Birmingham Aquatics Programs | Beyond Swim Lessons
Explore More Swim Programs
Beyond our swim lesson curriculum, we offer a variety of aquatics programs for every kind of swimmer — from Homeschool PE in the Pool and our Polar Bear Club to Safety Around Water education. We also offer Red to Green free swim lessons to help campers build the skills and confidence needed to pass their camper swim test. See our swim programs that go beyond traditional lessons below.
Homeschool Water-Based PE
The YMCA offers several Homeschool PE options including general play, sports development and water-based. See all of our options under our Youth Activities page HERE.
Polar Bear Club
Stay tuned in Fall 2026 for information and registration for the 2027 Polar Bear Challenge. This fun, free winter fitness incentive is open to all our members.
The 2027 challenge runs for 9 weeks, from January 1 through early March.
Each time you swim, simply log your yardage in the Polar Bear log book. We’ll post results weekly so you can track your progress and stay motivated. At the end of the challenge, the Top 10 swimmers who log the most yards will earn a Polar Bear Top 10 T-Shirt. Select your branch from the link below to sign up now.
Junior Lifeguarding Development
This YMCA Swim Lesson Pathway program is designed to prepare students ages 11-14 to participate in a Lifeguard certification program. This course will help participants build endurance in swimming and gain additional knowledge about the aquatic environment. This program will focus on:
- Enhancing the safety skills needed to take a Lifeguard certification course
- Developing knowledge in various aquatic topics
- Increasing endurance to meet the prerequisite physical competency requirements of a lifeguard certification course
Safety Around Water
Safety Around Water
The world is 71% water.
Children are 100% curious.
About
Drowning can happen nearly anywhere with standing water. But, as a parent or caregiver, you can’t keep your children sidelined.
You need to equip them with the tools they need to be confident in and around water so they don’t lose out on the health benefits of exercise, the opportunities to bond with family and friends, and the sense of accomplishment when they learn new skills. The Greater Birmingham YMCA Safety Around Water Program is designed to engage and educate youth and parents about the importance of water safety skills, providing more of America’s youth with access to water safety lessons.
Cost
Free service to the community is supported and made possible by our generous donors and other philanthropic funding sources. Learning to swim is a lifelong skill.
Details
Through Safety Around Water, children and adults learn fundamental water safety and swimming skills and how to respond if they find themselves in unexpected water situations. This could include how to reach the water’s surface if they submerge to safely reaching a pool’s edge or exiting any body of water in addition to the basic strokes, proper breathing, and technique.
Red to Green - Camp Lessons
Red to Green provides Day Campers who are unable to pass the YMCA Swim Test the opportunity to take FREE swim lessons during their camp day if their parent opts in. The goal is build confident swimmers who are capable of going from “red to green.”
How to sign up
When registering your child(ren) for Summer Day Camp, you will be asked if your child can pass the YMCA Swim Test. If you select “No,” you will be prompted to choose if you would like your camper(s) to take FREE swim lessons during their camp day. Please note that this program is exclusively for campers who can not pass the swim test. All campers will be swim tested and free lessons during the camp day will be reserved for those who cannot pass the Swim Test.
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