Learn to swim, kick, turn, and flip! Whether you’re looking to become a recreational lap swimmer or the next Michael Phelps, you’ll gain essential skills in our private and group lessons. Our instructors will help you develop your technique, endurance, and confidence in the pool. Private and group lessons are available to students and All-Access Members.
Questions? Reach out to us at lessons@recwell.wisc.edu.
Swim Lessons
We are now offering in-person private and group swim lessons at the Nicholas Recreation Center.
Learn MorePRIVATE LESSONS
Private lessons are built for swimmers looking for individualized attention and direction. Designed with the swimmer’s individual goals in mind, each package includes three 30-minute lessons.
$70/package
Note: We do not currently have any shallow water in the pool; the depth is between 8-9 feet and you will not be able to touch the bottom. We do have swim aids and flotation devices to help you feel confident in deep water.
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Prerequisites:
- All fitness levels are welcome
Class components:
- Focus on the specific skills and techniques that will improve your swimming experience, regardless of your current ability
SWIM CLINICS
Swim clinics are free, single day instructional programs focused on specific swimming skills and techniques. Clinics are perfect for any swimmer looking to improve their swimming experience or build new skills.
GROUP LESSONS
Level 1
At the beginner level, you’ll be introduced to the basics of swimming and become comfortable in the water. With the help of an instructor, you’ll learn to float and glide, and swim freestyle and backstroke.
$70
Currently unavailable. We do not have any shallow water in the pool as we are waiting to install a movable floor, which is delayed due to COVID-19. Once the floor is installed, we will offer beginner group lessons again.
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Designed for:
- Swimmers with little or no swimming experience
Prerequisites:
- No experience required
Class components:
- Safe water entry and exit
- Basic breath control
- Body balance (float on your front and back)
- Glide on front and back
- Flutter kicking with a kickboard
- Introduction to front crawl (freestyle) and back crawl (backstroke)
Level 2
At this level, you’ll expand your knowledge of what you learned in Level 1, further developing your freestyle technique and endurance while learning new skills. Increasing endurance, gaining confidence in deep water, and open turns are all skills that you’ll learn at this level.
$70
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Designed for:
- Swimmers who can comfortably swim freestyle independently in shallow water
- Swimmers who are comfortable in shallow water and have been introduced to deep water
Prerequisites:
- All skills from level 1 or, the ability to:
- Float for 30 seconds on front and back
- Swim independently for 15 yards
- Demonstrate freestyle stroke technique
Class components:
- Improve technique and increase endurance for freestyle and backstroke
- Rotary breathing
- Open turns
- Treading water and deep water safety
- Introduction to breaststroke kick
Level 3
At our highest level of group lessons, you’ll begin learning advanced strokes and lap swimming skills, including butterfly, sidestroke, streamline positioning, and flip turns. Upon completion of this level, you’ll be ready to move into our Swim for Fitness program, lap swim on your own, or work with one of our instructors in private lessons.
$70
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Designed for:
- Swimmers who have experience swimming freestyle, backstroke, and have been introduced to breaststroke
- Swimmers who are comfortable swimming in deep water
- Swimmers who are comfortable swimming the length of the pool
Prerequisites:
- All skills from level 2 or, the ability to:
- Float on back for one minute in deep water
- Swim at least 25 yards of front crawl and back crawl
Class Components:
- Streamline positioning
- Flip turns
- Improve breaststroke technique
- Introduce butterfly and sidestroke
SWIM FOR FITNESS
In this program, you’ll build speed and endurance while gaining skills to be an expert lap swimmer. After this program, you’ll know how to navigate open rec lap swimming and create workouts for yourself.
$70
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Designed for:
- Experienced swimmers who are comfortable in any water depth
- Swimmers interested in refining their stroke techniques
- Swimmers interested in improving endurance
Prerequisites:
- Tread water for five minutes
- Swim at least 50 yards of front crawl, back crawl, and breaststroke
Class components:
- Improve endurance for all strokes
- Open turns and flip turns
- Pool etiquette for lap swimming
- Learn principles of designing a fitness program
- Calculation of target heart rate
Masters Swimming
Enjoy the benefits of swimming with the support of a coach and a welcoming community. The Masters program meets twice per week for programmed workouts led by an experienced swim coach. Pass holders have access to a third weekly workout to complete on their own.
| Drop-in | Semester Pass | |
| Rec Well Member | $5 | $95 |
Coming soon.
SWIM TESTS
Swim lesson instructors are able to facilitate swim tests for study abroad trips or other programs requiring swim tests. Please fill out the swim test request form below and we will do our best to get your swim test scheduled with an instructor. There is a $25 charge for administering a swim test.