Aquatics Programs

Swimming is a life skill, great exercise, and a challenging sport. Whether you’re looking for swim classes for your kids, want to learn water safety, or enjoy swimming as a form of exercise, you’ll find what you’re looking for at the Y.

Open Swim

Members can drop by for open swim! Check pool schedules to find a time that works for you and your family.

Swim Team

The YMCA of North Central WV Swim Team – PIRANHAS – is a long-standing tradition of the Y. Swimmers will learn about integrity, commitment, and teamwork. Our Swim Team holds home meets and travels to several meets in the tri-state area throughout the season, which runs from September through April.

Our trained coaches work to improve swimmers’ skill level, endurance and to promote a healthy lifestyle. Our program embraces the YMCA's core values and promotes progression at an individual level.

The YMCA Swim Team offers several practice times a week for beginning swimmers and more for advanced groups. Practice times are available every day Monday through Saturday – please inquire within for more details.

There are also several volunteer opportunities to help support the YMCA Swim Team. Please contact us online or visit us at the front desk if you’re interested in volunteering.

Swim Team Downloads

• Swim Team Information and Pricing 2024/25 Season (PDF)

• Swim Team Handbook (PDF)

• Swim Team Parent Guide (PDF)

50 Mile Swim Challenge

November 1st - March 31st

Dive into fitness with our 50-Mile Swim Challenge! Whether you're looking to improve your stamina, track your progress, or just have fun, this challenge is perfect for swimmers of all levels.

How It Works:

Complete 50 miles between November 1st and March 31st.

Log your miles each time you swim. Sheet is at Front Desk or Lifeguard for pickup.
*must have lifeguard sign off each time

Reach the 50-mile goal by March 31st and earn an exclusive Challenge T-shirt!


Why Join?

Stay motivated over the winter months.

Improve your fitness and swimming skills.

Join a community of like-minded swimmers!

Sign Up Today! Register at the front desk or online to join the challenge. Let’s make a splash together!

Swim Lessons

The Y is the pioneer in swimming lessons and water safety.  YMCA Swim Lessons are designed to be developmentally appropriate and to quickly and efficiently teach skills and encourage students to develop a lifelong interest in aquatics. Swim Lessons at the Y are delivered in a student-centered, caring atmosphere with trained instructors who give personalized attention.

The YMCA of North Central WV offers Group Swim Lessons and Private Swim Lessons throughout the entire year in a climate-controlled indoor pool.

Please refer to the current session program guide for more information on our year-round swim lessons.

Parent/Child Class (Ages 6 months – 3 years)

The primary objective of this 30-minute class is to promote comfort and aquatic readiness. Parent/child pool interaction helps prepare children for swim lessons. The main goal is getting the child to feel comfortable and confident in and around the water.

Preschool Swim Lessons (Ages 3-5)

As the first experience in the pool without parental assistance, the child is taught basic skills that are the building blocks of swimming. They also learn about pool safety and the use of personal flotation devices. During this 45 minute class, participants are divided into skill levels to ensure appropriate instruction.

Youth Swim Lessons (Ages 6-12)

This class is based on a logical, multi-level progression that helps children of varying abilities develop their swimming and water safety skills.

Private Swim Lessons

These lessons are taught by specialized and caring YMCA swim instructors using the guidelines of the YMCA swim lesson program. Participants of ALL ages are taught based on their needs, abilities, circumstances, and goals. Call the Y to schedule an appointment with one of our instructors!

Lifeguard Certification

Any time of the year – whether swimming, boating, or going to a water park – everyone should know the basics of water safety. The YMCA of North Central WV, in collaboration with the American Red Cross, offers courses for lifeguard certification. The best part about taking a YMCA course is that while you are learning, you are also helping the YMCA’s mission to provide compassionate care to those in need.

You must be 15 by the time the class ends to enroll in lifeguarding certification.

What certifications do the courses include?

Certifications include Lifeguard, AED, CPR, and First Aid certifications.

What does the prerequisite test involve?

The prerequisite test for enrollment into Lifeguarding Class consists of successful completion of:

• 12 laps of the pool, freestyle or breaststroke

• 2 minutes treading water

• Swimming from the shallow end to the deep end of the pool, picking up a 10-pound weight, carrying that weight with both hands, while kicking, back to the shallow end of the pool, putting the weight on the side of the pool, and exiting the water in 1 minute and 45 seconds or less.

What does it cost?

For first-time certifications, the fee for the Lifeguard Course $265. Certifications are valid for two years. Re-certifications are $165.

How long are your courses?

This varies greatly depending on the availability of the course instructor. Some of the courses are “custom” and will work around your schedule; some are during the week and some are only on weekends. Regardless of how busy you are, however, we almost always have something that will fit into your schedule. Call the Y and ask to speak to the Aquatics Director for more information on course days and times.

Are you hiring for lifeguards after we’re certified?

We always accept employment applications for lifeguards.  For more details, please contact the Aquatics Director.