Learning to swim could save your child’s life, making beginner swim lessons at an early age crucial for summertime safety. Once these skills are learned, children can elevate their skills by taking intermediate and advanced lessons. There are several levels and styles of swim lessons throughout the Toledo area that meet any family’s needs.
Check out our top picks for swim schools and educational resources in the 419, and let us know if you have more for us to add by commenting below!
Goldfish Swim School
4959 N Holland Sylvania Rd, Sylvania.
419-495-5736
Infants to advanced swimmers are offered lessons to fit their specific needs at Goldfish Swim School. In addition to their four levels of swim lessons, they have a swim team for 5-12 year olds who master the highest level of lessons. This school’s “perpetual swimming lessons” are offered to accommodate families’ busy schedules.
Rolf Park Pool
2115 Cass Rd, Maumee
419-887-1864
Rolf Park offers several different lesson levels to fit anyone’s schedule. Lessons run four days a week for three weeks, as well as a two-day per week option at reduced cost. Lessons at Rolf Park are open to Maumee residents within the corporation limits. Proof of residency will be required at sign up.
Bowling Green State University
1411 Ridge St, Bowling Green
419-372-8495
Six-month-old babies and adults can take swim lessons at BGSU. Lessons are taught in small group classes, and for ages three and up, there is the option for semi-private lessons and private lessons. BGSU does not offer swim lessons in the summer.
SafeSplash
Holland
1510 Spring Meadows Dr. #D-100, Holland
419-370-2801
Perrysburg
(419) 868-2998
10602 Fremont Pike Suite 4 Perrysburg OH 43551
Lessons emphasizing proper technique and water safety are offered to beginners and competitive swimmers alike. Many programs are offered by SafeSplash, including infant swim lessons, children’s lessons, adult lessons, private and semi-private lessons, special needs lessons and swim team prep. Their swim team prep helps aspiring competitive swimmers refine their skills.
YMCA Swim Lessons
The main components of the YMCA Swim Lessons Program are the Parent/Child and Preschool Aquatic Program and the Youth and Adult Aquatic Program. Students have the option of learning in a group session or a private session. There are several different local YMCAs with swim lessons for all ages.
6465 W Sylvania Ave., Sylvania.
419-885-4485
West Toledo YMCA
2110 Tremainsville Rd.
419-475-3496
YMCA of Greater Toledo
6465 W Sylvania Ave., Sylvania
419-729-8135
Fort Meigs YMCA
13415 Eckel Junction Rd., Perrysburg
419-251-9622
Eastern Community YMCA
2960 Pickle Rd., Oregon
419-691-3523.
Wolf Creek YMCA
2100 S Holland Sylvania Rd., Maumee
419-866-9622
UToledo Swim School
2801 W. Bancroft St.
419-530-3719
UToledo offers up six different levels introducing the fundamentals of aquatic skills, stroke development, improvement and refinement. There are also adult-specific courses ranging from beginner lessons to swimming for fitness.
St. James Club Swim and Fitness
7337 W Bancroft St.
419-841-5597
Year-round lessons are available to members and non-members. St. James recently implemented a private swim lessons program consisting of 30-minute, one-on-one lessons for adults and children.
Sylvania Recreation
6940 Maplewood Ave., Sylvania
419-882-1500
Swim lessons through Sylvania Recreation are held seasonally at Plummer Pool. Six-month-old babies can start in the parent/child class and advance to the intermediate classes when they get older. Three sessions are held for swim classes throughout the summer.
SWIM with Kym
10240 Blueridge Dr N
Whitehouse
Infants can learn lifesaving skills like holding their breath underwater and floating unassisted with Kym’s Infant Swimming Resource lessons. Stroke development and swim team readiness lessons are also available for students over six months old. More information is available at swimwithkym.com.
Greater Toledo Aquatic Club
2323 W. Bancroft St.
gtacswimlessons@gmail.com
Students learn from real swimmers — oftentimes Division 1 Champion swimmers — during these lessons. Swim lessons are held on Sundays in half-hour sessions.
RELATED: The Josh Project Offers Low-Cost Water Safety Lessons for Toledo Area Kids
The Josh Project
602-727-5900
The Josh Project, a drowning prevention and swim safety program, offers low cost swimming lessons and water safety education to children ages 5 to 17 years old. Through their lessons, their goal is to prevent drowning and other water-related injuries.
City of Toldeo free swim lessons
419-936-2700
Each city pool offers free lessons to community members throughout July. Lessons are held Wednesdays at noon. Register here.
For families struggling to pay for their child’s swim lessons, Because of Logan has a scholarship program. After losing their four-year-old daughter in 2021, the founders of this program began dedicating their time to creating swim lessons with the Infant Resource Self-Rescue technique. So far, they have awarded 30 scholarships to families in need.
