Youth Swim Lessons

At the Y, we believe the ability to swim is a critical life skill that every individual should have the opportunity to learn. When you learn to swim, you gain confidence, acquire safety skills and experience water activities you can enjoy for a lifetime.

The Y introduced the country to group swim lessons over 110 years ago in 1909. Now, as one of the largest community-based organizations in the country, we teach more than a million children invaluable water safety and swimming skills each year. Every year our YMCA teaches over 1,200 children to swim in the Easley, Pickens & Powdersville communities.

To find the best option that fits the needs of you and your family, please select the age range of the individual learning to swim below:  

Group Swim Lessons Stages 1 & 2

Ages 5 years to 8 years old 

These stages are best for new swimmers who are comfortable in the water with support but are still developing the skills and confidence to float and swim without assistance. Instructors focus on teaching water acclimation and water movement in a small group setting of 3 to 5 swimmers. These lessons increase comfort with underwater exploration and introduce basic self-rescue skills performed with assistance. Beyond acclimation, lessons build forward movement in water and basic self-rescue skills performed independently. The format of these lessons changes based on the season. Please click the registration link below to see what is currently available.

Register Here

Group Swim Lessons Stages 3 & 4

Ages 5 years to 12 years old 

These stages are best for swimmers who will voluntarily go under water, can float on their own and can move themselves forward in the water unassisted. In a small group format of 3 to 5 swimmers, instructors introduce and refine stroke techniques. Having mastered the fundamentals, students learn additional water safety skills and build stroke techniques, developing skills to form healthy habits, increase overall well-being and foster a lifetime of physical activity.

Register Here

Private Swim Lessons

Ages 3 years to 12 years old 

These lessons provide focused attention for your child and allow an instructor to create a personalized plan that fits the specific needs of your swimmer. This could look like an instructor working with a more advanced swimmer on developing a specific stroke or learning to flip-turn, or encouraging a new swimmer to put their face in the water or jump from the edge of the pool. Each session is 30 minutes and is scheduled based on instructor and participant availability.

Register Here

Every Child Swims: 2nd Grade Swim Lessons

Did you know that, in an effort to ensure that every child has the opportunity to learn to swim, our YMCA provides free swim lessons for second graders in 10 schools in Pickens County during the school day?

Thanks to our generous Annual Campaign donors, our YMCA provided swim lessons to 561 second grade students in 2024. Each year, around half of the students have never swam before and many are afraid of the water. By the end of the lessons, students learn swimming and water safety skills and grow in confidence!

Every Child Swims: Camp Mission Swim Lessons

Did you know that, in an effort to ensure that every child has the opportunity to learn to swim, our YMCA offers free swim lessons for all of our summer camp participants in Anderson & Pickens County?

At the start of each summer, every camper takes a swim test. Campers who can’t pass the test are automatically enrolled in mission swim lessons as part of their camp experience. Thanks to our generous Annual Campaign donors, mission swim lessons help campers gain confidence and learn this important life-saving skill in a fun, supportive environment.