2026 Highlands Swim School

If the swim school group you want is listed below as full, please email Gillian Russell ([email protected]) to be added to the waitlist. We are working to add more lesson groups and times.

Swim School is a learn-to-swim program / pre-team program for Highlands members led by the club's Developmental Swim Director, Kelli Morris Larkin, and coached by our own Highlands swim team coaches. Our core program is the popular 5-Week Morning Swim School run in June and July. We will also offer limited afternoon and evening options in June and July. Details below!

Ages: 3 - 10 years

Swim Level: Any swim level (including beginner swimmers).  Scroll down for descriptions of beginner, intermediate, and advanced groups. 

SESSION OPTIONS:

Pre-Season Afternoon Swim School 

BEGINNER CLASSES (TUESDAY / WEDNESDAY AFTERNOONS). Full - Please email Gillian ([email protected]) to be added to the list for potential new classes / times.

• Ages: 3 - 8 years
• Swim Level: Beginner
• Dates: Tuesdays & Wednesdays from June 1 - June 17
• Time: 4:35 - 5:05pm

Fee: $112 plus $3/swimmer SwimTopia fee

INTERMEDIATE CLASSES (TUESDAY / WEDNESDAY EVENINGS)

• Ages: 4 - 10 years
• Swim Level: Intermediate
• Dates: Tues & Wed from June 1 - June 17
• Time: 7:05 - 7:35pm

Fee: $112 plus $3/swimmer SwimTopia fee

ADVANCED CLASSES (MONDAY, FRIDAY, SATURDAY)

• Ages: 4 - 10 years
• Swim Level: Advanced
• Dates: Monday / Fridays (May 29, June 1, 5, 8, 12) and Saturday May 30 and June 6
• Time: 5:25 - 5:55 on Mondays & Fridays, 9:00 - 9:30am on Saturdays

Fee: $127 plus $3/swimmer SwimTopia fee

Regular Season 5-Week MORNING SWIM SCHOOL: June 22 - July 23

*Morning Swim School is our Core Swim School Program. We encourage all swimmers to sign up for the Morning Swim School if scheduling allows as it provides the most consistent, daily lessons for the most progress during the season.

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday

4 mornings a week for 5 weeks

*No swim school on July 15

• Session 1: 7:45am - 8:15am (The 7:45am time slot is full for beginner and intermediate. Please email [email protected] if 7:45am is the only morning time you can do). 
• Session 2: 8:20 - 8:50am
• Session 3: 8:55 - 9:25am

• Potential Session 4 & 5: 9:30 - 10am or 10am - 10:30am. Please email [email protected] if interested in this mid-morning class.

Fee $340 + $3 SwimTopia fee

Regular Season 5-Week EVENING SWIM SCHOOL: June 23 - July 23

Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday - 5 Week Program

2-3 evenings a week for 5 weeks

• Session 1: 6:40 - 7:10pm Full for Beginner and Intermediate. Spots remaining in Advanced. Email [email protected] to be added to the list for potential new classes / times.
• Session 2: 7:15 - 7:45pm. 

*No swim school on July 8 or July 15

Fee: $230 + $3 Swimtopia fee

Group Assignments: At the time of registration for regular season morning or evening swim school, families will receive a link to a Google form in their registration confirmation email. Families should promptly complete the Google form to indicate their first and second choice session and their swimmer's current swim level. Coaches will assign swimmers to an initial group and time based on the swimmer's level as indicated in the preference form. Coaches will ask each swimmer to perform certain skills on the first day of class to ensure their proper placement in the class – if any changes are needed we will discuss them with the parent and we work to find the proper class level for the swimmer. It is our goal to have children with similar swimming skills in the same class, although they may not necessarily be the same age. While coaches will do their best to consider each family's preference on time, we cannot guarantee a specific time slot. If swimmers are ready to advance to the next level during the session (e.g., a higher level group within Swim School or to Swim Team), coaches will make that recommendation.

Coach to Swimmer Ratio: Maximum of 4 swimmers per coach depending on level.

Other criteria: Highlands members only. Swimmers must be able to separate from their parent easily and handle being in the water for a 30-minute lesson.

Note on weather: Class will be canceled if the pool closes due to thunder and lightning. Unfortunately, we do not have the ability to run makeup sessions. Historically, the evening sessions have more issues with weather. Morning swim school is rarely interrupted by weather.

How to register: Spaces are limited so please register early. Scroll down for the link or click on the black "Register" button on the home page. Registration opens Sunday, February 22 at 8am. 

Group Descriptions

Beginner Classes:

Junior 1

Ages 3-4 years old

Requires no prior swim instruction but children must be willing to participate without a parent. The instructors focus on safety skills, building confidence in the water, and water acclimation. Instructors will introduce basic swimming skills, work with students to gain independence on their front and back and teach the beginning of freestyle and backstroke.

Beginner 1

Ages 5-8 years old

For children with little to no experience in the water. The goal of this class is to gain confidence and comfort in the water. The class will focus on water exploration, introduce water safety, basic swimming skills, breath control and the basics of freestyle and backstroke.

Intermediate Classes:

Intermediate 1

Ages 4 - 10 years old

Class for swimmers who are comfortable in the water and will consistently demonstrate independence on their front and back. The class will focus on safety skills, breath control and the fundamentals of freestyle and backstroke. Students will work on swimming freestyle for extended distances with proper balance and breath control.

Advanced Classes:

Advanced:

Ages 4 - 10 years old

Class for swimmers able to swim half a length of freestyle and float comfortably on their back. Students will work on improving technique and swimming longer distances. Swimmers will work towards swimming freestyle and backstroke for 25 yards, and be introduced to butterfly and breaststroke kicks. This is a good option for swimmers who are not quite ready for the Swim Team WHOMPERS group. At the decision of our coaches, swimmers who progress to meet the Swim Team WHOMPERS criteria may move up to join WHOMPERS at any point in the season.

**

Registration opens Sunday, February 22 at 8am - HERE.

Questions about Swim School or need help setting up your Swimtopia account? Email Gillian Russell at [email protected].