Swim lessons at the Ithaca Yacht Club offer a safe, supportive environment where swimmers build confidence, strong fundamentals, and essential water safety skills. Small class sizes allow instructors to give each swimmer individual attention while keeping lessons fun and engaging.

Lessons are taught by experienced IYC lifeguards and aquatics staff with backgrounds in physical education, swim coaching, competitive swimming, and years of swim lesson instruction. Our team includes a veteran physical education teacher and swim coach, a competitive high school swimmer and longtime IYC lifeguard, and the club’s Waterfront Director with more than 30 years of experience in physical education.

All instructors are trained in lifeguarding and are completing the American Red Cross Basic Swim Instructor Certification to ensure high-quality, safety-focused instruction.

Youth Swim Lessons

The Ithaca Yacht Club offers youth swim lessons during the month of July for children aged 5 to 12. Lessons are designed to build water confidence, safety skills, and stroke fundamentals in a small-group setting.

Each session includes 8 lessons, 25 minutes each. Rain/weather related make-ups will be held on Fridays at the same time.

Schedule & Age Groups

Ages 5–8

Mondays & Wednesdays
   Beginner: 5:00 – 5:25 pm
   Intermediate: 5:30 – 5:55 pm

Ages 9–12

Tuesdays & Thursdays
   Beginner: 5:00 – 5:25 pm
   Intermediate: 5:30 – 5:55 pm

Lesson Levels & Descriptions

Beginner Swim Lessons

Beginner lessons focus on building comfort and confidence in the water while introducing essential safety and foundational skills. Instruction includes:

   Safe water entry and basic water safety
   Front and back floating
   Bobbing and blowing bubbles
   Introduction to rhythmic breathing
   Kicking
   Introduction to the front crawl

This level is ideal for children who are new to swim lessons or still developing basic water comfort.

Intermediate Swim Lessons

Intermediate lessons build on foundational skills and begin developing stronger swimming technique and endurance. Instruction includes:

   Continued development of front and back floating
   Front crawl with rhythmic breathing
   Front crawl stroke development
   Kicking skills and coordination

This level is appropriate for swimmers who are comfortable in the water and have some prior swim lesson experience and can float on their stomach and backs.

Class Size

Minimum: 3 students per session
Maximum: 6 students per session

Small class sizes allow for individualized instruction and a supportive learning environment.

Registration

Questions

General questions:
 Events@IthacaYC.org

Questions about registration:
  BusinessOffice@IthacaYC.org

Dues for 2026

• Members: $75/week
• Non-members: $150/week

For the members' discount, swimmers must be directly related to an IYC member. 

Registration