Swim Lessons

Register for Swim Lessons

Preschool Swim Lessons

  • 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

  • Jellyfish

    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.

  • Dolphins

    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.

  • Sharks

    Taught in the competition pool, this program helps students build confidence, endurance, and advanced water safety skills. Swimmers become comfortable in deep water while practicing diving from the deck, feet-first and face-first surface dives, and treading water. Instruction focuses on refining freestyle with rotary breathing, backstroke coordination, and developing breaststroke and butterfly. As students progress, they prepare for advanced water safety and potential competition, with continued stroke refinement, and improved endurance.

Swim Lesson Information

  • Pricing

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

    $28.00 | In-District Resident Fee
    $34.00 | Out-of-District Resident Fee
    $14.00 | Scholarship Fee
    $0 | Active Rx Program (must receive Government Aid & be an Oregon resident)

    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
    Oregon residents who receive social service benefits are eligible for free access to the pool and swim lesson programs. This includes participation in SNAP, WIC, TANF, the Free/Reduced Lunch Program, OHP, or being a foster parent. Please call or visit the front desk for assistance with registration.

  • Swim Lesson Policies

    • Children may only enroll in one class per session.

    • No participation with open wounds or a contagious illness.

    • Classes canceled due to low enrollment will receive a credit or refund.

    • Cancellations made less than 24 hours before the first class (unless due to an approved illness) will forfeit lesson credits.

    • No refunds for weather-related cancellations. One-day closures will receive a complimentary pool pass.

    • Waitlists are first come, first served. Customers have 24 hours to accept an available spot before it is offered to the next person.

    • Lesson fees do not include recreational swimming before or after class. Regular admission applies.

  • Registration

    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.

    • Please don’t change diapers on the pool deck. You can use the changing stations in the women’s locker room or the family changing room.

    • Only light meals prior to lesson time.

Fall Swim Lessons

Registration Opens August 15th

Session 1

9/7, 9/9, 9/14, 9/16

5:10-5:40 – Minnows, Guppies, Bettas

5:45-6:15 – Bettas, Jellyfish, Dolphins

6:20-6:50 - Sharks

Session 2

9/21, 9/23, 9/28, 9/30

5:10-5:40 – Minnows, Guppies, Jellyfish

5:45-6:15 – Bettas, Jellyfish, Dolphins

6:20-6:50 - Sharks

Session 3

10/5, 10/7, 10/12, 10/14

5:10-5:40 – Minnows, Guppies, Bettas

5:45-6:15 – Bettas, Jellyfish, Dolphins

6:20-6:50 - Sharks

Session 4

10/19, 10/21, 10/26, 10/28

5:10-5:40 – Minnows, Guppies, Jellyfish

5:45-6:15 – Bettas, Jellyfish, Dolphins

6:20-6:50 - Sharks

Session 5

11/2, 11/4, 11/9, 11/11

5:10-5:40 – Minnows, Guppies, Bettas

5:45-6:15 – Bettas, Jellyfish, Dolphins

6:20-6:50 - Sharks

Session 6

11/16, 11/18, 11/23, 11/25 (Thanksgiving is the 26th)

5:10-5:40 – Minnows, Guppies, Jellyfish

5:45-6:15 – Bettas, Jellyfish, Dolphins

6:20-6:50 - Sharks

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