Learn to Swim This Summer at New York State Parks

Being able to swim is an important skill, not only does it open up a world of recreation for your children, it could also help save their life. If you've been wanting your children to learn to swim, there are upcoming classes at various New York State Parks this summer to help with that.

The classes are presented by the New York State Department of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation and will run from July through August with classes designed for varying age groups.

For the very young, there will be the IPAP Parent and Child Aquatics and is recommended for those age 6 months to 2 years. The course will have both the parent and child in the water with an instructor, helping the parent teach the child, with lessons lasting an average of twenty minutes.

The stage 2 course is for those 2-4 years of age and will have one instructor with 1 to 2 children without parents in the water, if the child is comfortable without a parent. These
lessons will last approximately twenty minutes.

Levels 1-6 are the courses for those children ages 4 and older and will have one instructor with 5 to 15 children as they go through the American Red Cross levels. These lessons are 30 minutes in length.

These courses will be held at various parks throughout the state, and you can get the complete schedule here.