Our Bubble Babies class helps our newest little swimmers become comfortable in and around the water. Songs and games introduce beginner swim skills (such as kicking, splashing, and blowing bubbles) and create a fun, positive experience for young children in the pool. For infants under 6 months -2.5 years and their adult.

Bubble Babies classes are FREE for Center Family Members. 

Not a member yet? visit here to learn more and join the Downtown Community Center

These registration-based beginner swim lessons offer personal instruction and a progressive curriculum for children ages 2-3years. Children learn safety skills, breath control, proper body position, and basic arm and leg movements. Through a structured (but fun!) class setting, swimmers begin to independently follow the lead of the instructor with the encouragement and participation of their grownup. After completion of the Begin2Swim program, swimmers may be ready to move up to the first level of our Pre-K Swim Lessons. 

The Begin2Swim Program requires a parent or caregiver in the pool with each child. Children are ready for this program when they are comfortable and happy in the water, have experience in a class setting, and are ready to learn more progressive swim lesson skills.

For more information please contact us, or register here!

Our small-group lessons promote safety, fun, and friendship. We love incorporating a social aspect into swimming - an activity that is often thought of as an individual sport. The result is an environment where children encourage, support, and learn from one another.

Our Pre-K classes have only 3-4 children per instructor, and swimmers are placed into groups based on age and ability.  

For more information please contact us, or visit our registration page.

Private lessons will cover the same curriculum as our group classes, with one-on-one attention for your child. Private lessons may also be recommended for children with special needs or who may be more successful with one-on-one instruction rather than in a group setting.  

Contact our Aquatics office (swim@manhattanyouth.org) for additional information.

Our week-long Booster Sessions are offered during the Summer months and select school breaks. Swimmers attend every day (usually Monday-Thursday) of the scheduled session. Each class your child will receive a structured swim lesson, followed by free swim, games, and play with the instructor - creating a fun, camp-like experience, with lots and lots of skill practice!

Email us for more info.

If your little one loves to play with water, bring them poolside to Splash Pad! Here, your kids can suit up for an instructor-assisted water table class featuring interactive play and a whole lot of splashing, without entering the pool. Parents and caregivers are not required to suit up or get wet, but must be present on the pool deck and directly supervise their child during class.

Please see our Center daily schedule for current Splash Pad class times, or email us for additional information!

In our small-group Pool Playdates, children will enjoy unstructured playtime in the pool. Our certified instructors will engage the group with toys and water exploration activities.  A swim vest will be provided for each child and must be worn for the duration of the 30-minute session. Parents/caregivers are NOT required to get in the water, but will be required to remain on the pool deck.  Children are ready for this class once they are comfortable in the pool and with separation.

Pool Playdates are not swim lessons, but they encourage core principles of our Aquatics program: fun, community, and safety in the water!

Please email us for more information about Pool Playdates or alternative swim lesson offerings for this age group. 

Our small-group lessons promote safety, fun, and friendship. We love incorporating a social aspect into swimming - an activity that is often thought of as an individual sport. The result is an environment where children encourage, support, and learn from one another.

Children are placed into classes by age and ability and class size for this age is limited to 3-6 children per instructor (depending on the skill level of the swimmers.)

We offer classes for all swimming levels - from the inexperienced to the most advanced swimmers. Registration is based on a semester schedule, and we accept rolling registration based on availability.

Please note that this is not a drop off program.

Register here!

Our Tritons Swim Team offers advanced swimmers the opportunity to gain increased endurance, improve fitness and self-confidence, refine their stroke technique, and learn competitive skills and sportsmanship. Our goal is not strictly to develop fast swimmers. Our goal is to develop great student-athletes and well-rounded young adults, who can balance schoolwork, practices, and a variety of other activities - all with a positive attitude, strong work ethic, respect for themselves and others, and support from their team, coaches, and parents.

Enrollment in the Tritons Swim Team requires an evaluation with one of our coaches. Swimmers choose their own practice schedules, between 2-4 days per week.

For more information, please email tritons@manhattanyouth.org, or visit our tritons page here.

Private lessons will cover the same curriculum as our group classes, with one-on-one attention for your child. Private lessons may also be recommended for children with special needs or who may be more successful with one-on-one instruction rather than in a group setting.  

Contact our Aquatics office (swim@manhattanyouth.org) for additional information.

Our week-long Booster Sessions are offered during the Summer months and select school breaks. Swimmers attend every day (usually Monday-Thursday) of the scheduled session. Each class your child will receive a structured swim lesson, followed by free swim, games, and play with the instructor - creating a fun, camp-like experience, with lots and lots of skill practice!

Email us for more info.

We are proud to offer Youth Swim Lessons as a choice in our After-School Programs. Children receive the same instruction and swim experience as our Youth swim lessons.  Your child will be picked up directly from their classroom at school dismissal, have a snack, and be transported to the Downtown Community Center for childcare activities provided by our After-school staff.

To find out more on our After-School programs, please click here.

Please note that swim offerings and schedules vary by school. 

If you attend a school that is not in our network, you may sign your student up for drop-off After School at the Downtown Community Center.

It's important for our Middle and High-School aged swimmers to feel confident about participating in a swim class. Our Swim Instructors for these classes have years of experience working with Middle and High School students in camp, classroom, and aquatics settings. Classes of all abilities are offered, from beginner to advanced.

To explore swim lessons for your middle and high school student, visit our registration page.

Our Tritons Swim Team offers advanced swimmers the opportunity to gain increased endurance, improve fitness and self-confidence, refine their stroke technique, and learn competitive skills and sportsmanship. Our goal is not strictly to develop fast swimmers. Our goal is to develop great student-athletes and well-rounded young adults, who can balance schoolwork, practices, and a variety of other activities - all with a positive attitude, strong work ethic, respect for themselves and others, and support from their team, coaches, and parents.

Enrollment in the Tritons Swim Team requires an evaluation with one of our coaches. Swimmers choose their own practice schedules, between 2-4 days per week.

For more information, please email tritons@manhattanyouth.org, or visit our tritons page here.

During designated hours, 1-2 lanes are reserved specifically for Adult Lap Swimming. 

Email servicedesk@manhattanyouth.org for information on reserving a lane. 

These Members-Only classes are great for Adults who have fears of the water, are new to swimming, or want to learn proper strokes and breathing enabling them to swim for longer distances. Our swim instructors for these classes are trained specifically to teach adults beginner and intermediate swimming skills. These classes take place at the same time in the pool, but we offer two groups each week based on skill level so we can be sure to offer the most appropriate level of instruction for each individual.

These drop-in, Members-only Adult classes are designed to help advanced swimmers improve their speed and swimming endurance (in our Fitness/Endurance class) or learn new strokes and refine their stroke technique (in our Technique class). Join our Swim Team coach and advanced-level instructors for weekly sessions, customized for the participants of each particular class. Our experienced instructors will help you achieve your swimming goals.

Our Adult Private lessons can be adapted to the individual needs and specific goals of each swimmer. We will work with your schedule and skill level to curate lessons just for you.

Contact our Aquatics office at 212-766-1104 x298 or e-mail swim@manhattanyouth.org for additional information.

All Adult Members are welcome in this beginner Water Aerobics class promoting community and fitness.
Email swim@manhattanyouth.org for a complimentary guest pass to bring a friend!

The Downtown Community Center is proud to offer a free Senior Aquatics program for community residents ages 65+. We offer both open swim sessions as well as various senior fitness classes and swim lesson clinics. Seniors love our warm water and welcoming staff. To participate in our Senior Swim program please fill out the Senior Swim Application. You can stop by the community center, or you can find a copy of the application here, where you can print it and fill it out at home. Please bring the application with you to the Center.

Contact swim@manhattanyouth.org for more information.
 

Our Senior Water Aerobics class offers a 45-min in-pool workout, geared specifically towards our Seniors. This class is drop-in and included as part of our FREE Senior Swim Program.