Swim, Sports & Play
The Casco Bay Branch offers family-friendly group exercise classes, encouraging a healthy lifestyle from an early age.
Children ages 8 to 12 are welcome in family-friendly classes as long as they are accompanied by an adult. Children ages 12 to 14 are welcome to attend any class with an adult. Children over age 14 can participate in all group exercise classes unsupervised. Check the group exercise schedule for family-friendly group fitness class times.
Youth Swim Lessons
Date: Winter II February 18 - April 14
Days: Monday – Thursday, Saturday
Times: Times vary and multiple classes are offered.
Registration for Winter I classes opens Monday, December 12.
Please click here for a complete list of Fall II session youth swim
lessons at the Casco Bay branch, or check with any branch for
a complete list of times
Ages: 6 months – 14 years
Fees: Free with Family Membership; Youth Members: $57;
For Members
Pre-Registration Required
Registration Category: Swim Lessons-Youth
Register on-line Now!
At the Cumberland County YMCA our goal is to reach out to all members of our community to provide lessons to as many people as possible. With large and small pool options, we provide a safe, comfortable place for children to experience the water, from the first time out of the tub through eight progressive levels. Our well trained instructors teach personal safety tips, swim strokes, and enrich lessons with character-building activities and values. We offer lessons in both the large and small pools at the Casco Bay and Greater Portland branches, and the warm water instruction pool at the Pineland Branch specializes in beginner to intermediate swims (through the Guppy level). Please review level requirements prior to registering. Swim lessons are subject to change based on enrollment levels. Please review the swim lessons handbook prior to registering.
Preschool and Youth Swim Level Requirements:
Infants - 5 Year Olds
Shrimp/Kipper: (Formerly Parent/Tot) Ages 6 months to 2 years with Parent. This class is an introductory class for those children just starting out, with parents in the pool with them. It introduces children to the water through songs and games.
Inia/Perch: (Formerly Pike with Parent) Ages 2 yrs to 3 yrs with Parent. This class is an introductory class for those children who are just starting out and need a parent in the water with them. This class helps get children comfortable and more independent in the water. Buoyancy belts are used along with skills and songs.
Pike: Ages 3 ½ to 5. This is a non-swimmer or a child who does not like to get their face wet. Buoyancy belts are used.
Eel: Ages 3 ½ to 5. This child must be able to get their face wet and paddle halfway across the pool. We are working off flotation devices and the child should show confidence with out the belt for a short period of time.
Ages 4 - 6
Rays: Ages 4 to 6, For children who are swimming without buoyancy belts. They can put their whole face under and are ready to learn more skills; like diving, front crawl arms, back crawl, Tickle-T-Slap, etc.
Starfish: Ages 4 to 6. For children who can swim 25yds on their front and back. They will start learning the breathing with the front crawl, the whip kick for the Elementary backstroke along with Tickle-T-Slap. In addition, they will also be able to tread water, do the survival float, etc.
Ages 7 and Up
Polliwogs: Ages 7 and up. For the older child who has never had lessons, may be hesitant to get their face wet, or who is still doggy paddling. Focus on water adjustment, beginner’s strokes, floating, etc.
Guppy: Ages 7 and up. This child has gone through Pike-Starfish and/or Polliwogs. They are ready to go into the deeper water and work on the front crawl, backstroke, elementary backstroke, breast stroke, and endurance at a much higher level. Basic sidestroke will be introduced.
Minnow: Ages 7 and up. This child is ready to start doing laps and really working on perfecting their strokes with the front crawl, backstroke, elementary backstroke, breast stroke, and sidestroke. All of these will go for a longer distance than the previous class. They will also learn safety skills like, jumping in the water with a life jacket on, the H.E.L.P. position and the Huddle position.
Fish: Ages 8 and up. This child will start learning Sculling, feet first surface dives, and open turns on front and back. They will be able to tread water and float more. Demonstrate how to treat leg cramps and learn basic first aid for cuts. The butterfly stroke will be introduced.
Flying Fish: Ages 8 and up. This child is starting to work on numerous yards for all the strokes; front crawl, backstroke, elementaryd backstroke, breast stroke, and sidestroke. Flip turns, open speed turns with glides, pullouts for breaststroke turns, along with the approach stroke and more on the butterfly. Students will learn Pike and Tuck surface dives along with safety issues like the throwing rescue.
Sharks: Ages 8 and up. This class is for those students who have successfully passed Flying Fish and are ready to increase their skill level by learning about swimming in open water, learn how to take your pulse and swim within that range. Work on crawl strokes with flip turns, breaststrokes w/pull out, trudgen crawl, swim an IM 200 yards, and learn how to use pace clocks. You will also learn more about lifeguarding skills and about ice safety and ice rescue.
Developmental Swim Team
Registration Category: Competitive Swimming & Sports
Date: Winter II February 18 - April 14 Ages: 7 and up
Fee: $65
Schedule: To Be Announced
Membership Required
Pre-Registration Required
Do you like to swim but are a little unsure about competition? Would you like to improve your swimming skills and learn more about the competitive rules without competing? This could be the thing for you.
Casco Bay Swim Team
Registration Category: Competitive Swimming & Sports
Date: Sept 26, 2011 - March 2012
Ages: 7—21
Fee: 8 & under: $325; 9 & above: $433
Schedule: Practice Schedules Vary
Coach: Dan St Pierre
Teamwork, character development, and hard work ethic are just a few of the values we strive for while working on swimming skill improvement and enjoy our competitive swim meets. Build friendships with other swim team members and compete with other YMCA's.
Children's Yoga
Registration Category: Youth Exercise
Date: Winter II February 18 - April 14
Ages: 3-5 years
Fee: Family Memberships: $17; Youth Members: $49; Non-Members: $99
Schedule: Th 9:15 - 10:00 am and 10:30 - 11:15 am
Instructor: Terry Walker Brown
Pre-Registration Required
In Children's Yoga, kids will have the opportunity to exercise while learning and having fun. Classes will focus on stretching, yoga postures and focused quiet time. Each class includes an interactive story where children use yoga and their imagination to become part of the story! Children will develop skills in balance, strength, focus and listening in this relaxed, fun class.
Kids Tumbling
Registration Category: Youth Exercise
Date: Winter II February 18 - April 14
Fee: Family Memberships: $17; Youth Members: $49; Non-Members: $99
Instructor: Tess Ulrey
Ages: 3-5 years
Schedule: Tu: 11:45 am - 12:30 pm
Tu: 12:45 – 1:30 pm
Sa: 4:00 – 4:45 pm
Pre-Registration Required
This class is designed to teach coordination, physical awareness and creative motor skills. Basic gymnastic movements and inventive problem solving exercises await your lil' gymnasts! Kid's Tumbling is an energetic and fun class for your little one.
Introduction to Dance
Registration Category: Youth Exercise
Date: Winter II February 18 - April 14 Fee: Family Memberships: $17; Youth Members: $49; Non-Members: $99
Ages:3-9 years
Instructor: Tess Ulrey
Schedule: Tu: 1:45- 2:30 pm (ages 3-5)
Sa: 2:00 – 2:45 pm (ages 3-4)
Sa: 3:00 – 3:45 pm (ages 5-6)
Sa: 5:00 – 5:45 pm (ages 7-9)
Ages:3-9 years
Pre-Registration Required
Introducing ballet, tap, and jazz dance to our little ones. We'll be teaching dance vocabulary, coordination skills, collective movement and more! Learn the fundamentals of this trio of dance genres from our qualified and experienced dance instructor. Dance helps improve coordination, encourages creativity, and helps children learn how to work in a group. Class for 6 to 9 year olds will build upon the basics of dance that have already been taught, but beginners are welcome also!
Zumbatomictm
Registration Category: Youth Exercise
Date: TBD
Fee: Family Members: $17; Members: $49; Non-Members: $99
Ages: 4 - 7 years
Schedule: M: 3:30 - 4:15 pm
Membership Required
Pre-Registration Required
Join our certified Zumbatomictm instructors in a class that encourages kids to exercise through learning Latin dance. It's a great way to show kids, and parents, that exercise can be fun while learning healthy habits.
Middle School Jazz/Hip Hop
Registration Category: Youth Exercise
Date: Winter II February 18 - April 14
Fee: Family Memberships: $17; Youth Members: $49; Non-Members: $99
Ages: 10 - 14 years
Instructor: Tess Ulrey
Schedule: Tu: 3:15 - 4:00 pm
Pre-Registration Required
Especially for middle schoolers, this exciting class explores Jazz and Hip Hop Dance. Jump, twist, bounce and turn to music from this generation and some old-school beats too. From high kicks to break dancing this is 45 minutes of guaranteed fun in an age-appropriate setting. Freeport and Yarmouth busses make a stop at the Y, for participants who are interested in coming directly from school.