Everybody should learn to swim.
Swimming is not an instinctive skill for humans.
All adults and children should learn to swim.
Greater Naples YMCA
5450 YMCA Road, Naples, 239-597-3148 www.ymcapalms.org (Ages 6 months +)
Financial Assistance – Greater Naples YMCA
Greater Marco Family YMCA
101 Sand Hill St, Marco Island, 239-394-3144 www.marcoislandymca.org (Ages 6 months +)
Financial Assistance – Greater Marco Family YMCA
Sun-N-Fun Lagoon
15000 Livingston Rd, (239) 252-4021 www.collierparks.com (Ages 6 months +)
Financial Assistance – Collier County Parks & Recreation
Golden Gate Aquatic Facility
3300 Santa Barbara Blvd, (239) 252-6128 www.collierparks.com (Ages 6 months +)
Financial Assistance – Collier County Parks & Recreation
Immokalee Sports Complex
505 Escambia St., Immokalee, (239) 657-1951 www.collierparks.com (Ages 5 years +)
Financial Assistance – Collier County Parks & Recreation
City of Naples – River Park Aquatic Center
451 11th Street North, Naples, 239-213-3037 www.naplesgov.com (Ages 3 years +)
Financial Assistance – City of Napless
South County Family YMCA
27200 Kent Rd, Bonita Beach, 239-221-7560 www.southcountyfamilyymca.org (Ages 6 months +)
Swimtastic Swim School (Located Inside LA Fitness)
871 Vanderbilt Beach Road Naples, FL 34108 – 239-260-4926
American Red Cross Collier County Chapter
239-596-6868 www.colliercountyredcross.org (Ages 6 months +)
The American Red Cross offers a comprehensive and developmentally appropriate swim program that teaches you, your child or other family members how to swim skillfully and safely. The prerequisite for each level is the successful demonstration of skills from the preceding level, except for Level 1, which has no prerequisites. Each level also includes lessons in water safety. For more information please download the American Red Cross Swimming and Water Safety brochure.
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.