City of Hartford Department of Sports and Recreation
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Swimming Lessons (Ages 4-17) Register View Cart

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 Swimming Lessons
Height requirement to age 17 | Monday-Saturday | 6/16-8/15

Experience the thrill of swimming and build lasting confidence at a pool near you! Our comprehensive swimming lessons are tailored for everyone, from beginners to advanced swimmers, ensuring a safe and enjoyable environment to develop essential water skills at your choice of pool:

  • Keney Park Pool: Height requirement is 36 inches
  • Colt Park Pool: Height requirement is 36 inches
  • Pope Park Pool: Height requirement is 42 inches
  • Goodwin Park Pool: Height requirement is 50 inches

Choose from four distinct lesson levels (1 through 4) and sign up for one of our three summer sessions:

  • Session A: June 16 - July 3
  • Session B: July 7 - July 25
  • Session C: July 28 - August 15

All classes are held Monday through Friday:

  • Morning (11:00 AM - 11:45 AM): Levels 1 & 2 (Saturdays only option available)
  • Midday (12:00 PM - 12:45 PM): Levels 3 & 4

We are committed to your safety. With small class sizes, each participant receives individualized instruction and thorough guidance on water safety practices.

PLEASE SELECT ONLY ONE SESSION PER REGISTRANT. MULTIPLE REGISTRATIONS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED AND CANCELED BY THE ADMINISTRATION TEAM.
Important: Children under 8 years old are required to have a parent or guardian present.


Swimming Pool height requirements
  • All participants must meet the minimum height requirements when visiting a location.
  • Keney Park Pool-36 inches
  • Colt Park Pool-36 inches
  • Pope Park Pool-42 inches
  • Goodwin Park Pool-54 inches
  • Arroyo Center Pool (Indoor)-48 inches
  • Parker Memorial Center Pool (Indoor)-54 inches

Important Things to know!
  • PLEASE SELECT ONLY ONE SESSION PER REGISTRANT. MULTIPLE REGISTRATIONS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED AND CANCELED BY THE ADMINISTRATION TEAM.
  • Swimming assessments will be held at your local pool to determine your swimmer's ability
  • Please arrive 15 minutes before the class start time.
  • Proper swimming attire required
  • Individual needs: Instructors will adapt lessons to each student's comfort level and progress at their own pace.
  • Positive reinforcement: Encouragement and praise are key to building confidence in the water.
  • Parental involvement: Parents of young children may be asked to participate in the lessons to support their child's learning.

Level 1
  • PLEASE SELECT ONLY ONE SESSION PER REGISTRANT. MULTIPLE REGISTRATIONS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED AND CANCELED BY THE ADMINISTRATION TEAM.
  • Participants learn basic water skills such as blowing bubbles, floating, and kicking
  • Key aspects:
  • Water acclimation: Getting used to the water by splashing, playing games, and gradually submerging the face.
  • Entry and exit skills: Learning how to safely enter and exit the pool using steps or a ladder.
  • Breath control: Practicing blowing bubbles underwater to get comfortable with exhaling in the water.
  • Submersion: Submerging the face and opening eyes underwater (potentially with assistance).
  • Floating: Exploring basic front and back floats with support, learning to maintain a relaxed body position.
  • Gliding: Pushing off the wall and gliding on the front and back for short distances.
  • Basic kicking motions: Practicing simple leg kicks while holding onto the pool wall.
  • Body positioning: Learning to streamline the body by keeping the body straight and flat in the water.
  • Safety awareness: Understanding pool rules and how to call for help if needed.
Register Activity Ages Grades Days Date/Time Fees
 
  Registration Unavailable
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Session A 
4y - 17y N/A MTuWThF  06/16/2025 - 07/03/2025
11:00 AM - 11:45 AM

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Session B 
4y - 17y N/A MTuWThF  07/07/2025 - 07/25/2025
11:00 AM - 11:45 AM

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Session C 
4y - 17y N/A MTuWThF  07/28/2025 - 08/15/2025
11:00 AM - 11:45 AM

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Saturday only 
4y - 17y N/A Sa  06/21/2025 - 08/09/2025
12:00 PM - 12:45 PM

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Level 2
  • PLEASE SELECT ONLY ONE SESSION PER REGISTRANT. MULTIPLE REGISTRATIONS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED AND CANCELED BY THE ADMINISTRATION TEAM.
  • Participants build on their basic skills and learn basic strokes such as the front crawl and backstroke
  • Key skills include:
  • Floating: Front float, back float, and potentially learning to recover to a vertical position from a back float.
  • Gliding: Front and back glides with some distance covered.
  • Kicking: Basic flutter kick on front and back, with and without support
  • Arm actions: Simple arm movements to propel themselves forward in the water, possibly starting with "windmilling" motions
  • Body positioning: Practicing a streamlined body position while swimming
  • Rolling: Rolling from front to back and back to front in the water
  • Water entry and exit: Entering the pool by stepping or jumping in, and exiting safely
  • Basic stroke introduction: May start to introduce the basic mechanics of the front crawl or backstroke with assistance
  • Safety skills: Learning how to call for help, recognizing potential hazards, and basic rescue techniques
Register Activity Ages Grades Days Date/Time Fees
 
  Registration Unavailable
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Session A 
4y - 17y N/A MTuWThF  06/16/2025 - 07/04/2025
11:00 AM - 11:45 AM

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Session B 
4y - 17y N/A MTuWThF  07/07/2025 - 07/25/2025
11:00 AM - 11:45 AM

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Session C 
4y - 17y N/A MTuWThF  07/28/2025 - 08/15/2025
11:00 AM - 11:45 AM

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Saturday only 
4y - 17y N/A Sa  06/21/2025 - 08/09/2025
12:00 PM - 12:45 PM

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Level 3
  • PLEASE SELECT ONLY ONE SESSION PER REGISTRANT. MULTIPLE REGISTRATIONS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED AND CANCELED BY THE ADMINISTRATION TEAM.
  • Participants refine their crawl and back strokes and start to learn new strokes such as the breaststroke and butterfly
  • Key aspects:
  • Basic Strokes: Front crawl with rotary breathing, Elementary backstroke, May introduce the breaststroke kick
  • Kicking Techniques: Flutter kick on front and back, Potential introduction to scissor kick
  • Water Entry and Exit: Jumping into deep water from the side, recovering to the surface, Entering the pool headfirst from a kneeling position
  • Body Positioning: Streamlined entry and push off, Maintaining a proper body position while swimming
  • Breathing Techniques: Rotary breathing on the front crawl
  • Water Safety: Treading water, Floating on front and back, Changing direction and turning in the water
Register Activity Ages Grades Days Date/Time Fees
 
  Registration Unavailable
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Session A 
4y - 17y N/A MTuWThF  06/16/2025 - 07/03/2025
12:00 PM - 12:45 PM

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Session B 
4y - 17y N/A MTuWThF  07/07/2025 - 07/25/2025
12:00 PM - 12:45 PM

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Session C 
4y - 17y N/A MTuWThF  07/28/2025 - 08/15/2025
12:00 PM - 12:45 PM

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Level 4
  • PLEASE SELECT ONLY ONE SESSION PER REGISTRANT. MULTIPLE REGISTRATIONS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED AND CANCELED BY THE ADMINISTRATION TEAM.
  • Participants continue to refine their four strokes and learn advanced techniques such as flip turns and diving
  • Key aspects:
  • Stroke Refinement: Mastering rotary breathing in freestyleImproving hand entry and body position in all strokes, practicing proper leg mechanics
  • Advanced Water Entry Skills: Headfirst entry from the side in both compact and stride positions,feet-first surface dives
  • Underwater Swimming: Swimming underwater for a set distance without hyperventilating
  • Turn Techniques: Practicing open turns in all strokes Endurance Building: Swimming longer distances with consistent stroke technique
  • Potential Additional Skills:Treading water with different kick variations, side stroke kick, Basic butterfly stroke introduction
Register Activity Ages Grades Days Date/Time Fees
 
  Registration Unavailable
View Registration Eligibility
Session A 
4y - 17y N/A MTuWThF  06/16/2025 - 07/03/2025
12:00 PM - 12:45 PM

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Session B 
4y - 17y N/A MTuWThF  07/07/2025 - 07/25/2025
12:00 PM - 12:45 PM

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Session C 
4y - 17y N/A MTuWThF  07/28/2025 - 08/15/2025
12:00 PM - 12:45 PM

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* Adjustments and discounts will be applied during checkout if applicable. *

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