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Learn to Swim

VENT Fitness offers progressive group, private, and semi-private swimming lessons throughout the year in our climate-controlled SPLASH Aquatics area. Participants will focus on building skills one step at a time.
By providing the opportunity to master one element before moving onto the next,
VENT Fitness swim classes make it easy to build confidence in the water.

Group

Our tiered system allows swimmers of virtually any age or skill level to find a session that will progress their confidence and
ability in the water.
Up to 12 participants | Six Week Sessions

Private

One of our certified swimming instructors will tailor each session to your skill and comfort level. Lessons are for children or adults. Special Needs swimmers welcome!
One-on-One | 30 or 60 minutes

Semi-Private

Bring a friend! Two swimmers of similar skill will work with a certified swim instructor. Lessons are for children or adults and are set up by appointment only.
Two-to-One | 30 or 60 minutes

Group Swim Lessons

Expertly Coached • Ideal for all Ages • VENT Latham

Fall Registrations Open Soon

Space Limited. Register NOW!
Member: $96 • Non-Member $138

Participants will focus on building skills one step at a time.
By providing the opportunity to master one element before moving onto the next,
VENT Fitness swim classes make it easy to build confidence in the water.

Let our qualified swim instructors help determine your child’s skill level!
This ensures proper placement in our Swimming Lessons

Group Session
Dates
Registration Opens
Latham
Fall A
Sept 9 – Oct 26
8/12/24
Fall B
Oct 3 – Nov 23
9/2/224
Fall C
Nov 6 – Dec 21
10/7/24
Winter A
Jan. 4 – Feb. 10
12/9/24
Winter B
Jan. 22 – March 8
12/9/24
Winter C
Feb. 22 – March 31
12/9/24
Adults – Latham
Fall A
Oct 4 – Nov 15
9/6/24
Fall B
Nov 22 – Jan 3
10/11/24
Guilderland
Fall A
Sept 15 – Oct 27
8/15/24
Fall B
Nov 10 – Dec 22
10/2/24

Private Lessons

30 Minutes • 60 minutes | One-on-one • Appointment only

Lessons are one-on-one and tailored to each individual swimmer’s needs. We are dedicated to working with a wide range of individuals to help them learn the skills needed in an aquatic environment. Lessons are for children or adults and are set up by appointment only. Semi-Private lessons also available upon request and availability. Special Needs swimmers welcome!

Private Lesson Policies

Private Lesson Pricing

Session
Member
Non-Member
30 minute
$50
$60
60 minute
$80
$90
10 Pack (30 min)
$450
$550
3 Pack (60 min)
$225
$255
Recurring (30 min)
$40
N/A
Recurring (60 min)
$70
N/A

Semi-Private Lessons

30 Minutes • 60 minutes | Two-to-one • Appointment only

Lessons are two-to-one. We are dedicated to working with a wide range of individuals to help them learn the skills needed in an aquatic environment. Lessons are for children or adults and are set up by appointment only. Private lessons also available upon request and availability. Special Needs swimmers welcome!

SP Lesson Policies

SP Lesson Pricing

Session
Member
Non-Member
30 minute
$40
$50
60 minute
$65
$75
10 Pack (30 min)
$350
$450
3 Pack (60 min)
$180
$210
Recurring (30 min)
$30
Recurring (60 min)
$55

*Please note pricing is per person.  Both parties will be charged,even if only one participant attends

Swimming Levels

Swimming Lessons at VENT FItness are broken down into the following tiers.

Parent & Child

(6 months – 36 months) – Orients young children to the water and prepares them to learn to swim in the Preschool Aquatics or Learn-to-Swim courses. Parent or guardian is required to accompany each child in the water and participate in the class. Parents are taught to safely work with their child in the water and how to encourage their child to participate fully and try the skills. 12:1
 

Level 1

Introduction to Water Skills (5 years+) Students will learn how to feel comfortable in the water and safely enjoy it. Skills include entering and exiting the water safely, learning to submerge mouth, nose and eyes, breath control, front and back float and recovering to a stand, changing direction in the water, swimming 5 feet on front and back. 6:1

 

Pre School 1

(3-5 years) Orients children to the aquatic environment and teaches them basic aquatic skills. Children will start with elementary aquatic skills, and build more as they progress through the Preschool levels. Skills include blowing bubbles, submerging mouth, nose and eyes, opening eyes underwater, and retrieving objects. Front and back floats with assistance. 6:1

Level 2

Fundamentals of Aquatic Skills (5 years+) Children will learn basic swimming skills including entering water by stepping or jumping in from the side, submerging entire head, blowing bubbles, opening eyes underwater, front and back glide, swim 15 feet on front and 10 feet on back, swim on side, and life jacket use. 6:1

Pre School 2

(3 – 5 years) Children will build upon the skills learned in Preschool 1 to gain more comfort and independence. Children learn to float on their backs without support. Other skills include opening eyes underwater, retrieving submerged objects, and alternating arm and leg actions on front and back. Most skills in this level are performed independently. 6:1

Level 3

Stroke Development (5 years+) Additional guided practice will help students improve their skills learned in Level 2. Skills include jumping into deep water, head first entry from sitting or kneeling, submerging and retrieving an object, bobbing, survival float for 30 seconds, treading water for 30 seconds, front crawl 15 yards, butterfly 15 feet, back crawl 15 yards, elementary rescues, safe diving, and check-call-care. 8:1

Pre School 3

(3 – 5 years) Increases proficiency and builds on the basic aquatic skills learned in Levels 1 and 2 and improves participants’ coordination of simultaneous arm and leg actions and alternating arm and leg actions on front and back. Participants learn and practice survival floating and learn to swim front crawl and elementary backstroke at rudimentary proficiency levels. All skills in this level are performed independently with minimal flotation assistance. 6:1

Level 4

Stroke Improvement Kids will gain confidence in the strokes learned thus far and  improve other aquatic skills by increasing endurance through swimming greater distances. Skills include diving, underwater swimming, feet-first surface dive, 1 minute of survival floating, treading and back floating, 25 yards of front crawl, breaststroke and back crawl, 15 yards of butterfly and elementary backstroke and sidestroke, compact jump from height in a lifejacket, throwing assists, and caring for conscious choking victim. 8:1

Intermediate & Adult Lessons

Pre Competitive

Once swimmers have become independent in the water it’s time to learn the techniques that will lead to long-term success in competitive swimming.  Proper stroke mechanics are emphasized using proven progressions with focus on drills and distances that are developmentally appropriate.    

Skills Covered: Under waters and turns for all 4 competitive strokes (Freestyle, Backstroke, Breaststroke, Butterfly) as well as technique work for all 4 competitive strokes. 8:1

Adult Beginner

Learning the Basics This level is designed to introduce the inexperienced or fearful adult to the water so that they become more comfortable in the water and learn to enjoy the water safely. Adults will learn how to enter and exit the pool safely and control their breathing. As they build their confidence, students will learn proper body position on both their front and back with proper flutter kick. Basic paddle stroke, Front Crawl, Back Crawl, Elementary Backstroke, and basic water safety skills are covered. 8:1

Adults

Instructors follow a plan utilizing the knowledge and experience of the group members to instruct and refine swimming and water safety skills in a manner that best suits each individual. In Adult Learn to Swim, you learn safety skills that may help you survive in an emergency, gain confidence in the water, stroke development, and eventually stroke refinement. 8:1

Adult Intermediate

Improving Skills and Swimming Strokes This level is designed to introduce swimming strokes to adults so that they develop confidence and endurance as novice swimmers. Adults master the swimming strokes in the Learning the Basics level, Freestyle and Backstroke.  Breaststroke, Sidestroke, Butterfly and basic flip turns and turning at the wall are introduced. Treading water and recovery to a swimming position is mastered. 8:1

Meet the Swim Instructors

Nancy Clarke

Swimming Instructor • Licensed Physical Therapist • Paralympic Competitor

Nancy started life in gymnastics, classical ballet, and diving till she was paralyzed from a botched knee surgery and spinal injection 20 years ago. Nancy competed in the Paralympics in Seoul, Korea in 1988 and Barcelona in 1992. She made trials for the Atlanta, GA 1996 games and was one of the torchbearers.  Additionally, she has experience working with  triathletes and special needs clients. 

group lessons • private lessons

Darby LaFlamme

USA Swimming Coach

American Red Cross  Lifeguard
First Aid • CPR/ AED

An avid swimmer since age 7, Darby is a USA Swim coach and swim lesson instructor for all ages. With eight years of experience working in aquatics teaching swim lessons and coaching competitive swim teams, she brings a high-energy approach to her instruction!

athletic performance • group lessons
private lessons

Jack Newton

NASM CPT, BCS, Swimming Instructor

 American Red Cross Lifeguard 
First Aid • CPR / AED

Jack has always loved swimming. Growing up, his family went swimming almost every day each summer. At 11 years old, he started competitively swimming and diving. He has taught swim lessons and coached  diving for the last 7 years . Jack works with individuals of all ages. He specializes in bringing the fun to a lesson so that everyone enjoys their time in the water. After graduating from Hudson Valley with a degree in Physical Education, he went on to pursue his NASM personal training certification. Jack enjoys the challenge of bringing land and water together for his clients. 

group lessons • private lessons

Jenee Pacheco

Swimming Instructor

Jenee started teaching swimming lessons in 2008, and has taught all ages and skills. She strives to provide an enthusiastic and encouraging environment for students and to give them the tools needed to support their goals. Her favorite part about teaching students how to swim is seeing them use what they’ve learned and become more confident swimmers each class through steady improvement.

group lessons • private lessons

Brian Yates M.Sc., B.Sc.

NASM CPT, US Masters Swim Coach

My coaching philosophy has evolved over the years, both from four decades of coaching others as well my own individual training as an Ironman Triathlete. Training should challenge you but should also be fun. The result is a style that applies academic and educational foundations to develop an approach and process for personalized attention, tailored training plans, and achievable goals to ensure your personal success. 

athletic performance • group lessons
private lessons

Autumn Brunell

WSI Certified Swimming Instructor
Lifeguard

Autumn has been swimming ever since she was 2 years old. While never having done competitive swimming it is important to her that every child knows how to be safe around the water. She has been teaching swim lessons since 2016 and has been working with children for even longer. Seeing children gain confidence in and out of the water is the most important part of teaching.

group lessons • private lessons

Tammy Gummersheimer

Swimming Instructor • Lifeguard

I love being active in the water, whether that’s training for a swim meet or participating in aqua fitness classes. After retiring from my tenure as a chemistry professor for 25 years, I have combined my love of teaching with my love of swimming. I was a competitive swimmer throughout my childhood, and I have begun training again with US Masters Swimming and will compete beginning in the 2023-24 season. I also served as a USA Swimming Official from 2009-2011. Not only do I teach the skills of swimming, but I encourage confidence as you reach your goals. And, hopefully, you learn to love swimming as much as I do!

group lessons • private lessons

Brian Yates M.Sc., B.Sc.

NASM CPT, US Masters Swim Coach

My coaching philosophy has evolved over the years, both from four decades of coaching others as well my own individual training as an Ironman Triathlete. Training should challenge you but should also be fun. The result is a style that applies academic and educational foundations to develop an approach and process for personalized attention, tailored training plans, and achievable goals to ensure your personal success. 

athletic performance • group lessons
private lessons

Autumn Rivet

WSI Certified Swimming Instructor
Lifeguard

Autumn has been swimming ever since she was 2 years old. While never having done competitive swimming it is important to her that every child knows how to be safe around the water. She has been teaching swim lessons since 2016 and has been working with children for even longer. Seeing children gain confidence in and out of the water is the most important part of teaching.

group lessons • private lessons

Learn to Swim Registration

Review the schedule above and fill out the form below to register for VENT Fitness Swimming Lessons.

Cancellation Policy:
Cancellations 7 or more days before session start date will be refunded via payment method used.

Cancellations less than 7 days before start date through 7 days after session start date will be refunded as in-club credit or credit toward next full session or private lessons.

Cancellations beyond 7 days after session start will not be refunded.

There are no makeup sessions.