Swim Lessons
We want to help our students become confident swimmers while staying safe in the water. Our classes follow the American Red Cross Learn-to-Swim program, which is a trusted way to learn how to swim step by step. Our instructors are trained by the American Red Cross and are also lifeguards, so you're in good hands. Whether you're just starting or want to improve your skills, our lessons are made for you. We focus on making learning fun for everyone.
Fees
Parent/Child and Preschool Lessons: $96 (Eight 30-minute, weekday lessons); $48 (Four 30-minute, Saturday lessons)
School Age Learn to Swim: $96 (Eight 30-minute, weekday lessons); $64 (Four 40-minute, Saturday lessons)
Teenage and Adult: $104 (Eight 40-minute, weekday lessons)
Registration for Spring 2024 opens Wednesday, March 6 at 8 a.m.
Swimming Lesson Policies
Refunds or transfers will be given only to requests made three or more business days before the first class period. Two business days or fewer, or after the lesson session has started, only a 50% refund will be granted.
To provide better service, waiting lists are available for all children’s programs that have reached capacity. This list is used primarily as a courtesy for cancellations in existing classes. Adding classes in addition to those scheduled depends both on pool availability and on instructor availability.
Please note that classes may be combined with a compatible class or canceled if there are fewer than three children enrolled.
Session Dates – Children, Teenage, and Adult Swim Lessons
Weekday Afternoons and Evenings, Monday/Wednesday
Session 1 April 8-May 1
Session 2 May 13-June 3
Weekday Afternoons and Evenings, Tuesday/Thursday
Session 1 April 9-May 2
Session 2 May 14-June 4
Saturday Mornings
Session 1 April 13-May 4
Session 2 May 11-June 8 no class on May 25
Children’s Lessons Descriptions and Requirements
These are water adjustment classes for infants and young children, accompanied in the water by an adult (age 16 or older). These classes enable children to enjoy the water with someone they trust by playing games, singing songs, and having fun!
| Title/Class Description | Location | Passing Requirements |
| Parents/Merbabe 8-30 Months Basic skills and cues are introduced at this level, such as asking permission to enter the water, feeling comfortable in the water and practicing buoyancy and bubble blowing. Adults learn how to safely work with the children in the water, by employing specific holding and support techniques. Safety around all bodies of water is emphasized. Children who are not toilet trained must wear plastic pants or swim diapers. |
Learner Pool | Turning 30 months old |
Available during sessions 1 and 2
Monday/Wednesday, 6:20 - 6:50 p.m.
| Title/Class Description | Location | Passing Requirements |
|
Parent/Child 2.5 - 5 years |
Learner Pool | Turning 3 years old and ready to enter group swim lessons without a parent or guardian in the water |
Available during sessions 1 and 2
Tuesday/Thursday, 6:20 - 6:50 p.m.
Saturday, 11:20 - 11:50 a.m.
Preschool lessons are for children who are 3 years of age through 6 years and not yet in first grade. The purpose of these lessons is to learn basic water safety and aquatic skills. The instructor-to-student ratio is 1-to-6.
| Title/Class Description | Location | Passing Requirements |
|
Preschool Level 1: 3 to 6 years This level orients young preschoolers to the aquatic environment and helps them gain basic aquatic skills, such as entering and exiting the water, blowing bubbles, floating, gliding, and kicking on front and back. Skills are performed with the instructor’s assistance. |
Learner pool Basic skills class Prerequisite: ability to participate in a group lesson setting. |
Enter the water independently, travel five yards, submerge mouth, and blow bubbles for at least 3 seconds; with assistance: glide on front for two body lengths, roll over and float on back for three seconds, then stand up. |
Available during sessions 1 and 2
Monday/Wednesday, 4 - 4:30 p.m., 4:35 - 5:05 p.m., 5:10 - 5:40 p.m., 5:45 - 6:15 a.m.
Saturday, 9 - 9:30 a.m., 9:35 - 10:05 a.m., 10:10 - 10:40 a.m., 10:45 - 11:15 a.m.
Objective: To orient preschool-age children to the aquatic environment and to help them learn basic aquatic skills
Requirements: None
Skills Covered: Entering and exiting the water safely, learning to submerge mouth, nose, and eyes and breath control, front and back float and recovering to a stand, changing direction in the water, swimming 5 feet on front and back with assistance
This class is intended for children to be independent from their parents; parents may not enter the water or pool area. Parents may watch their child on the last day of the session.
| Title/Class Description | Location | Passing Requirements |
|
Preschool Level 2: 3-6 years, Not yet in first grade Preschool 2 objectives include performing the skills learned in Preschool 1 at a slightly more advanced level, such as longer distances or duration, or swimming in deeper water. This level marks the beginning of performing simple kicking and arm skills independently. |
Learner pool Basic skills class Prerequisite: ability to participate in a group lesson setting. |
Skills are performed with assistance as needed, with the goal of fully submerging and having some independence with moving through the water on both the front and back. This ability to swim short distances unaided is vital before children advance to Preschool 3 and enter the bigger 25-yard pool. |
Available during sessions 1 and 2.
Monday/Wednesday, 4 - 4:30 p.m., 4:35 - 5:05 p.m., 5:10 - 5:40 p.m., 5:45 - 6:15 a.m.
Saturday, 9 - 9:30 a.m., 9:35 - 10:05 a.m., 10:10 - 10:40 a.m.
Objective: To build on skills in Preschool 1 and gain independence using those skills in deeper water
Requirements: Students entering this level must have passed Level 1 or be proficient in all of the Level 1 skills. Must be able to put face in the water independently.
Skills Covered: Entering and exiting the water safely, submerge mouth, nose and eyes and breath control, front and back float and recovering to a stand, changing direction in the water, swimming 5 feet on front and back independently
| Title/Class Description | Location | Passing Requirements |
|
Preschool 3: 3-6 years, Not yet in first grade The Preschool 3 objective is increased proficiency and independence with previously learned skills, achieved through lots of guided practice and repetition. Children are learning the basics of front crawl stroke and combined backstroke, as well as treading water. Additional water safety topics are introduced. Emphasis is on swimming independently and the ability to catch a breath unassisted while swimming on the front. |
25-yard pool, on tot docks This is an advanced class |
Swimming without assistance for five body lengths front and back, rolling over, standing up from a floating position, entering and exiting the water, and treading water or floating for 15 seconds. |
Available during sessions 1 and 2.
Monday/Wednesday, 4 - 4:30 p.m., 5:45 - 6:15 p.m.
Saturday, 9 - 9:30 a.m.
Objective: Continue building level 2 skills and develop swimming strokes
Requirements: Students entering this level must have passed Level 2 or be proficient in all of the Level 2 skills. Must be ready to transition to 25-yard pool.
Skills Covered: Entering and exiting the water safely, submerge mouth, nose and eyes and breath control, front and back float and recovering to a stand, changing direction in the water, swimming 5 feet on front and back independently
| Title/Class Description | Location | Passing Requirements |
|
Preschool Level 4: 3-6 years, not yet in first grade Preschool 4 emphasizes refining stokes and swimming further on the front and back, as well as treading water for longer periods of time. Elementary backstroke kick, dolphin kick and sitting dives are introduced. |
25-yard pool, 5-foot depth This is an advanced class |
Front crawl with rotary (side) breathing for 10 yards, elementary backstroke 10 yards, combined backstroke 15 yards, treading water up to one minute, changing position and direction, plus sitting dives. |
This is a future offering.
The Learn-to-Swim courses teach children and young teens to be safe in, on, and around the water and to swim well. Swimming skills and personal water safety are taught in a logical progression through eight levels. The child must be in first grade and 6 years of age through 12 years of age. Instructor-to-student ratio ranges from 1-to-6 through Level 2, 1-to-8 through Level 3 to 1-to-10 as a maximum for levels 3.5 through 6.
| Title/Class Description | Location | Passing Requirements |
|
School Age Level 1: Introduction to Water Skills 6-12 years; first grade and up Level 1 introduces adjustment to the aquatic environment and basic aquatic skills, which children continue to build on as they progress through the Learn-to-Swim levels. Bubble blowing, breath control, and exploring the water on the front and back are introduced. Skills are practiced with assistance. |
25-yard pool, shallow end; instructor teaches in the water Basic Skills Class Prerequisite: ability to participate in a group lesson setting. |
With assistance: kick with a pool noodle, perform front and back glides for two body lengths, and enter the water independently. |
Available during sessions 1 and 2
Monday/Wednesday, 4 - 4:30 p.m., 4:35 - 5:05 p.m., 5:10 - 5:40 p.m.
Tuesday/Thursday, 4 - 4:30 p.m., 4:35 - 5:05 p.m., 5:45 - 6:15 p.m.
Saturday 9:45 - 10:25 a.m.
Objective: To help students feel comfortable in the water and to enjoy the water safely
Requirements: None
Skills Covered: Entering and exiting the water safely, learning to submerge mouth, nose and eyes and breath control, front and back float and recovering to a stand, changing direction in the water, swimming 5 feet on front and back.
| Title/Class Description | Location | Passing Requirements |
|
School Age Level 2: Fundamental Aquatic Skills 6-12 years; first grade and up Level 2 marks the beginning of true swimming skills, as well as gliding, floating and standing up from a floating position, with assistance from the instructor. Swimmers are learning the basics of front crawl stroke and combined backstroke, as well as treading water |
25-yard pool, shallow end; instructor teaches in the water Prerequisite: ability to participate in a group lesson setting. |
Enter chest-deep water, float front and back and change positions. Swimmers will also swim five body lengths on the front while catching a breath, roll over, and then continue to swim five body lengths on the back, with the goal of performing all skills without assistance. |
Available during sessions 1 and 2
Monday/Wednesday, 4 - 4:30 p.m., 4:35 - 5:05 p.m., 5:10 - 5:40 p.m., 5:45 - 6:15 p.m.
Tuesday/Thursday, 4 - 4:30 p.m., 4:35 - 5:05 p.m., 5:10 - 5:40 p.m., 5:45 - 6:15 p.m.
Saturday, 9 - 9:40 a.m., 10:30 - 11:10 a.m., 11:15 - 11:55 a.m.
Objective: To give students success with fundamental skills
Requirements: Students entering this level must have passed Level 1 or be proficient in all of the Level 1 skills. Must be able to put face in the water independently
Skills Covered: Entering water by stepping or jumping in from the side, submerging entire head, blowing bubbles, open eyes underwater, front and back glide, swimming 10 feet on front and 10 feet on back
| Title/Class Description | Location | Passing Requirements |
|
School Age Level 2.5: Stroke Readiness 6-12 years; first grade and up Level 2.5 objectives include expanding proficiency for skills learned in Level 2 as well as becoming comfortable in deeper water. This level introduces rotary breathing for crawl stroke to increase stroke efficiency, as well as introducing dolphin kick, elementary backstroke kick and sitting dives. Treading water duration is increased |
Middle of the 25-yard pool, 5-8 feet of water depth; instructor teaches in the water Intermediate class; children should be comfortable in deeper water |
Step from the side into deep water, swim front crawl 10-15 yards, front or back float for 20 seconds, swim combined or elementary backstroke 15 yards and tread water for 30-40 seconds. |
Available during sessions 1 and 2
Monday/Wednesday, 4:35 - 5:05 p.m.
Tuesday/Thursday, 4:35 - 5:05 p.m., 5:45 - 6:15 p.m.
Saturday, 10:30 - 11:10 a.m.
Objective: To give students success with fundamental skills and practice skills at longer durations
Requirements: Students entering this level must have passed Level 2 or be proficient in all of the Level 2 skills. Must be ready to swim in deeper water
Skills Covered: Entering water by stepping or jumping in from the side, submerging entire head, blowing bubbles, open eyes underwater, front and back glide, swim 15 feet on front and 20 feet on back, swim on side, dolphin kick, tread water 30 seconds
| Title/Class Description | Location | Passing Requirements |
|
School Age Level 3: Stroke Development 6-12 years; first grade and up This level builds on the skills introduced in Level 2.5, with guided practice in deeper water. The focus is on increased proficiency and endurance of front crawl, elementary backstroke kick, and treading water. Skills introduced at this level include breaststroke kick, scissor kick, elementary backstroke coordination, and kneeling dives. |
Deep end of the 25-yard pool, water depth 13 feet; instructor teaches primarily in the water This is an advanced class |
Enter deep water from the side, perform a sitting dive, swim front crawl and elementary backstroke 15-25 yards, change position/direction in the pool, and tread water for one minute. |
Available during sessions 1 and 2
Monday/Wednesday, 5:10 - 5:40 p.m., 5:45 - 6:15 p.m.
Tuesday/Thursday, 5:10 - 5:40 p.m.
Saturday, 9:45 - 10:25 a.m., 11:15 - 11:55 a.m.
Objective: To continue building students' skills and develop swimming strokes
Requirements: Students entering this level must have passed Level 2.5 or be proficient in all of the Level 2.5 skills. Must be ready to swim in deep water
Skills Covered: Jump into deep water, head first entry from sitting or kneeling, survival float for 30 seconds, treading water for one minute, front crawl 15 yards, elementary backstroke 15 yards, breaststroke kick 15 yards, sidestroke 12 yards
| Title/Class Description | Location | Passing Requirements |
|
School Age Level 3.5: Stroke Practice 6-12 years; first grade and up The goal of Level 3.5 is to increase proficiency and endurance of front crawl and elementary backstroke, and coordination of breaststroke, butterfly, and sidestroke. This level introduces back crawl, breaststroke arms, butterfly arms, underwater swimming, feet-first surface dives and standing dives. |
Deep end of the 25-yard pool, water depth of 13 feet; instructor teaches primarily from the deck This is an advanced class |
Swim crawl stroke for 15 yards, demonstrating efficient rotary breathing, kicking, and arm strokes; elementary backstroke for 15 yards with correct whip kick and glide; back crawl, butterfly, and breaststroke for 15 yards; standing dives; tread water for two minutes demonstrating two different kicks, and swim 3-5 body lengths underwater. |
Available during sessions 1 and 2
Tuesday/Thursday, 5:10 - 5:40 p.m.
| Title/Class Description | Location | Passing Requirements |
|
School Age Level 4: Stroke Improvement 6-12 years; first grade and up This is the first level where swimmers regularly swim the length of the pool (25 yards) rather than the width (15 yards). The focus is increased proficiency and endurance of front crawl, back crawl, butterfly, elementary backstroke, breaststroke, sidestroke, and treading water. In addition, level 4 introduces rotary kick, sculling, open turns, and survival float. |
Swimming the length of the 25-yard pool; instructor teaches from the deck This is an advanced class |
Swim all strokes in accordance with the passing requirements of each stroke, as well as performing the exit skills assessments. If swimmers are interested in competition, they are often ready to try out for competitive swim teams at this level. |
Available during sessions 1 and 2
Monday/Wednesday 6:20 - 6:50 p.m.
Saturday 9 - 9:40 a.m.
Objective: To develop confidence in the strokes learned thus far and to improve other aquatic skills by increasing endurance through swimming greater distances
Requirements: Students entering this level must have passed Level 3 or be proficient in all the Level 3 skills. Must be ready to swim 25-yard at a time.
Skills Covered: diving, underwater swimming, feet-first surface dive, 1 minute of survival floating, treading and back floating, open turns on front and back, 25 yards of front crawl, breaststroke and back crawl, 15 yards of butterfly and elementary backstroke and sidestroke
| Title/Class Description | Location | Passing Requirements |
|
School Age Level 5: Stroke Refinement 6-12 years; first grade and up Level 5 introduces flip turns, sidestroke, survival swimming, long shallow dives, tuck dives, and pike surface dives. Swimmers at this level are becoming proficient in all six strokes, listed above in Level 4, and the focus is on stroke refinement and endurance of these strokes. |
Swimming the length of the 25-yard pool; instructor teaches from the deck This is an advanced class |
Swim all strokes in accordance with the passing requirements of each stroke, as well as performing the exit skills assessments. |
Available during sessions 1 and 2
Monday/Wednesday, 6:20 - 6:50 p.m.
Saturday, 9 - 9:40 a.m.
Objective: Coordination and refinement of strokes
Requirements: Students entering this level must possess a Level 4 certificate or demonstrate all the Level 4 skills
Skills Covered: Shallow dive, tuck and pike surface dives, 2 minutes of survival floating, back float and treading water, flip turns on front and back, 50 yards front and back crawl, 25 yards butterfly, breaststroke, elementary backstroke and sidestroke, 2 minutes of survival swimming, rescue breathing
| Title/Class Description | Location | Passing Requirements |
| School Age Level 6: Swimming and Skill Proficiency 6-12 years; first grade and up This is the most advanced swimming class offered. At this level swimmers are competent in six strokes and are proficient swimmers. They are capable of swimming 500-1000 yards during each lesson. This level offers two tracts: Personal Water Safety or Fitness Swimmer. These tracts are alternated throughout the year so that swimmers have the opportunity to experience both. In addition to the specialized tracts listed above, the intent of this level is to refine strokes so swimmers swim them with ease. The following competitive strokes will be worked on to increase efficiency: freestyle (crawl stroke), back crawl, breaststroke, and butterfly. |
Swimming the length of 25-yard pool; instructor teaches from the deck This is an advanced class |
Swim all strokes in accordance with the passing requirements of each stroke, as well as performing the exit skills assessments. |
This is a future offering
Objective: Refine strokes so students swim them with more ease, efficiency, power and smoothness over greater distances
Requirements: Students entering this level must possess a Level 5 certificate or demonstrate all the Level 5 skills
Skills Covered: 500 yards continuous swim using 100 yards each of front & back crawl, 50 yards each of breast-stroke, elementary backstroke, sidestroke, butterfly, and 100 yards choice of any of those strokes, survival floating and back floating 5 minutes each, feet first surface dive & retrieve an object from 7 feet, Cooper 12-minute swim test
| Title/Class Description | Location | Passing Requirements |
|
Teenage Swim Lessons Age 12 years and up Adult Swim Lessons Age 16 and up Flexible instruction in a group setting. Everything from basic technique to interval training is offered, tailored to fit each swimmer's needs. |
25-yard pool. Exact location varies depending on the level of each swimmer Prerequisite: ability to participate in a group lesson setting. |
Swim all strokes in accordance with the passing requirements of each stroke, as well as performing the exit skills assessments. |
Tuesday/Thursday, 6:20 - 7 p.m.
Mt. Hood Community College Aquatic Center offers private swim lessons. This program is intended to provide a service to individuals who may have needs beyond the scope of group swim lessons. These services may include working in a one-on-one environment, focusing on a specific set of skills, or accommodating needs that limit the student’s ability to participate in a group. Lessons are offered in 30-minute sessions. Prices are $60 per lesson per person. Please inquire at the front desk for registration information. All requests are booked by the aquatics coordinator and will be booked for multiple dates as instructor and pool availability allows.
Refund policy: Scheduled private lessons will not be rescheduled or refunded with less than 24-hour notice of cancellation.
Frequently Asked Questions
If children have no experience with swim lessons and little to no experience with pools in general, children ages 3-6 years should enroll in Preschool 1 and children 6-12 years (first grade and up) should register for Learn-to-Swim (School Age) Level 1.
If your child has some experience but requires shallow water, then Preschool 2 or School Age 2 would be the class they need.
For children who have swim lesson experience at other facilities and you’re not sure which level to register for, we will do a swimming evaluation and then recommend a class. Please call the front desk at 503-491-7243 and request a swim lesson evaluation.
When you register your child for a lesson, check “yes” for the box that asks if your child requires accommodations or if your child has any health issues we should know about. You may also follow up with a phone call or email to us, so we can discuss your child’s specific needs in a group swim lesson setting before lessons begin. If group swim lessons are not a good match for your child, we will explore options with you.
Bring a swimsuit and a towel. Goggles are allowed and recommended for all levels except parent/child classes and Preschool 1. Please do not bring face masks to swim lessons, as they block the nose and make it more difficult for children to learn breathing patterns.
On the first day, the program coordinator and/or the program assistant will give a brief introduction to the lessons at the red barriers on the 25-yard deck. Check-in at the attendance books in the lobby, then change and shower. Instructors will take attendance at the barriers and then take the children to the pool. For all lessons in the session, the instructors will pick up and return children to the red barriers.
If a child is not in the appropriate class, the program coordinator or the program assistant will check with you about possibly transferring the child to a class that better suits their current skills. If the new class is not offered at the same time, we will attempt to find a day and time that works for you and transfer your child, as long as there is still availability in the class they need.
The 25-yard pool is 83-84 degrees and the Learner pool is 89-92 degrees.
Yes for any parent/child class and all classes held in the 25-yard pool. For Preschool 1 and 2, which are held in the Learner pool, we ask that parents/guardians limit watching on deck to the first and last day. The deck is quite small, so the children tend to focus intently on their parents or other family members and not focus as much on their instructor.
We do ask that you stay in the facility, preferably the bleachers for the 25-yard pool, for the duration of your child’s lesson.
Stay near your child on the pool deck and remain positive. If you can get them to at least sit with the class and observe, it will give them time to get used to the idea. This is often more about the new situation than it is about liking or disliking the water. It can take a few days for some children to get used to the idea of participating in group swim lessons.
The American Red Cross emphasizes safety in, on and around all bodies of water. By introducing or reinforcing safety topics in short periods of time at each class, children are more likely to retain the information.
You are welcome to request a specific instructor or check with the program coordinator or program assistant to see if the instructor assignments are done for the next session. It is not always possible to have the same instructor for your child. Please keep in mind that children often benefit by experiencing a variety of teaching styles.
The instructors often have little time between classes. You are welcome to ask a quick question between classes, but please understand that they are required to start their next class as soon as possible. If you have a more detailed question, please ask the program coordinator or the program assistant. You may also leave messages at the front desk.
Children will progress at different rates and will often plateau at certain levels for a period of time. Our primary goal in placing children in certain levels is that they have ample opportunity to practice the skills they need. Swimming is learned by repetition, and children will master the skills at different rates. It is normal for children to repeat some levels as many as four or five times. It just means they need the practice time to master the skills.
Open recreation swims are a good way to have your child practice what they have learned. This can make a difference in how they proceed through the swim levels.
If you need to withdraw from lessons, you will receive full credit on account if you request it three or more business days before the lesson session begins. Once the session has started, you will receive partial credit. If there is a medical reason for withdrawing from lessons, please contact the program coordinator, program assistant, or aquatics manager.
Classes may be combined with compatible classes or canceled if fewer than three children are enrolled. This helps to prevent classes from being canceled. The instructors continue to work with each child at his/her level or pace.
If your child’s class is canceled after the session starts, and we cannot find another suitable class to transfer, we will give you a full refund back to your method of payment.
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