The Y has been the leader in swim instruction and water exercise for more than a century. Swim lessons at the Y give children the skills to be safe in the water, plus a sense of accomplishment from learning something new. Along with the new confidence of being able to swim, children will gain lifelong ways to stay healthy. We also share our Y core values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility to help them enhance their life skills.

The Bear Levin Studer Family YMCA in Downtown Pensacola offers swim lessons throughout the year. The Betty J. Pullum Family YMCA offer lessons in the summer months.

Cost is $55/session for Household Members and $110/session for program participants.

See charts below for session and registration dates.

What class is right for my child?

How old is the student swimmer?

Swim Starters

Parents work in the water with their children to explore body positions, floating, blowing bubbles, and fundamental safety and aquatic skills.

Will the student go under water voluntarily?

1/Water Acclimation

Students develop comfort with underwater exploration and learn to safety exit the pool.

Can the student float on his or her back and front by themselves?

2/Water Movement

Students focus on body and position control, directional change, and forward movement in the water.

Can the student swim 10-15 yards on his or her front and back?

3/Water Stamina

Students learn how to swim to safety from a longer distance and begin learning rhythmic breathing and integrated arm and leg action.

Can the student swim 15 yards of front and back crawl?

4/Stroke Introduction

Students develop stroke technique in front crawl and back crawl and learn the breaststroke kick and butterfly kick.

4/Stroke Introduction

Students develop stroke technique in front crawl and back crawl and learn the breaststroke kick and butterfly kick.

Will the student go under water voluntarily?

1/Water Acclimation

Students develop comfort with underwater exploration and learn to safety exit the pool.

Can the student do a front and back float on his or her own?

2/Water Movement

Students focus on body and position control, directional change, and forward movement in the water.

Can the student swim 10-15 yards on his or her front and back?

3/Water Stamina

Students learn how to swim to safety from a longer distance and begin learning rhythmic breathing and integrated arm and leg action.

Can the student swim 15 yards of front and back crawl?

4/Stroke Introduction

Students develop stroke technique in front crawl and back crawl and learn the breaststroke kick and butterfly kick.

Can the student swim front crawl, back crawl, and breaststroke across the pool?

5/Stroke Development

Students work on stroke technique and learn all major competitive strokes.

Can the student swim front crawl, back crawl, and breaststroke across the pool and back?

6/Stroke Mechanics

Students refine stroke technique on all major competitive strokes and learn about competitive swimming.

6/Stroke Mechanics

Students refine stroke technique on all major competitive strokes and learn about competitive swimming.

Will the student go under water voluntarily?

1/Water Acclimation

Students develop comfort with underwater exploration and learn to safety exit the pool.

Can the student do a front and back float on his or her own?

2/Water Movement

Students focus on body and position control, directional change, and forward movement in the water.

Can the student swim 10-15 yards on his or her front and back?

3/Water Stamina

Students learn how to swim to safety from a longer distance and begin learning rhythmic breathing and integrated arm and leg action.

Can the student swim 15 yards of front and back crawl?

4/Stroke Introduction

Students develop stroke technique in front crawl and back crawl and learn the breaststroke kick and butterfly kick.

Can the student swim front crawl, back crawl, and breaststroke across the pool?

5/Stroke Development

Students work on stroke technique and learn all major competitive strokes.

Can the student swim front crawl, back crawl, and breaststroke across the pool and back?

6/Stroke Mechanics

Students refine stroke technique on all major competitive strokes and learn about competitive swimming.

6/Stroke Mechanics

Students refine stroke technique on all major competitive strokes and learn about competitive swimming.

For ages 13 and older, we offer two classes: Beginners for anyone who cannot swim the length of the pool and Intermediate for anyone who can.

Swim Session Dates - Bear Levin Studer Y

MONDAY/WEDNESDAY SESSIONS for 2026

Dates	Member Registration Opens	Participant Registration Opens	Please Note
Jan 5 - Jan 29	Dec 22 (2025)	Dec 29 (2025)
Feb 2 - Feb 25	Jan 19	Jan 26
Mar 2 - Mar 25	Feb 16	Feb 23
Mar 30 - Apr 22	Mar 16	Mar 23
Apr 27 - May 20	Apr 13	Apr 20	Skip a week after this session for Memorial Day
Jun 1 - Jun 24	May 18	May 25	Skip a week after this session for the 4th of July
Jul 6 - Jul 29	Jun 22	Jun 29
Aug 3 - Aug 26	Jul 20	Jul 27
Aug 31 - Sep 28	Aug 17	Aug 24	No class on Labor Day, Sep 7th
Oct 5 - Oct 28	Sept 21	Sept 28
Nov 2 - Nov 18	Oct 19	Oct 26	3-Week session due to Thanksgiving Week
Nov 30 - Dec 16	Nov 16	Nov 23	3-Week session due to Christmas Week

TUESDAY/THURSDAY SESSIONS for 2026

Dates	Member Registration Opens	Participant Registration Opens	Please Note
Jan 6 - Jan 30	Dec 22 (2025)	Dec 29 (2025)
Feb 3 - Feb 26	Jan 19	Jan 26
Mar 3 - Mar 26	Feb 16	Feb 23
Mar 31 - Apr 23	Mar 16	Mar 23
Apr 28 - May 21	Apr 13	Apr 20	Skip a week after this session for Memorial Day
Jun 2 - June 25	May 18	May 25	Skip a week after this session for the 4th of July
Jul 7 - Jul 30	Jun 22	Jun 29
Aug 4 - Aug 27	Jul 20	July 27
Sept 1 - Sept 29	Aug 17	Aug 24	No Class on Sept 8th
Oct 6 - Oct 29	Sept 21	Sept 28
Nov 3 - Nov 19	Oct 19	Oct 26	3 Week session due to Thanksgiving Week
Dec 1 - Dec 17	Nov 16	Nov 23	3 Week session due to Christmas Week

SATURDAY SESSIONS for 2026

Dates	Member Registration Opens	Participant Registration Opens	Please Note
Jan 10 - Feb 28	Dec 27 (2025)	Jan 3
Mar 7 - May 2	Feb 21	Feb 28	No Class on April 4 for Easter
May 9 - Jun 27	Apr 25	May 2	No class on May 23 for Memorial Day weekend/ 7 week session/ Also skip the Saturday after July 4
Jul 11 - Aug 29	Jun 27	Jul 4
Sept 12 - Oct 31	Aug 29	Sep 5
Nov 7 - Dec 19	Oct 24	Oct 31	6-Week session, No class on Nov 28 for Thanksgiving

GROUP SWIM LESSONS

What class is right for my child?

Swim Starters

1/Water Acclimation

2/Water Movement

3/Water Stamina

4/Stroke Introduction

4/Stroke Introduction

1/Water Acclimation

2/Water Movement

3/Water Stamina

4/Stroke Introduction

5/Stroke Development

6/Stroke Mechanics

6/Stroke Mechanics

1/Water Acclimation

2/Water Movement

3/Water Stamina

4/Stroke Introduction

5/Stroke Development

6/Stroke Mechanics

6/Stroke Mechanics

Swim Session Dates - Bear Levin Studer Y

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