Our curriculum is built on SwimSure™, the gold standard in learn-to-swim education. With over 100 million lessons taught, 400 years of combined teaching expertise, and over 15,000 five-star parent reviews, families can feel confident in our proven, step-by-step approach.
SwimSure™ is designed to deliver results with consistency and care. Each level builds confidence and essential skills through goal-driven progressions, while managers and instructors closely monitor every swimmer’s milestones. The result? Children not only learn to swim, they develop safety, confidence, and a lifelong love of the water.
Highlights include proven curriculum, warm water year-round, small class sizes, advanced safety systems, and highly trained, friendly staff.
Team Managers oversee lessons, answer questions, and track progress. They help ensure consistent instruction and support communication with parents.
Some of our schools have served families for decades, while others opened more recently. Each has deep local roots and experienced staff.
Pools are kept between 88–92° year-round, the ideal temperature for comfort and learning.
Year-round lessons prevent skill regression, build lasting confidence, and ensure children stay water-safe at all times.
Makeup lessons can be booked for any available class in your child’s level up to 6 days in advance. Makeup lessons expire 45 days after they are issued and cannot be reissued if a makeup is missed. Once a make-up is scheduled, it cannot be rescheduled. Please choose your time carefully.
Families receive up to 12 make-up lessons per year while actively enrolled.
You must mark your child absent at least 24 hours in advance through the Parent Portal or mobile app.
Makeup lessons can be booked in your child’s level up to 6 days in advance.
Makeup lessons expire 45 days after issue and cannot be reissued for missed make-ups.
Availability is not guaranteed due to our small class sizes.
Please do not bring your child if they have a fever, vomiting, diarrhea, or other contagious symptoms. For everyone’s safety, wait at least 24 hours after symptoms have ended before returning to lessons.
All absences must be marked in the Parent Portal/mobile app. Please submit the absence at least 24 hours before the scheduled class to receive a makeup lesson.
Any family-appropriate swim attire is fine. Comfort and mobility in the water are most important.
Most adult classes are small, typically capped at 4 swimmers per instructor, ensuring personal attention.
Instructors will ask about your goals — whether comfort, stroke technique, or endurance — and tailor lessons accordingly.
Not at all! It’s never too late. Adult lessons can help beginners overcome fear, refine strokes, or prepare for fitness goals.
Yes, adult lessons are available at many schools and are tailored for comfort, safety, and skill development. (Some schools focus on youth only.)
Yes! We offer discounts to help make swim lessons more accessible for families and to encourage consistent progress in the water.
Multi-Swim Discount: Save 20% when the same swimmer enrolls in a second weekly class. More practice means faster progress, improved technique, and greater confidence.
Sibling Discount: Save 10% off each additional enrollment when you register multiple children. (Availability may vary by location, check with your school for details.)
Lesson pricing can vary by location, program, and day of the week. Please see your school’s location page or contact your local front desk for current rates.
Once registered, your child’s spot and our staff are reserved for you. Because of this commitment, fees are non-refundable.
Yes. An annual, non-refundable registration fee is charged at enrollment and again each year on your anniversary month.
Lesson fees are non-refundable because your child’s enrollment reserves a dedicated class spot and instructor. We do not issue refunds for missed or unused lessons, registration/membership fees, or mid-month withdrawals. If you plan to stop lessons, please provide 30 days’ notice; tuition will be prorated through your final class date during that notice period (no refunds are issued).
Exception: Active-duty military families may receive a refund with official reassignment orders.
If you have concerns about your child’s experience, please talk with our team—we’re happy to help with coaching feedback, schedule changes, or available make-up options per your school’s policy.
Monthly tuition is based on the number of class days in that month. Most months have four lessons, but some have five, which results in a slightly higher tuition.
Tuition is billed monthly to the credit card on file, on the 20th of the prior month. If you begin mid-month, tuition will be prorated. Monthly charges may vary depending on the number of class days in that month.
A credit card is required for billing; however, the majority of our schools also accept cash and checks. Please check with your school for accepted payment methods.
Tuition is billed monthly and charged automatically to the card on file. Charges occur around the 20th of the month prior (for example, February tuition is charged on January 20). If the 20th falls on a weekend or holiday, charges are processed the next business day. If the 20th falls on a Saturday, we will bill on the Friday. If the 20th falls on a Sunday, we will bill on the Monday.
We understand that schedules change! If you need to withdraw from lessons, a 30-day notice is required.
You may submit your notice by phone, email, face-to-face with a manager, or through the Parent Portal (iClassPro app or website).
Your child’s enrollment will continue for 30 days from the date the notice is received. Tuition for the upcoming month will be prorated based on your child’s final class date.
Example: If you provide notice on April 18, your last class will be May 18. May tuition will only be charged for the lessons between May 1–18.
Please note that refunds are not issued, and your child’s reserved spot will be released once the notice period is complete.
You’re welcome to share your preference, and we’ll do our best to accommodate. However, requests are not guaranteed due to scheduling and availability. Regardless of the instructor, you can trust that all teachers are trained to the same high standard and follow our proven curriculum.
We do our best to keep class assignments consistent because we know trust and comfort matter to children. However, substitute teachers may occasionally step in due to vacations, illness, or schedule changes. All substitutes are fully trained to deliver the same high-quality experience.
While we always aim to run every scheduled class, we may consolidate classes with only 1–2 students to ensure a great group experience. If this happens, we’ll work with you to find the best alternative.
Most months include 4–5 lessons, depending on the calendar. If a lesson is canceled due to a facility closure, a make-up will be provided.
Yes, swim lessons are scheduled for a set day and time each week so your child has consistency with their class and instructor. If your schedule changes, we’re happy to help you transfer into another available class.
Yes! Many families choose multiple lessons per week. More frequent lessons can help children progress faster, build stronger skills, and maintain confidence in the water.
Learn-to-swim classes are intentionally small, with a maximum of 4 students per instructor. Parent-participation classes may have slightly higher ratios since parents are in the water with their child.
Yes! Many families begin with private lessons to build comfort, then transition to group classes when ready.
Most group swim lessons are 30 minutes long. Through experience, we’ve found this is the perfect amount of time for children to stay engaged, practice skills, and learn effectively without becoming tired or overwhelmed.
Baby and toddler classes are 30 minutes.
Swim team practices are longer (usually 60 minutes).
Private lessons may be shorter (around 20 minutes), since the one-on-one format means children are swimming the entire time without breaks.
We’ll notify families via email, text, voicemail, and/or social media. You can also call your local school for daily status updates.
If classes are cancelled due to inclement weather, power outages, or a pool contamination event, families will be notified by email, text, or app notification. In these cases, a make-up token will be issued to your account to use while actively enrolled.
If you feel unsafe driving to lessons due to weather, please mark your child absent in the Parent Portal/app. This will qualify you for a make-up token.
Each school makes independent decisions about weather closures and does not follow local school district schedules. If lessons must be canceled due to snow, lightning, or other inclement weather, families will be notified by phone, email, text, or social media.
In our 3-year-old classes (Levels 3, 4, and 5), we use toys and play to make learning fun. At the end of class, each swimmer gets to swim out to a themed prize they can take home! All swimmers also receive a stamp at the end of class to celebrate their effort.
Swimming is a critical life skill. It not only teaches water safety but also provides lifelong recreation, fitness, and confidence.
Repetition is key to mastery. Practicing skills consistently helps swimmers develop muscle memory and lasting confidence.
No, we do not teach ISR. Our philosophy is rooted in a gentle, nurturing approach that builds both safety and a lifelong love of the water.
While we agree that water safety is essential, we do not use back-float “drown-proofing” methods. Instead, we teach infants and toddlers to swim using proven, developmentally appropriate techniques. Our curriculum includes core safety skills such as rollover breathing and self-rescue, but taught in a way that empowers children without causing fear or trauma.
For more than four decades, our gentle methods have successfully taught thousands of children to not only recover from accidental falls into the water, but also to feel confident, safe, and happy while swimming.
The belt helps with body position, keeping hips elevated so swimmers can focus on proper technique and timing.
Three times a year, swimmers participate in a special lesson focused on boat safety. During this class, children practice important skills such as:
Putting on and swimming in a life jacket
Floating in a life jacket
Yelling for help if needed
Learning what to do (and not do) if they see a friend in trouble
These lessons are fun and engaging — children even get to sit in a blow-up boat — while also teaching vital lifesaving skills.
At first, fins provide propulsion so swimmers can practice new strokes and distances. As their skills strengthen, fins are gradually removed to ensure independence and correct technique.
Our curriculum is built on two core water safety skills that every child practices from their very first lessons:
Jump-Turn-Swim (JTS): Children learn to enter the water, turn around, and swim towards what they last saw. This teaches them to find the closest point of safety, not just swim toward where they came from.
Roll-to-Backfloat: Children practice rolling onto their back to take a breath and rest before continuing to swim. This technique is developmentally appropriate for younger swimmers and helps them build confidence to pause, breathe, and keep going.
Together, these dual safety skills give children the tools to handle a variety of real-world water situations.
Fins help swimmers develop a strong kick, improve body position, and feel confident moving forward in the water.
To reinforce the importance of water safety, every class begins with a simple Safety Pledge. This fun, engaging routine helps remind children of the rules and why water safety matters — building lifelong safe habits from the very start.
Held three times a year, Clothesline Day gives children the experience of swimming while fully clothed. At the beginning of class, swimmers practice the Jump, Turn, Swim safety skill while wearing a set of clothes over their swimsuit. This helps them understand what it feels like to be in the water unexpectedly and builds confidence in handling real-world water safety situations — all in a safe, nurturing environment.
Swimming is a lifelong safety skill, not a seasonal activity. We encourage families to think of lessons as a long-term commitment — just like school or other sports. Consistent, year-round participation ensures progress doesn’t stall and skills don’t fade.
Children should remain in lessons until they can comfortably and confidently swim the length of the pool using multiple strokes (typically freestyle and backstroke). For many families, that means staying in lessons for several years, often through preschool, elementary, and even into stroke clinics or swim team.
When your child masters all required skills, they’ll receive a certificate of achievement. You can then update your class schedule through the Parent Portal (iClassPro) or with help from our staff. If your preferred class time is full, we’ll place you on a waitlist and your child can continue building skills in their current class until a spot opens.
If your child’s class continues to include peers at a similar level, the instructor may simply begin teaching the next set of skills. If a class change is needed, we’ll help you select a new day/time through the Parent Portal or at the front desk.
Yes. Many children repeat levels and that’s perfectly normal. Our goal is to build lasting confidence and safe swimming skills, not to rush advancement. Some children may plateau or need extra time with certain techniques, and our teachers are trained to keep them motivated and progressing at the right pace.
Your child is continuously evaluated by our instructors and managers. Progress is tracked in the Parent Portal (iClassPro), discussed during Show-offs, and shared on your child’s benchmark card. Once all skills for a level are mastered, your swimmer will officially advance to the next level.
Every child progresses at their own pace. Some skills may come quickly, while others take time and practice. What’s most important is that your child builds a strong, safe foundation before advancing. On average, most swimmers spend several months in each level.
You can use our online swim assessment tool or ask our front desk team for guidance. We’ll make sure your child is placed in the level that best matches their age and skills within our step-by-step curriculum.
Every child progresses at their own pace depending on comfort level, age, frequency of lessons, and practice outside of class. With consistent attendance and encouragement, most children build water safety skills within a few months and continue developing toward full swimming independence over time.
The rollover breath is a core safety skill. It teaches swimmers to float, rest, and breathe if they become tired in the water before swimming to safety.
We teach a progression of breathing techniques: front breath, rollover breath, and side breath. Learning multiple ways to breathe ensures safety and confidence in different situations.
If you already have an account, your username is your email address. You can reset your password directly on the login page, or request help from our front desk team. New families will create their account during the registration process.
Our Parent Portal (also available as the iClassPro mobile app) is your go-to tool for managing your family’s swim journey. Through the Parent Portal you can:
Update your contact and billing information
Enroll in lessons or join a waitlist
View your child’s class schedule
Track skill progress and advancement
Review tuition and payment history
Schedule make-ups
Mark your child absent
Available classes are always listed online in the Parent Portal. You can view class times, filter by level, and join a waitlist if your preferred class is full.
Enrollment is ongoing — you can sign up at any time! If you start after the month has already begun, tuition will be prorated so you only pay for the remaining lessons.
You can register online through our website at any time. If you prefer, you can also call us at 855-232-2006 (Option 1) or register in person at any of our locations. Our team will be happy to walk you through the process and answer any questions.
After class, your child’s instructor or manager will give you a quick progress report and share enrollment options if you’d like to continue. Stop by the front desk before you leave so your child can get a hand stamp for a job well done!
We’ll place your child in the level that best matches their age and swim experience. For example, if your child would normally be in Level 6, we’ll schedule their free trial in a Level 6 class so you can see what regular lessons would look like.
Please call us at 855-232-2006, and our customer service team will be happy to schedule your child’s trial class.
Thirty minutes is the perfect length to keep kids engaged, build endurance, and learn skills without fatigue. Weekly lessons create structure and measurable progress.
Consistency drives faster progress, prevents regression, and allows swimmers to join at any time without waiting for sessions to start.
You select a weekly class time and keep that spot until you move up or change schedules. Many schools have separate school-year and summer schedules for flexibility.
Most of our schools offer continuous, year-round enrollment. You can start anytime and keep your spot until you take a break or advance to the next level.
Yes! We offer free trial classes for new families. It’s a great way to experience our program, meet our instructors, and see the difference for yourself before enrolling.
Some locations have on-site video monitoring and may take photos or videos for training, safety, or promotional purposes. If you do not wish for your child to be photographed, please notify your school in writing.
Designated areas are available for storing your items during class. We recommend bringing a bag for wet clothes. For safety, strollers must remain outside of locker room areas or in designated stroller parking.
Yes. Items left behind during the day are placed in our Lost & Found. Please check there if you’re missing something after class. To keep our space organized, all unclaimed items are donated regularly to a local charity.
Yes. Every location has bathrooms available, and many also offer family changing areas. Please check with your local school for specific details.
Many of our pools use UV purification along with regulated chlorine to meet health standards and ensure safety.
Yes. Many of our pools use advanced UV and filtration systems, combined with continuous monitoring, to ensure clean and healthy water.
We have both new and veteran instructors and all share the same caring heart and passion for water safety. Whether your teacher is brand new or has been with us for years, they all go through the same rigorous training program to ensure quality instruction.
Yes. Instructors for Bathtime Babies® and toddler-level classes complete specialized training designed to meet the unique needs of young swimmers. This preparation helps create a nurturing, developmentally appropriate learning environment.
Yes. Our teachers participate in ongoing workshops, team “Huddle 2 Optimize” meetings, and safety drills, including Emergency Action Plan (EAP) practice. This ensures they are always up to date on teaching techniques and safety protocols.
All instructors complete extensive training before leading classes. This includes online curriculum work, an exam, and over 30 hours of in-water training alongside a certified mentor teacher. Instructors must also pass an in-water assessment before teaching on their own.
Quick questions can be asked at the end of class. For more detailed discussions, speak with the Manager on Duty to ensure instructors can stay on schedule.
Yes, for certain classes. As part of our enhanced curriculum, we encourage a strong partnership between teachers and parents. Having parents on deck not only reinforces a child’s good behavior and celebrates their small wins, but also makes it easier for teachers to provide real-time updates and education. This collaboration helps children become more confident and safer swimmers, with skills they can continue to practice at home.
Offer reassurance, then allow the instructor to guide your child. Our teachers are trained to work with children who are hesitant or upset, using songs, games, and gentle encouragement to help them feel safe. In many cases, children calm down more quickly if parents step back from the pool deck. If you’re concerned, our team manager is always available to talk and support you.
Reinforcement at home makes a big difference. Here are a few simple ways to help:
Ask your child what they learned in class and let them “teach” you.
Practice small skills at bath time, like blowing bubbles, splashing water on their face, or gentle kicking.
Talk about water safety often — remind them to always swim with a buddy, never alone, and practice “reach or throw, don’t go” in emergencies.
Most importantly, keep it playful! Learning sticks best when it’s fun.
No. For safety reasons, parents and guardians must remain at the facility for the duration of the lesson. Children must be supervised before and after class, and may not be left unattended.
We recommend continuing. While taking a break may provide temporary relief, it can also reinforce fears and make returning harder. Swimming is a life-saving skill, and consistent, positive exposure is the best way to build trust and confidence in the water.
Parents are welcome to watch from our observation areas or designated seating near the pool. Please remain on-site during your child’s lesson.
Yes — this is very common! A new environment, new teachers, and being in the water can all feel overwhelming at first. Many children experience tears or hesitation during their first few lessons. With patience and consistency, most children quickly adjust and begin to enjoy their time in the pool.
If you are unable to participate, another adult or guardian may join your child in the water. For safety reasons, instructors cannot substitute as the in-water parent/guardian.
Starting at age 3, children transition to independent classes. Before moving up, we’ll schedule a trial in a group class to ensure they are safe and ready to participate without a parent in the water.
Yes. In our Bathtime Babies and toddler classes (2–35 months), a parent or guardian participates in the water. Young children learn best with the comfort and trust of a parent by their side, which helps instructors build confidence and water safety skills more quickly.
We do not provide food or beverages. You are welcome to bring in your own party food and drinks to enjoy after pool time. Please note that glass containers are not allowed and alcohol is strictly prohibited on the premises.
For safety, we do not allow outside floats or inflatables. Simple toys, like pool noodles, are permitted.
Families may arrive 15 minutes before the scheduled party start time to decorate and get settled. If you need additional time, please contact your school directly.
Yes, you may bring banners and balloons. We just ask that you avoid decorations that would damage walls (such as nails or tacks). Glitter and confetti are prohibited.
Our birthday party package includes up to 25 children at one flat rate. A responsible adult must accompany all children under the age of four in the pool. Parents and guardians are always welcome to attend and observe, and they do not count toward the child total.
Absolutely! Enrollment is not required to book a party with us.
Yes! We offer weatherproof pool parties where kids can splash, play, and celebrate all year long. Parties are open to both current students and the general public. (Active students receive a 20% discount.)
No. For health and safety reasons, all children under age 3 are required to wear a double-layer swim diaper, even if they are potty trained. This helps keep the water clean and our pools open for everyone.
Yes. For health and safety, all children under age 3 must wear two snug-fitting, reusable swim diapers, even if they are potty trained.
If your child needs the bathroom during lessons, a team manager will escort them to you so you can take them. For safety, instructors and supervisors must remain on deck and cannot leave the pool area. Parents may use the pool deck bathrooms if needed, but may be asked to remove shoes to keep the area clean.
Please arrive at least 5 minutes before your scheduled lesson to allow time for check-in and to use the bathroom. This ensures your child receives their full instruction time and avoids distractions once class begins.
Arrive about 10–15 minutes early so your child has time to get comfortable. You’ll meet the manager and instructor, get a quick orientation, and then your swimmer will join their class. Lessons are designed to be safe, playful, and encouraging, helping children ease into the water at their own pace.
Talk positively about the lesson, use our printable coloring pages to introduce them to swim school, and let them bring a favorite toy for before or after class. Most importantly, your encouragement helps your child feel ready!
Check in at the front desk, where you child may receive a wristband or class assignment. Your teacher will call you to call by raising their name sign and motioning for you to come to class. We’re happy to help you to class as well!
Swimsuit and towel
Bag for wet items and a change of clothes
Two reusable swim pants for children age 3 and under (available for purchase at your location if needed)
Goggles (optional)
For Bathtime Babies, Level 1A and Level 1B: the parent/guardian should bring a one-piece swimsuit or swim trunks and a t-shirt to wear in the pool
Talk positively about swim class and explain what to expect.
Use bath time to practice fun water play like blowing bubbles or pouring water over their shoulders.
Bring a favorite toy or comfort item for before or after class.
Arrive a little early so you and your child feel relaxed, not rushed.
Stay calm and encouraging — your confidence helps them feel safe.
Babies are naturally comfortable in water, it’s a familiar environment from the womb. Starting early helps prevent fear, builds coordination, and makes water safety part of normal development. Younger children also adapt more easily and enjoy the buoyancy of the pool. Children under 5 are at the highest risk around water, so early lessons provide the strongest foundation for safety. That said, it’s never too late, swimmers of any age can benefit from lessons.
Children can begin swim lessons as young as 2 months old. Many families choose to start around 6 months, once babies can hold their heads up independently. The important thing is to start early so your child grows up comfortable and confident in the water.
Every child learns at their own pace. Factors like comfort in the water, listening skills, prior experience, and even separation anxiety can affect how quickly a child progresses. Swimming is not a skill that can be mastered in just a few lessons — it requires time, consistent practice, and patience.
Our instructors use a structured curriculum and monthly evaluations to ensure each child is on track. Some children may show progress in a matter of weeks, while others need several months or more to become fully confident and safe in the water. What’s most important is steady, ongoing participation so your child continues building skills without regression.
Progress varies by child, but private lessons often lead to quicker advancement because of the individualized focus and extended swim time each session provides.
Both formats have unique benefits:
Group Lessons: Children learn by observing peers, practice turn-taking, and gain social confidence. With our low student-to-teacher ratios, each child still receives plenty of individual attention.
Private Lessons: One-on-one lessons are fully customized to your child’s needs, learning style, and pace. They also maximize swim time since no time is spent waiting for turns.
Pricing for private lessons varies by location. Please contact your local school for current rates.
Yes! Swim Team Prep swimmers have the opportunity to attend swim meets at their specific location. These events give swimmers a fun, low-pressure introduction to competition while celebrating their progress.
Once your child successfully completes Level 11, they’ll be invited to join Swim Team Prep. On the team, swimmers continue to strengthen their technique, build endurance, and gain experience in a supportive, recreational environment.
Swim lessons aren’t required, but swimmers must be confident in all four competitive strokes (freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly). If you’re new to our school and believe your child is ready, we’ll provide a free evaluation with a manager to assess their skills before placement.
Pricing varies by location. Please contact your local school for details about monthly tuition.
Progress looks different for every child, but many swimmers see noticeable improvements in technique, confidence, and overall swimming ability thanks to the consistency of daily practice.
Clinics use the same proven SwimSure™ curriculum as our regular classes, focusing on water safety, stroke technique, and skill development. The difference is the intensive daily schedule, which often leads to quicker progression.
Regular Lessons: Held once a week, providing steady, consistent progress over time. Swim Clinics: Daily lessons over the course of one week, creating an intensive learning experience that helps skills “click” faster.
Clinics are available for children ages 3 and up. Swimmers are grouped by both age and skill level to ensure instruction is appropriate and effective.
Absolutely! Swim Clinics are a great complement to regular weekly lessons, offering extra practice that can accelerate progress.
Families often have questions when starting swim lessons, and the Swim to Shore Swim School FAQ page is here to help you find quick, clear answers. As part of the Emler Swim School family, we focus on making every step of the process simple, from choosing the right level to understanding class structure, safety practices, and what to expect during your child’s swim journey. Parents use this page to learn about enrollment, make up lessons, billing, what to bring, and how our SwimSure curriculum supports swimmers at every age and ability.
Many new families want to know how we introduce babies and toddlers to the water, how long it takes for a child to move through levels, and what signs show that they are ready for more independence. Others look for guidance on private lessons, advanced swim options, or what to do if their child feels nervous in the pool. Our FAQ page is designed to cover all of these topics with simple, helpful explanations you can reference any time.
We also include common questions about our warm indoor pool, our certified instructors, and the safety standards that guide each lesson. Parents appreciate knowing how class transitions work, what progress looks like week to week, and how we communicate updates throughout the session. If you are planning your first visit or managing an ongoing schedule, you’ll find practical information that helps you feel prepared.
If your question isn’t covered, our team is always available to help. You can call, email, or stop by the school for personalized support. Swim to Shore is committed to giving families the information they need to feel confident, supported, and ready for a great experience in the water.
