Brian Lee Crosby Memorial Learn to Swim Program at the Downtown Y and Rodger Young Pool

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Brian Lee Crosby Memorial Learn to Swim Program at the Downtown Y and Rodger Young Pool

Operated by the YMCA of Greater Erie, the Brian Lee Crosby Memorial Learn to Swim Program 2026 is sponsored by City of Erie & Housing Authority of the City of Erie

Swim lessons are free to City of Erie residents aged 6 months to 17 years old at the Downtown YMCA.  Classes meet 3 times a week on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings for 2 weeks.  Advanced registration is required.  Call the Downtown Y at (814) 452-3261 to register.

Parents or guardians are responsible for registration, attendance, and transportation needs.  Bathing suits are required.  Certified lifeguards are on duty.  Prior to the conclusion of each session, children will receive a certificate of achievement to celebrate the skills achieved and to identify the next stage in their continued progress.

Late registration will be accepted through Wednesday of the first week of the session if spots are still available.

Session 1 June 15-26          Registration:  June 8- June 17

Session 2 July 6 -17            Registration:  June 27- July 8

Session 3 July 20-31           Registration:  July 17- July 22

Session 4 Aug. 3-14            Registration: July 31- August 5

CHOOSING THE RIGHT STAGE Use the Lesson Selector to determine the appropriate stage for your child. View the Preschool Skill Continuum to see all skills and benchmarks for each stage.

Swim lessons will be offered throughout the summer at the Rodger Young Pool for those registered in the Rodger Young summer park program.  Lessons will be held on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 2:30pm-4:00pm.

2:30-3pm – Beginner

3-3:30pm – Intermediate

3:30p-4pm – Advanced

Additional registration is not required.  These classes are available in the afternoon to anyone registered in the summer park program.  Lessons will not be held June 29-July 3.


Stage 1/Preschool Water Acclimation

Downtown
7/6/26 - 7/17/26
VIEW

Students develop comfort with underwater exploration and learn to safely exit in the event of falling into a body of water. This stage lays the foundation that allows for a student’s future progress in swimming.

Strokes & endurance developed in this stage:

  • Front & back float, 10 seconds, assisted, recover independently
  • Front & back glide, assisted, to wall, 5 feet

Water safety & breath control skills developed in this stage:

  • Exit water independently
  • Roll front to back & back to front, assisted
  • Submerge, bob independently

Students in this stage are expected to gain the skills above and develop the ability to complete the 2 benchmark skills of jump, push, turn, grab assisted and the swim, float, swim sequence assisted for 10 feet.


Registration Information  

Open Close Register At MetroBranchNon-Member
Open Registration 6/8/26
@ 10:00 AM		 8/5/26 Front Desk $ 0.00$ 0.00$ 0.00

Available Sessions

Date(s) Spots
Available
07/06/26 - 07/17/26
Mo,We,Fr - 10:00 am - 30 mins
 - Session is Full

Stage 1/School Age Water Acclimation

Downtown
7/6/26 - 7/17/26
VIEW

Students develop comfort with underwater exploration and learn to safely exit in the event of falling into a body of water. This stage lays the foundation that allows for a student’s future progress in swimming.

Strokes & endurance developed in this stage:

  • Front & back float 10 seconds, assisted, recover independently
  • Front & back glide, assisted, to wall, 5 feet

Water safety & breath control skills developed in this stage:

  • Exit water independently
  • Roll front to back & back to front, assisted
  • Submerge, bob independently

Students in this stage are expected to gain the skills above and develop the ability to complete the 2 benchmark skills of jump, push, turn, grab assisted and the swim, float, swim sequence assisted for 10 feet.

 


Registration Information  

Open Close Register At MetroBranchNon-Member
6/26/26
@ 10:00 AM		 8/5/26 Online / Front Desk $ 0.00$ 0.00$ 0.00

Available Sessions

Date(s) Spots
Available
07/06/26 - 07/17/26
Mo,We,Fr - 9:00 am - 30 mins
 - Session is Full
07/06/26 - 07/17/26
Mo,We,Fr - 9:30 am - 30 mins
 1 / 6 Available Register  
Closes
07/08/2026

Stage 2/Preschool Water Movement

Downtown
7/6/26 - 7/17/26
VIEW

Students focus on body position and control, directional change, and forward movement in the water while also continuing to practice how to safely exit in the event of falling into a body of water.

Strokes & endurance developed in this stage:

  • Front & back float, 10 seconds
  • Front & back glide, 5 feet
  • Endurance to jump, push, turn, grab independently and complete the swim, float, swim sequence for 5 yards

Water safety & breath control skills developed in this stage:

  • Exit water independently
  • Roll front to back & back to front
  • Tread water, 10 seconds, near wall, exit
  • Submerge & look at an object on the bottom

Students in this stage are expected to have the skills needed to be proficient with the following and have the ability to complete the 2 benchmark skills of jump, push, turn, grab assisted and the swim, float, swim sequence assisted for 5 yards.

  • Front & back float, 10 seconds, assisted, recover independently
  • Front & back glide, assisted, at wall, 5 feet

Required water safety & breath control skills for this stage include:

  • Exit water independently
  • Roll front to back & back to front, assisted
  • Submerge, bob independently

 


Registration Information  

Open Close Register At MetroBranchNon-Member
6/8/26
@ 10:00 AM		 8/5/26 Online / Front Desk $ 0.00$ 0.00$ 0.00

Available Sessions

Date(s) Spots
Available
07/06/26 - 07/17/26
Mo,We,Fr - 10:00 am - 30 mins
 - Session is Full
07/06/26 - 07/17/26
Mo,We,Fr - 10:30 am - 30 mins
 1 / 4 Available Register  
Closes
07/08/2026

Stage 2/School Age Water Movement

Downtown
7/6/26 - 7/17/26
VIEW

Students develop comfort with underwater exploration and learn to safely exit in the event of falling into a body of water. This stage lays the foundation that allows for a student’s future progress in swimming.

Strokes & endurance developed in this stage:

  • Front & back float 10 seconds, assisted, recover independently
  • Front & back glide, assisted, to wall, 5 feet

Water safety & breath control skills developed in this stage:

  • Exit water independently
  • Roll front to back & back to front, assisted
  • Submerge, bob independently

Students in this stage are expected to gain the skills above and develop the ability to complete the 2 benchmark skills of jump, push, turn, grab assisted and the swim, float, swim sequence assisted for 10 feet.

 


Registration Information  

Open Close Register At MetroBranchNon-Member
6/26/26
@ 10:00 AM		 8/5/26 Online / Front Desk $ 0.00$ 0.00$ 0.00

Available Sessions

Date(s) Spots
Available
07/06/26 - 07/17/26
Mo,We,Fr - 9:00 am - 30 mins
 - Session is Full
07/06/26 - 07/17/26
Mo,We,Fr - 9:30 am - 30 mins
 1 / 6 Available Register  
Closes
07/08/2026

Stage 3/School Age Water Stamina

Downtown
7/6/26 - 7/17/26
VIEW

Students learn how to swim to safety from a longer distance than in previous stages in the event of falling into a body of water. This stage also introduces rhythmic breathing and integrated arm and leg action.

Strokes & endurance developed in this stage:

  • Swim on front & back using any arm & leg action, 15 yards
  • Endurance to jump, swim, turn, grab 10 yards and complete the swim, float, swim sequence 25 yards

Water safety & breath control skills developed in this stage:

  • Exit water independently
  • Roll front to back & back to front
  • Tread water, 1 minute, exit
  • Submerge & retrieve an object in chest deep water

Students in this stage are expected to have the skills needed to be proficient with the following and have the ability to complete the 2 benchmark skills of jump, push, turn, grab and the swim, float, swim sequence for 5 yards.

  • Front & back float, 20 seconds
  • Front & back glide, 10 feet

Required water safety & breath control skills for this stage include:

  • Exit water independently
  • Roll front to back & back to front
  • Tread water, 10 seconds, near wall, exit
  • Submerge & look at an object on the bottom

Registration Information  

Open Close Register At MetroBranchNon-Member
6/8/26
@ 10:00 AM		 8/5/26 Online / Front Desk $ 0.00$ 0.00$ 0.00

Available Sessions

Date(s) Spots
Available
07/06/26 - 07/17/26
Mo,We,Fr - 11:00 am - 30 mins
 - Session is Full

Stage 4/School Age Stroke Introduction

Downtown
7/6/26 - 8/17/26
VIEW

Students develop stroke technique in front crawl and back crawl and learn the breaststroke kick and butterfly kick. Water safety is reinforced through treading water and elementary backstroke.

Strokes & endurance developed in this stage:

  • Front crawl with rotary breathing, 15 yards
  • Back crawl with shoulder roll, 15 yards
  • Breaststroke kick, 15 yards
  • Butterfly kick, 15 yards
  • Endurance to swim 25 yards using any stroke or combination of strokes

Water safety skills developed in this stage:

  • Sitting dive
  • Elementary backstroke coordinating arm & leg action to obtain a resting back glide position, 15 yards
  • Tread water, 1 minute, using scissor & whip kick

Students in this stage are expected to have the skills needed to be proficient swimming 15 yards of the following and have endurance to complete the 2 benchmark skills of jump, swim, turn, swim and grab 10 yards and the swim, float, swim sequence for 25 yards.

  • Swim on front & back using any arm & leg action

Required water safety & breath control skills needed for this stage include:

  • Exit water independently
  • Roll front to back & back to front
  • Tread water, 1 minute
  • Submerge & retrieve an object in chest deep water

 


Registration Information  

Open Close Register At MetroBranchNon-Member
6/4/26 8/6/26 Online / Front Desk $ 0.00$ 0.00$ 0.00

Available Sessions

Date(s) Spots
Available
07/06/26 - 08/17/26
Mo,We,Fr - 11:00 am - 30 mins
 2 / 6 Available Register  
Closes
07/08/2026

Stage B/Water Exploration

Downtown
7/6/26 - 7/17/26
VIEW

Parents work with their children in the water to explore body positions, floating, blowing bubbles and fundamental safety and aquatic skills.

Strokes developed in this stage are all assisted by parent:

  • Front tow & float, blow bubbles
  • Back tow & float, head on chest

Water safety & breath control skills developed in this stage are all assisted by parent:

  • Water entry & exit
  • Roll front to back & back to front
  • Monkey crawl, on edge, 5 feet
  • Blow bubbles mouth & nose submerged

Registration Information  

Open Close Register At MetroBranchNon-Member
6/4/26
@ 10:00 AM		 8/6/26 Online / Front Desk $ 0.00$ 0.00$ 0.00

Available Sessions

Date(s) Spots
Available
07/06/26 - 07/17/26
Mo,We,Fr - 10:30 am - 30 mins
 3 / 5 Available Register  
Closes
07/08/2026