Free Swim Lessons for Children & Adults
APPLY FOR SWIM LESSON SCHOLARSHIPS
Florida Drowning Prevention Foundation
Provides scholarships to provide FREE swim lessons to all age groups in Florida. To apply for a swim scholarship, please visit their website to apply at the following link: Swim Scholarships – Florida Drowning Prevention Foundation. Call (239) 919-2001 for more information.
Goldfish Swim School (Bonita Springs)
Offers "Every Child's a Swimmer" scholarships for children. Families must meet financial criteria.
12600 Trade Center Dr., Bonita Springs, FL 34135 | (239) 312-5612 goldfishswimschool.com/bonita-springs
YMCA of Collier County
Families enrolled in Sunshine Health Insurance receive free lessons as part of their benefits package. To enroll bring your insurance ID card to the YMCA for verification in their portal.
5450 YMCA Road, Naples, FL 34109 | (239) 394-9622 YMCACollier.org
Free Inclusive Water Safety & Swim Lessons
Families with children with special needs can access free swim lessons through the Coalition's SWIM Central program funded by the Naples Children Foundation.
Lessons can be scheduled by contacting on of our providers.
- City of Naples - River Park Aquatic Center (239) 213-3040
- Collier County Parks & Recreation - Big Corkscrew Island Regional Park (239) 252-4905
- Collier County Parks & Recreation - Sun-N-Fun Lagoon (239) 252-4072
Private | Semi Private | Group Lessons
Private, semi-private and small group swimming lessons:
Tenley’s Aquatics, Inc. 305-814-7946
SafeSplash Swim School – 239-260-4926
Essential Swim Lessons – 239-465-8602
SWIM Tutors USA – 941-564-5140
The Neighborhood Mermaid – 786-897-0397
Standards for Water SMART Baby Lessons
STANDARDS FOR WATER SMART BABY LESSONS
All standards are based on current research and best practices by the National Drowning Prevention Alliance (NDPA)
State Permitted Facility
- The pools must be permitted by local government agency that oversees aquatic facilities.
- The pool, deck, bathrooms, changing rooms must be clean and sanitary.
- Babies need warm water to have a successful experience. The water temperature of 87*- 93*F is recommended.
- It is suggested that wet suits be used for temperatures lower than 90*.
- All babies must wear an approved, snug fitting swim diaper in the pool.
Small Class Ratio
- There should be a 1 to 6 instructor/child ratio with a parent or caregiver holding the child and participating in the lesson.
Credentialed Instructors
- Instructors must have a national swimming certification and a basic course in infant water safety.
- They should be certified in CPR and First Aid for the professional rescuer.
- Background checks should be required for every instructor & staff member at an aquatic facility.
Nurturing Instructional Style
- A good program builds upon a child’s successes.
- Instruction style should always be nurturing, positive and supportive.
- Instructors should be patient, gentle and enthusiastic to be successful.
Water Safety Curriculum
- Water safety skills should be taught.
- The lesson plans should be ordered in a step-by-step plan of development where one skill is built upon another in proper order. The skills should be practiced until they are mastered.
- The parent should know exactly what is expected of the child in each level of the program.
