Introduction to Water Skills

• Orient participants to the aquatic environment and help them gain basic aquatic skills
• Help participants begin to develop positive attitudes and safe practices around water

Prerequisites

• No skill prerequisites
• Participants usually start at about 6 years of age

Fundamental Aquatic Skills

• Build on the basic aquatic skill and water safety skill sand concepts learned in Level 1

Prerequisites

• Successful demonstration of the Learn-to-Swim Level 1 exit skills assessment

Stroke Development

• Build on the skills learned in Levels 1 and 2 to help participants achieve basic water competency in a pool environment.

Prerequisites

• Successful demonstration of the Learn-to-Swim Level 2 exit skills assessment

Stroke Improvement

• Improve participants’ proficiency in performing the swimming strokes that were introduced in Level 3

Prerequisites

• Successful demonstration of the Learn-to-Swim Level 3 exit skills assessment

Stroke Refinement

• Help participants’ refine their performance of all six swimming strokes (i.e., front crawl, back crawl, butterfly, breaststroke, elementary backstroke and sidestroke)
• Refine strokes so participants swim them with greater efficiency and effectiveness over longer distances

Prerequisites

• Successful demonstration of the Learn-to-Swim Level 4 exit skills assessment

• For UWM students and UREC members lessons cost $19 per lesson for a Private lesson (1 swimmer) and $21 per lesson for Private +1 lesson (2 swimmers of similar abilities and goals).
• For Non-members the price is $21 for a private and $23 for a private +1 lessons.

What do lessons cost?

• For UWM students and UREC members lessons cost $19 per lesson for a Private lesson (1 swimmer) and $21 per lesson for Private +1 lesson (2 swimmers of similar abilities and goals).
• For Non-members the price is $21 for a private and $23 for a private +1 lessons.

What do you mean UREC members?

• UREC members are non-students who have purchased a membership to University Recreation (UREC). We offer these memberships to UWM faculty/staff, sustaining alumni and community. More information can be found on our membership page here

What are your open swim hours?

• Our pool hours vary by the semester. Please go here for our full listing of facility hours.

Your open swim hours don’t fit my schedule for swim lessons. Can I schedule lessons outside of them?

• Unfortunately we do not offer private lessons outside of our open swim hours. Our pool is shared with other departments in the university, and the pool is frequently booked for courses, college swim team or other activities in times that UREC doesn’t offer open swim.

I would like my child to participate in Private +1 lessons, but I would like UREC to find the other student. Is that possible?

• University Recreation doesn’t pair these up or find others wishing to have private +1 lessons.   Private +1 lessons should come to UREC with both participants. Ideally those students will have similar abilities in the water and be looking for improvement in the same areas. Sometimes we can accommodate lessons who have different skill levels, but frequently this is done by splitting the lesson into 2 halves with only one participant receiving instruction at a time.

Do you offer group lessons?

• We do not currently offer group lessons.

My child is taking lessons. Do I need to stick around the pool for the entire lesson?

• Not necessarily, but preferred. In fact with some children it can be beneficial if parents aren’t present for the whole lesson. Frequently fearful children are able to overcome their fears better if they don’t have a parent present that they will use as an emotional crutch. Rest assured our instructors primary responsibility is the safety of your children, they are or have been lifeguards themselves and there is also a lifeguard on duty. We do ask that you return before the end of the lesson so that your instructor can pass on any valuable information, in addition to having someone they can release your child to.

What temperature is the pool kept at?

• Our pool is kept at 80°F but that will vary by about a degree depending on various conditions. A competitive racing pool will typically be held around 78°F and frequently pools dedicated to water aerobics or lessons will be closer to 82°F or 83°F. At our temperature smaller children and some adults will likely be getting cold before the end of a lesson. A “rashguard” similar to what you might wear surfing, or a dry-fit top (compression t-shirt) can help a lot with the cold. These don’t interfere with your ability to swim like a normal t-shirt will and therefore can be used in the pool, however please don’t wear a wetsuit as this will affect buoyancy in the water.

I’m a competent swimmer preparing for a triathlon. Can you help me? What about my friend who is on the swim team, but wants some individual attention?

• Absolutely. Several of our instructors have competitive swimming backgrounds, and many also currently compete in triathlons. Please indicate your goals when you submit your application.

Who are your instructors? Are you hiring?

• Our Red Cross Water Safety Certified Instructors are all UWM students, and many are lifeguards. Our instructors are experienced and comfortable working with all ages and abilities. We are always accepting applications for Red Cross certified WSI’s from UWM students. Please submit the appropriate application that can be found here

During lessons will I have an entire lane to myself? How busy will the pool be?

• We do our best to provide lessons with their own lane, however frequently multiple lessons will share a lane so long as it is not affecting the instruction. Our pool is frequently not overly busy, however there are times when it will get very crowded. We will do our best to mitigate any negative effects this might have on lessons.

Other FAQ’s

• Click here or go to About Page