Anyone have recommendations for a great place to go for swim lessons in Wichita? My kids are 8,6, and 4. We've gone to the local swim pool where it was taught by teens, but wanted to see if anyone had recommendations other than that. Thanks!
The Wichita Swim Club is excellent. There are no more than 4 kids in a class. During the summer classes are Mon - Thurs. for two weeks for 30 minutes per class. Their phone number is ###-###-####. You can also sign up for classes online. I cannot remember the website, but if you Google Wichita Swim Club you will find it.
I think the YMCA is a great place to take swim lessons. They are very structured and do a good job. Good luck.
I have taken my kids to the City of Wichita Pools, recreation dept. as taught per the Red Cross standards. I wanted a place that was affordable but was serious about teaching a kid to swim. We have a cabin on a river, and I was always terrified one of them would fall in that river and be swept away, (rivers are QUITE different) so I need them to be really strong swimmers. We are west siders and took them to Harvest Pool. They did a great job, and I was able to get them all in at one timeslot. My boys are close to the same age, 8,7,and 5. Now the younger ones they may put in the tot class, but that is still a good starter. The lessons only cost $25 for 2 weeks, and I just put my kids in one 2 wk. session back to back so they got a month or so's worth of instruction. All other swim lessons I checked into were too pricey to put 3 kids in to, and after talking their daycare teachers, alot of the places just teach them to dog paddle and swish around. Since I needed strong swimming skills I stuck with the Red Cross standards. They are teenagers teaching it, but they are certified Red Cross instructors. Since it is public, first come, first serve enrollment, just show up at the pool at 1pm the day after Memorial day and get them enrolled. There will be a line.
Wichita Swim Club (WSC) is great. I took my daughter there when she was 3. They have only 4 kids in a class and usually 2 teachers so they get a lot of one-on-one time. They also have a separate pool that's kept warmer for the little ones. WSC is on east Douglas behind the Independent School (just east of Rock Rd).
If your kids are older, you can go to the YMCA. We've used the east and north Ys, so I don't know about the other locations, but personally I liked the north Y better than the east for my daughter's age (5-7) and both were fine for my son's Mommy & Me swim class (under 3). The class sizes are 6 to a class with 2 teachers, so not as much individual time as WSC, but it's fine for older kids (I would say 6 and up). You don't have to be a member of the Y to take swim lessons, they have tiered pricing for members and non-members.
I took our boys to the YMCA downtown Wichita years ago. You might call and see if lessons are still available. There are several branchs of YMCA around town now.
Good Luck have fun
K.
Check out the local YMCA's - they offer all levels of lessons and at so many different times during the week and weekend. If you are not a member of the Y - you can still sign up - just costs a bit more. They also offer private lessons which I would really recommend so that you get the one on one time - depending on the level that your children are. Good luck and have a great summer.
T.
