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Swim Lessons
Metroparks Working with Partners to Offer FREE Swim Lessons
Learn water safety and swimming skills at multiple locations this summer! In partnership with other organizations, your Metroparks are excited to bring swim lessons to you for FREE. Participants will learn basic water safety skills and get an introduction to swimming. No prior experience is needed, certified instructors will work with participants at their level with ease and understanding of their comfort in the water.
Lessons begin in June. Each lesson is 30-45 minutes and participants should plan to attend all lessons in their registered session. Registered participants will receive a swimsuit, swim caps, goggles, bag, and a towel.
Ages: 5 and up. Swim lessons are geared towards children ages 5 to 13, however teens and adults are welcome too. Any child under 14 years of age must be accompanied by an adult.
Cost: Free!
Location: Multiple locations to choose from
Belle Isle BeachDetroit, MI Lessons will take place at Belle Isle State Park at the beach. REGISTRATION NOW OPEN – CLICK HERE Provided in partnership with Michigan Department of Natural Resources. |
Brennan PoolDetroit, MI Lessons will take place at Brennan Pool. LESSONS ARE FULL – REGISTRATION CLOSED! Provided in partnership with the City of Detroit and Detroit Riverfront Conservancy as part of the Swim in the D program. |
Chandler PoolDetroit, MI Lessons will take place at Wayne County Family Aquatic Center at Chandler Park in the pool. Lessons start in June and each session runs for 8 classes. LESSONS ARE FULL – REGISTRATION CLOSED! Provided in partnership with Wayne County Parks and Third Generation Management. |
Howell-Highlander Aquatics & Fitness Center PoolHowell, MI Lessons will take place at Howell-Highlander Aquatics & Fitness Center in the pool. Lessons start in June and run for 8 classes! LESSONS ARE FULL – REGISTRATION CLOSED! Provided in partnership with Howell-Highlander Aquatics & Fitness Center. |
Rutherford PoolYpsilanti, MI Lessons will take place at Rutherford Pool for children and adults in the 48197 and 48198 zip codes. Lessons begin in June. Registration takes place at Rutherford Pool in-person on the following dates and times: May 20, 12:30 – 3:30 p.m. Click here for full registration information. Provided in partnership with Washtenaw County Parks & Friends of Rutherford Pool. |
Waterford Oaks PoolWaterford, MI Lessons will take place at Oakland County Parks-Waterford Oaks Pool. Lessons start in June and each session runs for 8 classes. LESSONS ARE FULL – REGISTRATION CLOSED! Provided in partnership with Oakland County Parks. |
Ann Arbor YMCA – Camp BirkettPinckney, MI Lessons will take place at Camp Birkett at the beach. Lessons are separated by ages. REGISTRATION NOW OPEN – CLICK HERE Provided in partnership with Ann Arbor YMCA. |
Macomb YMCA – PoolMt. Clemens, MI Lessons will take place at Macomb YMCA in the pool for children 5-14 in the following zip codes 48043, 48035, 48036, 48026, 48066, and 48021. Lessons start in June! LESSONS ARE FULL – REGISTRATION CLOSED! Provided in partnership with Macomb YMCA. |
Thank you to the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Legacy Fund for Youth Sports at the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan for a $25,000 grant that will support removing barriers to water safety and swim education by expanding free water safety and beginner swim lessons to youth in Livingston, Oakland and Washtenaw counties.
Lets Get Everyone in the Pool
Your Metroparks are committed to improving water safety so that all Michiganders can safely and confidently enjoy the pools, lakes and rivers our state has to offer. In 2021, the Metroparks worked with an external consultant to identify the barriers to swim instruction and the gaps in water safety. Thanks to responses from all across our communities, we learned that the cost of swim lessons were too high, particularly for people of color and for city of Detroit residents. The consequences are stark: studies show 70 percent of Detroit kids have little to no swim experience. So we began building partnerships and funding lessons to make them FREE for residents in communities across all five counties we serve. Learn more in this short film.
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