Learn To Swim

Knowing how to swim is a valuable skill that can improve your health and fitness, and even help save your life. To make sure that New Yorkers stay safe in and near the water, we’re offering free swimming lessons at our City’s recreation centers. Register for our NYC Parks Learn to Swim lottery and sign up today!

Who Can Learn to Swim?

Anyone can learn to swim! Our swim classes are offered for tots (ages 1 ½ to 5), children (ages 6-17), adults, and seniors (ages 62 and over).

What Will I Learn?

We’ll teach a variety of skills based upon your age and skill level!

• Tots may become familiar with the water and comfortable floating or holding their breath.
• Adults and seniors will learn basic swimming and safety skills, such as breath control, floating, arm strokes, and more.
• We offer children a variety of classes, from basic swimming skills to more advanced techniques.

Check the schedule below for more details about each program and to find a class that’s right for you.

More Free Swim Programs

Don’t forget to check out our other swim programs, including our swim program for people with disabilities, our water exercise classes for adults and seniors, and our swim team for advanced youth swimmers.

How to Sign Up

We want every New Yorker to have a chance to learn how to swim. To make sure that we are being fair to all our members, registration for this popular program takes place by lottery. Here’s what you need to know.

• Choose Only One Class. You can register for one class per person. Do not register more than once. It will not increase your chances of being selected.
• Register Every Child Separately. If you have more than one child interested in Learn to Swim classes, make sure to register each child.
• Do Not Transfer Your Application. Lottery selections cannot be transferred. If you or your child has won a spot, you cannot give this spot to another person, even if it's another family member.

Do you need help entering the lottery? Check our Managing Your Account page to learn how to create an account—or visit your nearest recreation center to be assisted by our front desk!

If You’re Selected

• Register Within Three Days. If you or your child are selected in the online lottery you have 3 days once the lottery is closed to confirm your slot.
• Children Must Attend the Water Test. Children selected for Saturday classes must attend a mandatory water test before the first day of class. If a child misses the mandatory water test and the first day of class, they will be dropped from the session and replaced with someone from the waitlist.
• Do Not Miss Two Classes in a Row. Any swimmer who misses two classes in a row will be dropped from the class and replaced with someone from the waitlist.

If You’re Not Selected

• Join the Waiting List. If you or your children are not selected in the online lottery and have not received an email confirmation, you will be placed on a waiting list. We are not able to tell you about your current place on the waiting list.
• Apply Again! If you aren’t selected, we encourage you to apply again for a future session! This program is very popular, and we want everyone to have the chance to learn to swim.

Registration and Program Dates

During the year, there are three separate swim sessions: Fall, Winter, and Spring. You may enter the lottery once per session.

Learn to Swim classes are also held at our outdoor pools during the summer.

Registration Dates

You must enter the lottery between the following dates for a chance to be selected:

• Fall Lottery Registration Dates: Monday, September 23 – Monday, October 7
• Saturday Children Learn to Swim Mandatory Water Test: October 19, 2024, at 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
• Walk in Registration: Saturday, October 19 from 9am - 12pm. 
• Swimmers can walk into a center on this day to add their name to the wait list. 
• If space is available in the class participants can be selected from the walk-in wait list. 
• Once swimmers are dropped after missing two consecutive classes we pull participants from the online waitlist, once the online waitlist is exhausted, we will call people from the walk in. 

The Flushing Meadows Corona Park Aquatics Center offers unique programs and dates. Check the information below for details.

• Flushing Meadows Pool Children Learn to Swim Mandatory Water Test: October 15 – October 17, and October 19 from 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. And Saturday, October 19 from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Cost

Our Learn to Swim classes are FREE with a recreation center membership! All Learn to Swim participants, including children, adults, and the parents of tots, must be members of a recreation center. 

Learn more about becoming a recreation center member.