Swimming Lessons
The South Dakota State University Wellness Center offers swim lessons for individuals of all ages and swimming abilities. Private swim lessons are designed specifically for the participant to achieve their swimming goals. Whether just getting familiar with the water or looking to improve on existing skills, our instructors will create a fun and comfortable environment. All swimming lessons are 30-minute sessions with an experienced swim instructor either working in an individual or group setting.
Private Lessons
Private lessons are one-on-one swim instruction with developed plans to meet the participant's swim goals. Participants will gain confidence in the water while improving on skills, and enhancing techniques. Our instructors are experienced in working with individuals of all ages and a variety of experience levels. Lessons are open to students, members and non-members.
Request private lessons
Due to limited instructor availability, we have reached our maximum number of Summer Private Swim Lesson requests. Please stay tuned to our social media channels for potential announcements regarding waitlist reopening.
| Number of Sessions | Cost for Students/ Members | Cost for Non-Members |
|---|---|---|
| Three Sessions | $75 | $90 |
| Six Sessions | $100 | $120 |
Group Lessons
Group swimming lessons are split up by in-water skills to ensure all participants feel comfortable in the level in which they are placed. Age requirements must be met for each level, with the earliest being only six months old. Working with groups of all ages and experience levels, our instructors will ensure each participant learns and develops strokes and skills.
| Numbers of Sessions | Cost for Students/ Members | Cost for Non-Members |
|---|---|---|
| Eight Sessions | $70 | $85 |
- Call 605-688-5521
- In-person registration
- Online through the (Members only)
- If you are a member, a child under the age of 5 can be added to your membership for free. The child must be living in the same household. Call 605-688-5521 to set up a free Toddler Membership.
Spring 2025 Class Semester
Monday and Wednesday
Monday, March 17 - Wednesday, April 9
Registration open: Monday, Feb. 17 - Monday, March 10
- 5:30 p.m. – Parent/Child
- 5:30 p.m. – Preschool Age
- 6 p.m. – Level 1
- 6 p.m. – Level 2
- 6:30 p.m. – Level 3
- 6:30 p.m. – Levels 4 and 5
- 7 p.m. – Adult
You can find a on our membership portal.
Anyone can register in-person or by calling 605-688-5521.
- If your child is a member, you can register online.
When: Monday, March 17, 2025 - Wednesday, April 9, 2025 | Every Monday and Wednesday
Time: 5:30-6 p.m.
In Preschool Level 1, your child is introduced to basic skills. These skills lay the foundation for developing Preschool Aquatics Level 1 water competency and the future skill development of swimming strokes. In addition, your child starts to develop positive attitudes and safe practices around the water.
Preschool Level 2 continues laying the foundation for developing water competency and further skill development. Preschool Aquatics Level 2 marks the beginning of independent aquatic locomotion skills. Children continue to explore using simultaneous and alternating arm and leg actions on the front and back to gain greater proficiency in preparation for performing strokes.
When: Mon, Mar. 17, 2025 - Wed, Apr. 9, 2025 | Every Monday and Wednesday
Time: 5:30-6 p.m.
In Parent and Child Aquatics, our instructors follow a plan to introduce new swimming and water safety skills that are developmentally appropriate and engaging for infants and toddlers (6 months-3 years). Routines that are familiar are extremely important to this age group. Each class uses toys, songs, fun and games to keep the children engaged and enjoying the water experience, all-the-while teaching them basic aquatic skills. It is important to understand that Parent and Child Aquatics is not designed to teach children to become good swimmers or even to survive in the water on their own. Parent and Child introduces you and your child to basic skills. As parents, you learn how to safely work with your child in the water, including how to appropriately support and hold your child in the water and how to prepare and encourage your child to participate fully and try the skills. In addition, you are introduced to several water safety topics. Your child receives an introduction to basic skills that lay a foundation for learning to swim.
When: Monday, March 17, 2025 - Wednesday, April 9, 2025 | Every Monday and Wednesday
Time: 6-6:30 p.m.
In Level 1—Introduction to Water Skills, your child is introduced to basic skills as the foundation for future skills and the development of water competency (the basic minimum skills needed for water safety).
Certain milestones are necessary for successful completion of Level 1, including:
- Entering the water independently using the ramp, steps or side.
- Traveling at least 5 yards, bobbing five times and then safely exiting the water.
- Opening eyes underwater and retrieving submerged object.
- Gliding on front with assistance at least two body lengths.
- Rolling to a back float for 5 seconds with assistance.
- Recovering to a vertical position with assistance.
- Combined arm and leg actions on front and back with assistance.
- Alternating and simultaneous arm and leg actions on front and back with assistance.
When: Monday, March 17, 2025 - Wednesday, April 9, 2025 | Every Monday and Wednesday
Time: 6-6:30 p.m.
Level 2—Fundamental Aquatic Skills builds on skills learned in Level 1. Your child begins to perform skills at a slightly more advanced level and begins gaining rudimentary propulsive skills on both the front and the back. This level marks the beginning of independent aquatic locomotion skills. Our instructors follow a plan to introduce new swimming and water safety skills and build on previously learned skills, including the development of water competency (basic minimum skills needed for water safety). Each class is loaded with fun, engaging and challenging activities that motivate children to want to perform and learn to swim.
Some of the milestones that are necessary for successful completion of Level 2 include:
- Stepping from the side into chest-deep water.
- Fully submerging and holding breath.
- Pushing off the bottom, moving into a treading or floating position for at least 15 seconds, swimming on front and/ or back for five body lengths and then exiting the water.
- Moving into a back float for 15 seconds, rolling to front and then recovering to a vertical position.
- Pushing off and swimming using combined arm and leg actions on front for five body lengths, rolling to back, floating for 15 seconds, rolling to the front and then continue swimming for five body lengths.
When: Monday, March 17, 2025 - Wednesday, April 9, 2025 | Every Monday and Wednesday
Time: 6:30-7 p.m.
In Learn-to-Swim Level 3, our instructors follow a plan to introduce new swimming and water safety skills and to build on previously learned skills. Your child learns to swim the front crawl and elementary backstroke at rudimentary levels, is introduced to the scissors and dolphin kicks, learns the survival float and increases the time duration for treading water. Your child also learns the rules for headfirst entries and begins to learn to enter the water headfirst from a seated position at poolside (if the water is 9 feet deep or deeper). Each class is loaded with fun, engaging and challenging activities that motivate children to want to perform and learn to swim and help your child develop water competency.
Some of the milestones in Level 3 — Stroke Development include:
- Flutter, scissors, breaststroke and dolphin kicks.
- Jumping into deep water from the side, recovering to the surface, maintaining position by treading or floating for 1 minute, rotating a full turn and then turning as necessary to orient to the exit point.
- Swimming the front crawl and/or elementary backstroke for 25 yards and then exiting the water.
- Pushing off in a streamlined position, swimming the front crawl for 15 yards, changing position and direction, swimming the elementary backstroke for 15 yards and then exiting the water.
When: Monday, March 17, 2025 - Wednesday, April 9, 2025 | Every Monday and Wednesday
Time: 6:30-7 p.m.
In Learn-to-Swim Level 4, our instructors follow a plan to introduce new swimming and water safety skills and to build on previously learned skills, improving the swimming stroke proficiency and swimming for longer distances. Each class is loaded with fun, engaging and challenging activities that motivate children to want to perform and learn to swim.
Some of the milestones in Level 4 — Stroke Improvement include:
- Swimming the front crawl for 25 yards.
- Swimming the elementary backstroke for 25 yards.
- Swimming the breaststroke for 15 yards.
- Swimming the butterfly for 15 yards.
- Swimming the back crawl for 15 yards.
- Swimming the sidestroke for 15 yards.
- Headfirst entry* from a stride position (*only if the water is at least 9-feet deep).
- Open turns on the front and back.
In Learn-to-Swim Level 5, our instructors follow a plan to refine all six swimming strokes including swimming for longer distances, introduce new water safety skills while building on ones previously learned and perform flip turns on the front and back. The expectations are higher now in regard to distance and quality. Each class is loaded with engaging and challenging activities and drills to build endurance and improve technique.
Some of the milestones in Level 5 — Stroke Refinement include:
- Performing a shallow-angle dive into water at least 9-feet deep.
- Performing a tuck and pike surface dive.
- Swimming the front crawl for 50 yards.
- Swimming the elementary backstroke for 50 yards.
- Swimming the sidestroke for 25 yards.
- Swimming the breaststroke for 25 yards.
- Swimming the back crawl for 25 yards.
- Swimming the butterfly for 25 yards.
- Front and back flip turns.
When: Monday, March 17, 2025 - Wednesday, April 9, 2025 | Every Monday and Wednesday
Time: 6:30-7 p.m.
Led by one of our experienced Swim Instructors, Adult Swim Lessons gives individuals 18 years and older the opportunity to learn basic swimming skills and water safety in a group based and safe environment while improving swimming strokes. Instructors teach skills and concepts needed to stay safe in and around water and to help themselves or others in an aquatic emergency.
