Register for Free Swim Classes From the New York City Parks Department

Learn to swim....for free!

By Bethany Braun-Silva March 14, 2018

There's just a few more days left to register for free swim classes via the New York City Parks Department. Up until March 19, 11:59pm you can fill out an application to be entered into the lottery for Spring session swim classes.

The upcoming sessions runs March 26, 2018 through Thursday, June 7, 2018. Lessons are free and offered at recreation centers throughout the city. You must be a member at the center where you will take classes. Lottery winners are chosen at random and will be notified via email if they are picked to take lessons.

Here is some importnant information via the Parks Department regarding their swim program:

Do not enter the lottery more than once per Session. Doing so will not increase your chances to win. It will automatically disqualify you or your child from the lottery as a duplicate.
Parents should submit one application for each of their children. Parents applying for their children can rank their preference for Saturday or Afterschool classes. Lottery selections are non-transferable. If you or your child has won a spot, you cannot give this spot to another person, even if it's another family member.
If you don't get a spot, we encourage you to apply again for an upcoming session.
If you or your children are not selected in the online lottery, you will be placed on a waiting list for this program, and will be emailed if a slot becomes available. We are not able to tell you your current place on the waiting list.
Swimmers who are absent from 2 consecutive classes will be dropped. Children selected for Saturday classes must attend a mandatory water test prior to the first day of classes. If a child misses the mandatory water test and the first day of class, he/she will be dropped from the session and replaced with someone from the waitlist.

Classes are for children as young as 18 months and adults are also welcome to sign up for classes. Classes are offered in recreation centers in all five bouroughs although the classes offered at each vary.

Some of the classes offered include: Saturday Learn-to-Swim Lessons, Swim Team (ages 6-18), and Free Adapted Aquatics Instruction for children with special needs.

It should be noted that these classes are offered year-round, which means if you don't get chosen for the Spring session you can apply again in the Summer, Fall, or Winter.