Swimming at HAC
For over 50 years, the HAC Swim School has offered a full range of water adjustment and swimming lessons for children 6 months old through adulthood. Swimming lessons build confidence and can reduce the chance of drowning by as much as 88% according to the CDC.
Group Lessons
Parent & Child (6 months – 4 years old)
Class Length: 30 min
Parent Involvement: A parent/guardian joins their child in the water.
Parent & Child 1
Babies and toddlers are introduced to the water in the arms of parents as instructors lead them through games, activities and skills that teach very basic water adjustment. This class is intended for 6 months to two years of age.
Parent & Child 2
Toddlers and pre-schoolers are introduced to the water in the arms of parents as instructors lead them through games, activities and skills that teach very basic water adjustment. This class is intended for 2 years to 4 years of age.
Preschool Aquatics (3 – 5 years old)
Class Length: 30 min.
Parent Involvement: Parents/guardians may watch lessons from our spectator areas and are not required to be in the pool area with their child.
Preschool 1
The American Red Cross Preschool level 1 program is designed to introduce swimmers to the water. Some of the main focuses in this class are learning how to float, blowing bubbles, how to move arms and legs in the water, and many more subjects. Children MUST be between the ages of 3-5 to be in this class.
Preschool 2
The American Red Cross Preschool level 2 program is designed to introduce swimmers to the water. Some of the main focuses in this class are learning how to float, blowing bubbles, how to move arms and legs in the water with more independence than in Preschool Aquatics 1. Children MUST be between the ages of 3-5 to be in this class.
Preschool 3
The American Red Cross Preschool level 3 program is designed to keep building on skills in the water. Some of the main focuses in this class is being able to float independently for a few seconds, glides, being able to move arms and legs in the water independently and swim 5 body lengths. Children MUST be between the ages of 3-5 to be in this class.
American Red Cross Learn to Swim: School Age (6 – 12 years old)
Class Length: 30 min.
Parent Involvement: Parents/guardians may watch lessons from our spectator areas and are not required to be in the pool area with their child.
Level 1
The American Red Cross Preschool level 3 program is designed to keep building on skills in the water. Some of the main focuses in this class is being able to float independently for a few seconds, glides, being able to move arms and legs in the water independently and swim 5 body lengths. Children MUST be between the ages of 3-5 to be in this class.
Level 2
The American Red Cross Learn to swim level 2: Beginner program is designed to have swimmers be more independent in the water while still learning the basics. Some of the main focuses in this class are learning how to float, blowing bubbles, how to move arms and legs in the water, and many more subjects. Children MUST be at least 5 years old to enroll in levels 1-5.
Level 3
The American Red Cross Learn to swim level 3: Intermediate program is designed to have students work on stroke development. This includes working on front crawl, elementary backstroke, as well as several types of kicking (flutter, scissors, breaststroke, and dolphin). Children MUST be at least 5 years old to enroll in levels 1-5.
Level 4
The American Red Cross Learn to swim level 4: Intermediate program is designed to have students work on stroke development. This includes learning and working on front crawl, elementary backstroke, breaststroke, back crawl, butterfly, and sidestroke as well as other skills. Children MUST be at least 5 years old to enroll in levels 1-5.
Level 5
The American Red Cross Learn to swim level 4: Intermediate program is designed to have students work on stroke development. This includes learning and working on front crawl, elementary backstroke, breaststroke, back crawl, butterfly, and sidestroke as well as other skills. Children MUST be at least 5 years old to enroll in levels 1-5.
Level 6
The American Red Cross Learn to swim level 6: Advanced program is designed to have students work on stroke development and endurance. This includes front crawl, elementary backstroke, breaststroke, back crawl, butterfly, sidestroke, and flip turns. Children MUST be at least 5 years old to enroll in levels 1-6.
Macatawa Precompetitive Group (7 – 12 years old)
In six-week sessions, swimmers practice three days a week – Monday, Tuesday and Thursday early evenings.
Macatawa 1
Macatawa Swimmers offers school age students a first experience with the swimming team environment! Swimmers will focus on developing excellent stroke technique, swimming endurance and learn competitive swimming skills like starts and turns. Additionally, swimmers will gain experience practicing in a team setting with an emphasis on teamwork, encouragement, goal setting and great practice habits. Every session will finish with an opportunity to “compete” in an intrasquad meet during the last week of the session. Level 1 is intended for those swimmers who have passed all exit skills in ARC level 4 (see above). To enroll in this program, swimmers must be age 7-12.
Macatawa 2
Level 2 is intended for those swimmers who are over 10 years of age, or receive a coach’s recommendation. Stroke technique and endurance continue to be developed in Macatawa 2.
Adult and Teen Beginner Lessons
CLASS LENGTH: 30 minutes
Adult Beginner Lessons
This course aims to develop the foundation of swimming and comfort in the water for adults. Elements of the class include, floating, breathing and body position. The goal of the course is to develop a functional beginner front stroke and backstroke. Swimmers must be 18 or older to enroll in this course.
Teen Beginner Lessons
This class is designed with the same aspects of our adult beginner course, and is intended for swimmers age 13-17.
Private & Specialty Lessons
Private lessons are a convenient and efficient way to achieve your goals in the water. Lessons are scheduled at your convenience with one of our Swim School insutrctors. Whether you are learning to swim for the first time or are a seasoned swimmer looking to improve your technique, we can help!
You may begin with one lesson or a package of 10 lessons. All lesson scheduling and payments are conducted online.
Local Holland Schools
Through partnerships with local schools and support from our community, HAC provides free swim lessons for children in grades K-5. Students come to the Aquatic Center during their school day and receive 2 weeks of swim lessons each school year.
Watch our welcome video to learn more about what to expect for your child’s swim school.