Youth Swimming

Young child with swim instructor

The Hyannis Youth Foundation Learn to Swim Program runs the full eight weeks of the Summer Program. The swim classes are an enhanced version of the Red Cross Learn to Swim Classes. Swimming participation is required for all Youth Program participants through completion of the Red Cross Community Water Safety/Basic Water Rescue level.

All Beginner classes have an excellent instructor to child ratio which allows us to individualize classes to meet each student’s needs. The Program Director will assess and place new swimmers in the appropriate class based on the child’s age and swimming ability.

In addition to swimming classes, the swim staff hosts a Competitive Swim Team for all program participants. The team competes against other local club teams. A spirit of friendly competition exists among the swimming programs in the area.

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Swimming Programs

The prices that appear below reflect participation in the Swim Program only. Participants in the Sail Program are required to take swim lessons until they have completed Red Cross Community Water Safety/Basic Water Rescue level, and the price for the swim portion is included in the sail/swim tuition.

Beginner 1 - Pre-School Aquatics


This class is designed for 4 year olds and other new swimmers in the program. Participants work on basic elementary swimming skills in a fun, game-oriented class. Students usually wear a bubble until the instructor is confident that they are ready to swim without such aids. Children in this level are paired with an instructor and can progress at their own pace within the larger group. They work on becoming confident swimmers in the deep and shallow water while wearing flotation.

Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, 11:00 am -12 noon       Tuition: $TBD  Member Discount: $TBD

Beginner II – Level I


This class is designed for 5 year olds.  Instruction is personalized and swimmers have an opportunity to progress at their own pace within the larger group. Students sometimes wear a bubble until the instructor is confident that they are ready to swim without such aids.  Children work on swimming and kicking on their front and back, putting their face in the water and jumping into the deep water. 

Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, 10:00-11:00 am       Tuition: $TBD Member Discount: $TBD

Beginner III - Level II


Increasing confidence is the goal for the six year olds in this class. Students continue to swim between the dock and the raft on their stomachs and backs without a bubble and without an instructor next to them. Students work on swimming with their face in the water and their arms out of the water while building their endurance and independence.  

Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, 1:00-2:00 pm       Tuition: $TBD Member Discount: $TBD

Advanced Beginner - Level III


This class is for the swimmer who can swim with confidence in deep water on their front and back. Students learn the front crawl with breathing, elementary backstroke, and begin to learn the butterfly. Students also learn to tread water and dive. Instructors coach from the dock and raft. 

All three sections offer the same course; select the class that fits with your sailing schedule.

      Tuition: $TBD Member Discount: $TBD

Section A: Mondays, Wednesday, Fridays, 2:00-3:00 pm

Section B: Tuesdays, Thursdays, 2:00-3:00 pm; Wednesdays, 10:00-11:00 am

Section C: Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, 10:00-11:00 am

Intermediate - Level IV


The objective at this level is for participants to develop confidence in the strokes learned thus far and to improve in their other aquatic skills. Students are introduced to the breaststroke, the sidestroke, butterfly, open turns, and surface dives. Students must swim a total of four miles over the course of the eight week program.

All three sections offer the same course; select the class that fits with your sailing schedule.

      Tuition: $TBD Member Discount: $TBD

Section A: Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, 10:00-11:00 am

Section B: Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, 3:00-4:00 pm

Section C: Tuesdays, Thursdays, 1:00-2:00 pm; Wednesdays, 9:00-10:00 am

Swimmers - Level V


This is the level where swimmers refine the four competitive strokes they already know, strive to increase their endurance, study advanced safety skills, and improve the sidestroke and elementary backstroke. Swimmers are required to swim a minimum of six miles at this level. 

All three sections offer the same course; select the class that fits with your sailing schedule.

      Tuition: $TBD Member Discount: $TBD

Section A: Mondays, 9:00-10:00 am, Tuesdays, Thursdays, 10:00- 11:00 am

Section B: Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, 3:00-4:00 pm

Section C: Tuesdays, Thursdays, 2:00-3:00 pm, Wednesdays 9:00-10:00 am

Advanced Swimmer - Level VI


This is the last "official" Red Cross course. Here students learn to swim with more ease, efficiency and power over greater distances. Swimmers transition from refining their strokes to using swimming as a means for fitness.  Students create workouts, monitor their heart rate, and learn how to pace themselves. They complete the Cooper Swim at the beginning and end of the summer to test their progress. More advanced life guarding and competitive swimming skills will also be taught. Swimmers must log at least eight miles to pass this class.

All three sections offer the same course; select the class that fits with your sailing schedule.

      Tuition: $TBD Member Discount: $TBD

Section A: Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, 10:00-11:00 am

Section B: Wednesdays, 9:00-10:00 am; Tuesdays, Thursdays, 1:00-2:00 pm

Section C: Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, 2:00-3:00 pm

Community Water Safety/Basic Water Rescue


This course helps students to become safer in, on, and around the water. They learn to prevent, recognize, and respond to aquatic emergencies. Students are required to swim a minimum of ten miles at this level.

      Tuition: $TBD Member Discount: $TBD

Section A: Mondays,9:00 - 10:00 am; Tuesdays, Thursdays, 11:00 am - 12:00 pm

Section B: Mondays, 9:00-10:00 am; Tuesdays, Thursdays, 2:00-3:00 pm

Fridays, Make Up Class, 9:00-10:00 am; 2:00-3:00 pm for Intro to 420 Sailors

Super Swimmers


This class can be taken before or after Instructor Training, depending on the swimmer's age and ability.  It is for the child who wants to continue to swim for exercise and enjoyment.  This class will focus on fitness and training for a biathlon. Swimmers in this class run 1 day/week, train in the lanes 1 day/week and swim in the open water on the third day.  Students are required to swim twelve miles at this level.

      Tuition: $TBD Member Discount: $TBD

Section A: Mondays, 9:00-10:00 am; Tuesdays, Thursdays, 11:00-12:00

Section B: Mondays, 9:00-10:00 am; Tuesdays, Thursdays, 1:00-2:00 pm

Instructor Training


This course is a prerequisite for all children interested in becoming a junior swimming or sailing instructor. In this class, students will be introduced to the basics of child development, group dynamics, lesson preparation, teaching techniques, stroke development, sailing basics, and powerboat safety. Students are required to volunteer a minimum of fourteen hours in a beginner swimming or sailing class.

      Tuition: $TBD Member Discount: $TBD

Section A: Mondays, 9:00-10:00 am; Tuesdays, 11:00 am - 12:00 pm; Thursdays, 9:00 am -12:00 pm

Section B: Mondays, 9:00-10:00 am; Tuesdays, 2:00-3:00 pm; Thursdays, 9:00 am - 12:00 pm

Competitive Swim Team


Participation in Competitive Swim requires registration in the General Swim Program also. It is not a stand-alone option. The swim team is open to all swimmers in the program. The swimmers work on speed, endurance, and the fundamentals of competitive swimming. Swim meets with other yacht clubs are scheduled throughout the summer. This program is a good introduction to competitive swimming. Swim team members must make the commitment to attend a minimum of 2 practices a week and 2 swim meets during the summer. Team building and fun activities are also part of the program.

      Tuition: $TBD Member Discount: $TBD

Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, 9:00-10:00 am

Tuesdays, Thursdays, 3:00-4:00 pm