safety initiative, Make a Splash. This national child-focused water safety campaign aims to teach every child in America to swim. Through Make a Splash, the USA Swimming Foundation partners with learn-to-swim providers and water safety advocates across the country for swimming lessons and family education on the importance of learning to swim. The USA Swimming Foundation provides learn-to-swim programs, spreads national awareness, and brings strategic partners together to prevent drowning. To date, more than 2 million children have received the lifesaving gift of swim lessons through more than 600 qualified lesson providers across the nation.

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