YMCAs have been teaching people to swim for more than a century.
In YMCA aquatic programs, children learn to be safe around water and they feel the sense of accomplishment that comes with learning something new. Children can develop lifelong skills that can help them stay healthy.
Somerset-Lake Cumberland YMCA aquatic programs include parent-child classes, preschool classes, youth classes, swim teams, Masters Swim, and Discover Diving.
Swim Lessons
Lessons are open to everyone. Member fee $26 and Non-members $36
Preschool Swim Lessons (6 months – 5 years)
Parent/Child (6mos - 3yrs)
Saturdays 1:00-1:30 p.m.
The primary objective of this level is to get both the parent and the child comfortable in the water. Classes are designed to allow the child to have fun while the parent urges him or her to learn basic skills and have fun playing with toys and flotation devices. The child will be exposed to games that use basic movements in the water, such as kicking, arm strokes, and breath control.
Pike (Beginner Ages 3-5)
Saturdays 10:00-10:30 a.m.
Pike is designed for new swimmers and teaches basic paddle, stroke, kicking skills, pool safety, and comfort with holding face in water while blowing bubbles and swimming.
Eel (Advanced Beginner Ages 3-5)
Saturdays 10:45-11:15 a.m.
Eel is an advanced beginner level class that reinforces Pike skills. Children are taught to kick, dive, float, and perform the progressive paddle stroke. Children will be able to swim across the pool without assistance by the completion of this level.
Rays (Intermediate Ages 3-5)Rays swimmers, will review previous skills, learn more personal safety and rescue skills, build endurance by swimming on front and back, and learn to tread water and perform more progressive diving skills. They will be able to swim across the pool on their front, and back unassisted.
Youth Swim Lessons (Ages 6 years & up)
Polliwogs (Beginner)Saturdays 11:30-12:00Polliwogs become acquainted with the pool, use of flotation devices and floating. Children will learn to paddle 25 yards with a float and 20 feet on their front, back, and side without a float. They should feel comfortable in deep water.
Guppies (Advanced Beginner)
Saturdays 12:15-12:45 p.m.Guppies will perform more skills without the aid of flotation devices. They are introduced to front and back crawl, sidestroke, breaststroke, and elementary backstroke as well as some diving skills. Children will swim a length of the pool without assistance at the completion of this level.
Minnow (Intermediate)
Minnows will learn skills more like those normally used in swimming. Swimmers learn more swimming, diving, personal safety, and rescue skills.
Fish (Intermediate)
Children will work to perform the crawl stroke, elementary backstroke, back crawl stroke, and sidestroke, all with turns. Introduced to the butterfly stroke and the use of mask and fins.
Flying Fish (Advanced)
Children will work on improving what they learned as fish. 
Lifeguard Certification Course
Member fee $135 Non-member fee $150
This course is designed to train and prepare individuals for the responsibilities of lifeguarding. The American Red Cross LIFEGUARD CERTIFICATION course is a comprehensive program covering a wide range of skills and topics such as: safety and survival techniques, accident prevention, guarding techniques, emergency systems, rescue skills, first aid in aquatic environments, spinal injury management, weather and open water dangers, legal responsibilities, pool management and tips on seeking a job in aquatics. The Somerset- Lake Cumberland YMCA program provides lifeguards with skills and knowledge necessary to keep patrons of aquatic facilities safe in and around the water. Participants must be at least 15 years of age and must pass a preliminary swim test. Book and CPR mask are provided.
Certification includes:
American Red Cross Lifeguard
AED Training
Red Cross Lifeguard
Red Cross CPR-PR
Red Cross First Aid
Red Cross Preventing Disease Transmission
Participation is required at all sessions and successful completion of written and water tests to be certified.
CPR & AED for the Professional Rescuer
Fee required. Class limited to 16 participants.
YMCA Swim Team
The YMCA Swim Team is for youth 6 to 18 who are interested in competitive swimming. The Swim Team is committed to offering a quality swim team with emphasis on teaching the value of competition through teamwork, sportsmanship and doing one's personal best. The program strives to offer a well-rounded, value-centered program for every member from the youngest and newest member to our veteran senior swimmer. The Swim Team teaches proper stroke technique, promotes self-esteem, self-discipline and good sportsmanship in order to provide the opportunity for all participants to set and attain goals for all levels of swim both individually and as a team member.