It's never too early to introduce your child to the water! The ideal age to begin swim lessons depends on your child's age, comfort level, and readiness to participate in a structured class.

At the Soledad-Mission Recreation District, we offer several options to help swimmers of all ages build water confidence, learn essential water safety skills, and develop swimming abilities.

• Parent & Child Classes (6 months–3½ years): A fun, supportive introduction to the water! Parents or caregivers participate alongside their children, helping them become comfortable in the pool through play, movement, and age-appropriate water activities.
• Group Swim Lessons (3½ years and older): Most children are ready to begin independent group lessons around age 3½, when they can follow simple instructions, participate without a parent in the water, and engage in structured activities with an instructor.
• Teen Swim Lessons (15 years and older): Designed for teens who are new to swimming or want to improve their confidence and swimming skills in an age-appropriate learning environment.
• Private Swim Lessons (Various Ages): A great option for swimmers who benefit from individualized instruction, need additional support, or prefer a one-on-one learning environment.

Our recommendation: Introduce children to the water early through positive, supervised experiences. Around age 3½, consider transitioning to group lessons when your child is comfortable separating from a parent and ready to follow an instructor's directions.

Every swimmer learns at their own pace, and there's no single perfect age to begin. Our goal is to make learning to swim a safe, positive, and enjoyable experience for everyone!

Water Safety Reminder: Swim lessons are an important part of drowning prevention, but they do not make a child drown-proof. Children should always be actively supervised around water, regardless of their swimming ability.

At the Soledad-Mission Recreation District, we believe every child can learn to swim! Our six color-coded swim levels are designed to help swimmers build confidence, develop skills, and celebrate progress at their own pace.

How do we determine your child's swim level?

Before enrollment, swimmers participate in a brief skills evaluation. Our instructors use a skill progression, a step-by-step approach where swimmers learn foundational skills before combining them into more advanced swimming movements.

During the evaluation, we observe which skills your child has experienced, can attempt with assistance, and can demonstrate independently. This helps us place each swimmer in a level where they can be both successful and appropriately challenged.

Our Six Swim Lesson Levels

🟡 Level 1 – Yellow: Water Exploration

Building comfort, trust, and confidence in the water.

Designed for first-time swimmers and children who may feel nervous or fearful in the water. Every skill is initially supported by an instructor, with an emphasis on positive experiences and willingness to try.

Ready for Orange: Swimmers are comfortable putting their faces in the water, performing bobs, and beginning to attempt skills without physical support.

🟠 Level 2 – Orange: Primary Skills

Learning to perform foundational swimming skills independently.

Swimmers practice front and back floating, gliding, effective flutter kicks, freestyle and backstroke arm movements, and rhythmic breathing.

Ready for Red: Swimmers can demonstrate these foundational skills individually with increasing independence and control.

🔴 Level 3 – Red: Stroke Readiness

Putting skills together to move through the water.

Swimmers begin combining flutter kicks with freestyle and backstroke arms, gliding with kicking, and freestyle arms with side breathing. They also practice jumping into the water, recovering, and returning safely to the wall.

Ready for Green: Swimmers independently combine basic skills to move forward through the water and demonstrate a willingness to try new challenges.

🟢 Level 4 – Green: Stroke Development

Building coordination, endurance, and deep-water confidence.

Swimmers work toward swimming half the pool length using coordinated freestyle and backstroke movements, effective flutter kicks, and side breathing. Skills include push-off glides, independent bobs without holding the wall, introduction to diving, and deep-water treading.

Ready for Blue: Swimmers demonstrate effective stroke coordination, increasing endurance, and greater independence in deeper water.

🔵 Level 5 – Blue: Stroke Refinement

Strengthening swimming technique and increasing distance.

Swimmers develop the endurance to swim the full pool length while refining freestyle and backstroke through targeted drills. New skills include dolphin kicks, introductory breaststroke arms and kicks, diving, and feet-first and head-first surface dives.

Ready for Purple: Swimmers demonstrate improved technique, endurance, and proficiency in the required diving and stroke-development skills.

🟣 Level 6 – Purple: Stroke Proficiency

Developing the skills and endurance for recreational and competitive swimming.

Our final level focuses on strengthening freestyle and backstroke proficiency, endurance, treading water, diving, and the individual components of breaststroke and butterfly.

What's next? Swimmers completing Purple should be prepared to explore trying out for the Sharks Swim Team!

What if my child needs to repeat a level?

That's okay! Learning to swim takes practice, patience, and perseverance.

Swimming is a complex motor skill. Children must develop coordination, breathing control, strength, confidence, and endurance. Research on motor learning supports the importance of repeated practice and positive feedback when developing new physical skills.

Progress isn't always linear. Some swimmers advance quickly through one level and need several sessions to master another. Others experience a temporary plateau before making significant progress.

If your child repeats a level, please continue encouraging them to swim! Repetition builds familiarity, strengthens skills, and creates opportunities for success.

More Than Just Swimming

Learning to swim is a lifelong investment in your child's well-being.

• Water Safety: Swimming skills are an important layer of drowning prevention and can help children respond more effectively in aquatic environments.
• Physical Development: Swimming supports coordination, strength, cardiovascular fitness, and motor skill development.
• Learning and Development: Some research has found associations between early swimming participation and developmental or academic outcomes, including language and early learning skills. However, this does not establish that swimming lessons directly improve reading achievement.
• Confidence and Resilience: Learning a challenging skill provides opportunities for children to practice persistence, manage frustration, and experience the satisfaction of improvement.
• Lifelong Opportunities: Swimming opens doors to recreation, fitness, competitive sports, and future employment opportunities, including lifeguarding, swim instruction, and aquatic recreation.

One of the most important lessons we hope every child takes away is: "I can do hard things!"

We want children to feel proud of their effort, excited to return to the pool, and willing to keep trying even when a skill feels difficult.

How can I ask questions about my child's progress or placement?

All of our swim instructors follow a structured curriculum with designated skills, activities, and progressions for each level. Our instructional team includes both experienced instructors and newer staff members who are developing their teaching skills.

We appreciate your patience and encouragement as our instructors work to provide positive, consistent learning experiences.

To protect your child's instructional time, level advancement, placement, and recommendations to repeat a level are not discussed during poolside lessons.

We absolutely welcome your questions! Please speak with our Front Desk staff or Aquatics Supervisor to discuss your child's progress, understand their skill evaluation, or address any concerns.

We value your partnership and want you to understand what your child is learning and how we can work together to support their success.

Please note your child's instructor should be talking to you each day, letting you know about an achievement, a challenge, and words of encouragment.  Let your front desk know so we can address and support our instructors at improvement!

Our Greatest Goal

Of course, we want every child to become a safe, confident, and proficient swimmer. But equally important, we want every child to leave our program believing in their own ability to learn, grow, and overcome challenges.

Celebrate the small victories. Encourage the difficult attempts. Keep showing up. Keep trying. Keep swimming!

At the Soledad-Mission Recreation District, we believe smaller class sizes create a more supportive learning environment. Our instructor-to-student ratios are designed to provide swimmers with appropriate attention, opportunities to practice, and instruction suited to their skill level.

Our Swim Lesson Ratios

Program / Swim LevelInstructor-to-Student Ratio

🟡 Yellow – Water Exploration1:4

🟠 Orange – Primary Skills1:4

🔴 Red – Stroke Readiness1:4

🟢 Green – Stroke Development1:4

🔵 Blue – Stroke Refinement1:5 preferred, up to 1:6

🟣 Purple – Stroke Proficiency1:5 preferred, up to 1:6

Parent & Child Lessons1:8 parent-child pairs

Private Swim Lessons1:1

Adult Swim Lessons1:8

Sharks Swim Team1:12

Why do class sizes vary?

Our beginning and intermediate levels (Yellow through Green) maintain a maximum of four students per instructor. These swimmers are developing foundational skills and benefit from more individualized attention, physical assistance, and frequent feedback.

As swimmers become more independent in Blue and Purple, they can safely participate in larger groups while practicing stroke technique, coordination, and endurance. We prefer to maintain a ratio of five swimmers per instructor in these advanced levels, although classes may include up to six.

Do you ever combine swim lesson levels?

Occasionally! We prefer to offer each color level separately so instructors can focus on that level's specific curriculum. However, when enrollment is too low to offer an individual class, we may combine compatible levels rather than cancel the opportunity to participate.

In combined classes, instructors adapt activities and expectations to each swimmer's skill level while continuing to follow our established curriculum and class-size limits.

Our Commitment to Quality Instruction

We strive to balance small class sizes, individual attention, and accessible swim lesson opportunities for our community. Our goal is to provide a positive learning environment where every swimmer receives encouragement, meaningful practice time, and the support they need to continue progressing.

Small classes, strong skills, confident swimmers!

At the Soledad-Mission Recreation District, group swim lessons are 30 minutes long, and a standard session includes 8 lessons. Our schedule is designed to provide consistent opportunities to practice, build confidence, and develop swimming skills.

Summer Swim Lessons

During the summer, lessons are offered Monday through Thursday for two consecutive weeks, totaling eight lessons.

This is our preferred schedule because frequent, consistent practice helps swimmers retain new skills, develop coordination, and build confidence in the water. The shorter time between lessons also allows instructors to reinforce skills while they are still fresh.

School-Year Swim Lessons

During the school year, we typically offer lessons twice a week over four weeks, with classes scheduled on either:

• Mondays and Wednesdays
• Tuesdays and Thursdays

Both schedules provide eight lessons per session, allowing swimmers to continue developing their skills while balancing school and other activities.

Occasional Shortened Sessions

Due to facility availability, holidays, or scheduling limitations, we may occasionally offer:

• 7-Lesson Sessions: A slightly shortened version of our standard session.
• 4-Lesson Mini Sessions: A shorter opportunity to introduce skills, reinforce previous learning, or keep swimmers practicing between full sessions.

The number of lessons is identified during registration so families know what to expect.

What happens when a lesson falls on a holiday?

We typically try to schedule makeup lessons when classes fall on federally recognized holidays. However, makeup lessons are not always possible due to facility scheduling conflicts, including Soledad High School swim meets, which are generally held on Fridays.

When scheduling conflicts prevent us from offering a makeup lesson, the session may be offered as a shortened session. Please review the published class schedule for the exact dates and number of lessons included.

Why is consistent attendance important?

Swimming is a skill that develops through repetition and practice. Each lesson builds on previously introduced skills, helping swimmers strengthen their coordination, confidence, and independence in the water.

We encourage families to attend every scheduled lesson and, whenever possible, enroll in consecutive sessions. Even when progress seems slow, consistent participation helps reinforce important skills and supports long-term swimming proficiency.

Keep swimming, keep practicing, and celebrate every step forward!

Absolutely! In fact, we encourage children who are nervous or fearful of the water to participate in swim lessons. Learning to feel safe, comfortable, and confident in the water is one of the most important first steps in learning to swim.

At the Soledad-Mission Recreation District, we understand that every child approaches the water differently. Some jump right in with excitement, while others need additional time, patience, and encouragement. Both are perfectly normal!

Our instructors are trained to support anxious and fearful swimmers through positive reinforcement, gradual skill development, and age-appropriate activities.

Also note that we staff an additional swim instructor on the first day of class to support these students who need one to one support on this first day. 

How do we help children overcome their fear?

Our Yellow – Water Exploration level is specifically designed for beginning swimmers, including children who may be nervous or fearful of the water.

We follow a progressive approach, introducing skills in small, manageable steps that build on one another. For example, a child might begin by touching the water, splashing, or pouring a small amount of water over their hands and shoulders before gradually becoming comfortable getting their face wet.

We do not forcefully dunk or submerge children who are not ready. Instead, we focus on building trust, encouraging participation, and helping children discover that the water can be a fun and enjoyable place.

Our goals for every lesson are simple:

• Encourage your child to get wet and participate in whatever way they can.
• Help them feel increasingly comfortable with their instructor and the water.
• Introduce new skills through gradual, positive experiences.
• Celebrate their courage, effort, and progress, even when the steps seem small.

What if my child cries or refuses to participate?

It's not unusual for a child to experience tears, hesitation, or resistance, particularly during their first few lessons.

Our instructors will work to engage your child through encouragement, games, and manageable activities. Sometimes, simply sitting near the water, watching classmates, or putting their feet in the pool is a meaningful first step.

We ask parents to support this process by remaining calm, positive, and encouraging. Avoid expressing frustration, embarrassment, or disappointment if your child struggles.

We want children to learn that feeling nervous doesn't mean they can't try something new. At the same time, instructors will respect signs of significant distress and adjust activities rather than forcing participation.

Would private lessons be a better option?

Sometimes! Our pre-lesson swim evaluations help us identify children who may need additional support before joining a group.

For swimmers experiencing significant anxiety, we may recommend one or two private lessons to help them become familiar with the pool, build trust with an instructor, and practice introductory skills at their own pace.

Whenever possible, we recommend scheduling these private lessons with the same instructor who teaches your child's group class. This familiarity can make the transition into group lessons more comfortable.

Private lessons are an additional option, not a requirement for every fearful swimmer.

How can parents help prepare an anxious child for swim lessons?

Your encouragement makes a tremendous difference! Here are some ways to help your child develop a positive relationship with the water.

1. Talk about swimming positively.

Instead of asking, "Are you scared to go swimming?" try:

• "What do you think you'll get to learn at swim lessons today?"
• "Your instructor is going to help you practice something new!"
• "You don't have to know how to do everything yet. That's why we take lessons!"

2. Acknowledge their feelings without reinforcing fear.

If your child says, "I'm scared," try responding:

"It's okay to feel nervous when you're learning something new. Your instructor will help you, and you can practice one little step at a time."

Avoid dismissing their feelings with phrases like "There's nothing to be afraid of" or "Stop being scared."

3. Practice water comfort at home.

Make water play a positive experience between lessons. Depending on your child's comfort level, try:

• Blowing bubbles into bathwater.
• Pouring small amounts of water over their hands, arms, and shoulders.
• Practicing getting their chin, mouth, or nose wet voluntarily.
• Using a washcloth or small cup to gradually introduce water near their face.
• Playing simple water games that encourage curiosity and laughter.

Always provide close, attentive supervision around water, including bathtubs. Never force water over a child's face or attempt underwater breath-holding exercises at home.

4. Celebrate effort, not just achievement.

Instead of focusing only on whether your child completed a skill, recognize their willingness to try.

• "I saw you put your feet in the water today. Great job!"
• "You were nervous, but you tried something new!"
• "I'm proud of how hard you worked."
• "You can do hard things, even when they take practice!"

5. Be consistent and patient.

Regular attendance helps children become familiar with the pool, their instructor, and the lesson routine. Repeated positive experiences can gradually reduce anxiety and build confidence.

If your child is struggling, communicate with our Aquatics Supervisor so we can work together on a supportive approach.

What if my child is too afraid to participate? Can I receive a refund or credit?

We understand how difficult it can be to watch your child struggle with fear or anxiety. However, refunds, credits, or exchanges are not available when a child is unwilling or unable to participate because of fear or anxiety about swimming.

Instead, we encourage families to work with our staff to find ways to support continued participation. This may include modifying activities, celebrating smaller steps, developing a gradual participation plan, or considering additional private instruction.

Our goal is not to pressure children into completing skills before they are ready. It is to help them make meaningful progress toward becoming comfortable and capable in the water.

Why do we encourage families to keep trying?

Swimming is more than a recreational activity. It is a lifesaving skill.

Unlike many childhood activities, the ability to swim can have serious consequences in an emergency. While swimming ability alone cannot prevent drowning, learning essential water safety and survival skills is an important layer of protection.

Avoiding the water entirely because of fear may leave a child without skills they could someday need. That's why we believe it is so important to help children work through their fears safely, patiently, and positively.

We also recognize that learning to swim teaches something beyond swimming itself: courage, persistence, trust, and the confidence to face challenges.

Our message to every swimmer is simple:

You don't have to be fearless to be brave. You don't have to get everything right the first time. You just have to keep learning, one small step at a time.

We are here to help your child discover that they can do hard things, and that learning to swim can become something they truly enjoy!

Have concerns about your child's anxiety or readiness? Please contact our Front Desk or Aquatics Supervisor. We welcome the opportunity to work with your family to support a positive swimming experience.

Safety is our number one priority! At the Soledad-Mission Recreation District, our swim lesson program is designed to provide a safe, supportive learning environment where children can build confidence and develop essential swimming and water safety skills.

We incorporate several important safety measures into our group lessons:

• Small Class Sizes: We maintain low instructor-to-student ratios, with a maximum of four swimmers per instructor in our Yellow through Green levels. Our more advanced Blue and Purple levels have a preferred ratio of 1:5, with a maximum of 1:6. Smaller groups allow instructors to provide more individualized attention and closely monitor swimmers as they practice new skills.
• Dedicated Lifeguard Supervision: In addition to swim instructors, we station a lifeguard along the pool wall nearest to our beginning swimmers. This provides an additional layer of safety supervision for children who are still developing their swimming abilities.
• Trained Swim Instructors: All of our swim instructors complete 24 hours of training focused first on swimmer safety, followed by effective teaching techniques, skill development, and helping students progress toward mastery.
• Skill-Based Placement: Before enrollment, swimmers participate in a skills evaluation to help us place them in an appropriate lesson level based on their current abilities, experience, and comfort in the water.
• Progressive Skill Development: Our instructors follow a structured curriculum that introduces skills gradually, beginning with water comfort and basic safety before advancing to more challenging swimming techniques. Swimmers are encouraged to try new skills with appropriate instructor support.

Safety is a shared responsibility.

We ask parents and caregivers to help us maintain a safe learning environment by ensuring children follow pool rules, arrive ready for lessons, and remain under their supervision before and after class.

While swim lessons are an important part of drowning prevention, no child is drown-proof, regardless of their swimming ability. Active adult supervision remains essential whenever children are in or around water.

Our goal is simple: Every child should feel safe, supported, and encouraged as they develop the skills and confidence to become a capable swimmer. We believe that a positive learning environment, well-trained instructors, and consistent safety practices provide the foundation for a lifetime of enjoyment in the water.

Every swimmer learns at their own pace, and our group lessons are designed with that in mind! At the Soledad-Mission Recreation District, we use skill-based placement, small class sizes, and individualized instruction to help swimmers build confidence and progress within a group setting.

It starts with the right placement.

Before enrollment, every swimmer participates in a skills evaluation. This is one of the most important steps in our program! Evaluations help us identify your child's current abilities and place them in the appropriate color level, where they can be both successful and appropriately challenged.

Even within the same level, swimmers may have different experiences. Some are taking that level for the first time, others are returning to strengthen skills, and some may need additional practice before they are ready to advance.

How do instructors meet individual needs in a group class?

Our instructors follow a structured curriculum that allows them to adapt instruction to each swimmer's abilities. They use a progressive teaching approach:

1. Explain and demonstrate: Introduce the skill and show swimmers what it looks like.
2. Try: Encourage each swimmer to attempt the skill at their current ability level.
3. Support: Provide appropriate physical assistance or guidance to help swimmers understand the movement.
4. Give feedback: Offer individual encouragement and specific suggestions for improvement.
5. Practice: Allow swimmers to repeat the skill independently while the instructor works with other students.

This approach allows one swimmer to attempt a skill for the very first time while another works toward mastering that same skill. Everyone is learning the same foundational skills, but the level of assistance and expectations are adjusted to the individual swimmer.

What if my child is placed in the wrong level?

Although our evaluations are designed to provide accurate placement, occasionally an instructor may observe skills differently once lessons begin.

If we believe your child would be more successful in another level, we will review their abilities, communicate with the Front Desk, and arrange a second evaluation when appropriate.

We try to identify significant placement differences on the first day and make adjustments as quickly as possible. We also schedule additional instructional support in the water on the first day to help students continue participating while we explore alternative class placements.

Our priority is finding the right learning environment for your child. Occasionally, scheduling or class availability may limit immediate placement changes, but we will work with your family to identify available options.

Why might my child repeat a level or be placed in a lower level than last year?

Swimming skills develop through practice, repetition, and growing physical coordination. A child who previously demonstrated a skill may need time to regain confidence or consistency after an extended break from swimming.

Children are also constantly growing! Changes in height, strength, coordination, and body proportions can temporarily affect how they move and balance in the water.

Sometimes, revisiting foundational skills is exactly what a swimmer needs to build a stronger foundation for future progress.

Repeating a level is not a failure, and advancing quickly is not a competition. Our goal is to ensure swimmers have the skills, confidence, and independence necessary to succeed at the next level.

How can parents help?

Encourage your child to focus on effort and improvement rather than comparing themselves with classmates. Celebrate the skills they are developing, even when progress feels slow.

We also recognize that conversations about level placement or repeating a class can sometimes be disappointing. Our instructors are trained to provide constructive feedback, but we encourage families to direct placement and advancement questions to our Front Desk or Aquatics Supervisor, rather than discussing them during poolside instruction.

This protects valuable lesson time and gives us an opportunity to review your child's progress, explain our recommendations, and work together to support their success.

Our philosophy is simple: Meet swimmers where they are, challenge them to take the next step, and celebrate their progress along the way!

Every swimmer's journey looks a little different. What matters most is that they continue learning, practicing, and discovering what they are capable of accomplishing.

Yes! Consistency is one of the most important factors in learning to swim. We encourage families to attend every scheduled lesson and, whenever possible, enroll in consecutive sessions to help swimmers build confidence, retain skills, and continue progressing.

At the Soledad-Mission Recreation District, our standard swim lesson session includes eight 30-minute classes, offered on two different schedules:

• Summer Lessons: Monday through Thursday for two consecutive weeks. This is our preferred schedule because frequent practice helps swimmers reinforce new skills, develop coordination, and build confidence with less time between lessons.
• School-Year Lessons: Twice a week (Monday/Wednesday or Tuesday/Thursday) for four weeks. This schedule provides consistent practice while accommodating school and family activities.

Should my child enroll in consecutive sessions?

Absolutely! We recommend continuing lessons until your child has developed strong, independent swimming skills and water safety abilities.

Swimming is a complex physical skill that requires coordination, breathing control, strength, and endurance. Research on motor learning supports the value of regular, repeated practice with feedback when developing and retaining new skills.

Long breaks between sessions can make it harder for children to maintain their confidence and skills, particularly beginning swimmers. Some children may need to review previously learned skills when they return, and that's perfectly normal!

What if my child isn't advancing to the next level?

Keep swimming! Repeating a level provides valuable opportunities to strengthen skills, improve coordination, and develop independence.

Progress is not always linear. Some swimmers master certain skills quickly but need more time to develop others. Consistent attendance and encouragement are often more beneficial than rushing to the next level.

Can we practice between lessons?

Yes! Supervised recreational swimming is a wonderful way to reinforce water comfort and build confidence. Families can encourage children to practice familiar skills through safe, enjoyable water activities appropriate to their abilities.

Remember that children require active adult supervision around water, even after completing swim lessons.

Our recommendation: Attend all eight lessons in each session, enroll in consecutive sessions whenever possible, and provide additional opportunities for safe, supervised swimming between classes.

The more consistently children practice, the more opportunities they have to grow! Every lesson is another chance to build confidence, develop a lifesaving skill, and discover that they can do hard things.

Keep showing up, keep encouraging, and keep swimming!

We understand that busy family schedules, illnesses, and unexpected circumstances sometimes make it difficult to attend every swim lesson!

At the Soledad-Mission Recreation District, we encourage families to attend all scheduled lessons to support consistent skill development and progress.

When are makeup lessons offered?

Makeup lessons are generally offered when the District anticipates a scheduling conflict, such as a recognized holiday, and includes a makeup date in the published session schedule.

Unfortunately, we do not offer individual makeup lessons for classes missed due to illness, vacations, family commitments, or other personal scheduling conflicts.

Group lessons have limited enrollment, and your registration reserves a specific class time and swimmer space for the entire session.

What if the pool closes unexpectedly?

Occasionally, swimming pools must close temporarily due to water quality concerns, contamination incidents, equipment issues, or other circumstances beyond our control.

These closures are necessary to maintain a safe swimming environment and do not always result in a makeup lesson.

When an unexpected closure interrupts a scheduled lesson, the District will evaluate the amount of instructional time lost. If 20 minutes or more of a 30-minute lesson cannot be provided, we will attempt to schedule a makeup lesson, subject to facility and staffing availability.

Shorter interruptions generally do not qualify for makeup lessons.

Can I receive a refund or credit for missed lessons?

Once registration has closed, swim lesson registrations are generally nonrefundable and cannot be exchanged or credited toward another session.

Limited exceptions may be considered for extraordinary circumstances, such as a death or serious injury involving an immediate family member, or a swimmer's broken bone that prevents continued participation.

When approved, a credit of up to 50% of the value of the remaining unused lessons may be offered. Families must notify the District when they become unable to continue.

Our goal is to provide consistent, high-quality swim instruction while maintaining a safe facility and making the best use of our limited class spaces.

We appreciate your understanding and encourage families to review the complete session schedule before registering. If you have questions about a missed lesson or unexpected closure, please contact our Front Desk or Aquatics Supervisor.

We encourage parents to stay involved in their child's swimming journey! Learning to swim is a partnership between swimmers, instructors, and families, and we want you to understand what your child is learning, celebrate their accomplishments, and help encourage them through challenges.

At the Soledad-Mission Recreation District, there are several ways to stay informed about your swimmer's progress.

1. Check in with your child's instructor.

During the final two minutes of each lesson, parents are welcome to greet their child at the designated poolside pickup area and briefly connect with their instructor.

This is a great opportunity to hear about a new skill your child is practicing, a challenge they're working through, or an accomplishment worth celebrating!

We encourage parents to keep these conversations brief so instructors can complete their lessons and prepare for the next group.

2. Look for a mid-session progress assessment.

Approximately halfway through each session, our instructors are asked to evaluate each swimmer's progress and identify their anticipated level placement for the next session.

This helps families take advantage of early registration opportunities for returning swimmers and continue lessons with minimal interruption.

Please remember that mid-session assessments are preliminary. Final advancement recommendations depend on demonstrated skill mastery and may change as swimmers continue practicing throughout the session.

3. Request a more detailed progress update through our Front Desk.

Have questions about a particular skill, your child's placement, or why they may need to repeat a level? We're happy to help!

If you would like a more detailed update, please let our Front Desk staff know when you arrive for lessons. They can coordinate with your child's instructor or Aquatics Supervisor to gather information and communicate it back to you.

This approach allows instructors to remain focused on teaching while ensuring families receive thoughtful answers to their questions. It also helps us identify common questions and provide consistent information to everyone.

4. Talk with your swimmer about what they're learning!

One of the best ways to recognize progress is to ask your child about their experience. Try questions like:

• "What new skill did you practice today?"
• "What was something you felt proud of?"
• "Was there anything that was tricky or challenging?"
• "What are you excited to try again next time?"

Remember, progress isn't always measured by advancing to the next color level. Sometimes the biggest accomplishments are putting a face in the water for the first time, trying a skill independently, improving breathing coordination, or finding the courage to try again.

Our goal is to keep communication open while protecting valuable instructional time. We appreciate your partnership in helping our instructors focus on what they do best: teaching children to swim!

Most importantly, celebrate effort as much as achievement. Every small step builds confidence, strengthens skills, and brings your child closer to becoming a capable, independent swimmer.

Keep encouraging, keep celebrating, and keep swimming!

What is the Refund, Credit, and Exchange Policy for Group Swim Lessons?

At the Soledad-Mission Recreation District, we strive to keep swim lessons affordable, accessible, and financially sustainable for our community. Because our classes have limited enrollment, each registration reserves a specific class time and swimmer space, and the District commits staffing and other resources based on those registrations.

For these reasons, once registration has closed, group swim lesson fees are generally nonrefundable and are not eligible for credits or exchanges. We recognize that unexpected circumstances arise, and limited exceptions are outlined below.

Registration Changes and Late Enrollment

Late registrations and requests to change class times or schedules may be accommodated during a limited registration adjustment period, subject to availability and applicable administrative fees.

Once that adjustment period has ended, changes, transfers, refunds, and credits are generally not permitted.

Missed Lessons and Individual Absences

We do not offer refunds, credits, exchanges, or individual makeup lessons for classes missed due to illness, vacations, transportation difficulties, family scheduling conflicts, or other personal absences.

Children Experiencing Fear or Anxiety

We understand that some children experience fear, anxiety, or hesitation when learning to swim. Our instructors are trained to support these swimmers through gradual skill development, encouragement, and positive experiences.

However, fear of the water, reluctance to participate, or difficulty separating from a parent does not qualify for a refund, credit, or exchange.

Instead, we encourage families to work with our Aquatics Supervisor to develop strategies that support participation. In some cases, additional private instruction may be recommended.

Requests involving disability-related accommodations will be reviewed individually.

Exceptions for Serious or Extraordinary Circumstances

Limited exceptions may be considered when a swimmer is unable to continue participating due to:

• The death of an immediate family member.
• A serious injury involving an immediate family member that prevents continued attendance.
• A broken bone or comparable significant injury to the registered swimmer that medically prevents swimming for the remainder of the session.

When approved, the District may provide a credit of up to 50% of the registration value of the remaining unused lessons.

For example, if four lessons remain in an eight-lesson session, the maximum potential credit would equal 50% of the value of those four remaining lessons, not 50% of the original registration fee.

Credits are not automatic and are subject to administrative review and approval. Previously attended lessons, missed lessons before notification, and applicable administrative fees are not eligible for credit.

How to Request an Exception

Families requesting consideration under an extraordinary-circumstances exception must notify the District as soon as they become aware that the swimmer cannot continue.

To document the date and time of the request, please complete both steps:

1. Email aquatics@soledadrec.org with the swimmer's name, registered class, reason for the request, and date the swimmer became unable to continue.
2. Call our office at (831) 678-3745 to notify staff and confirm that your request has been submitted.

The email provides a written record of your request. The date of notification will be used when determining which remaining lessons may qualify for consideration.

Submitting a request does not guarantee approval.

Unexpected Pool Closures and Interrupted Lessons

Occasionally, the District must temporarily close the pool due to water quality concerns, contamination incidents, mechanical problems, unexpected maintenance, or other circumstances beyond our control.

Protecting swimmer safety always takes priority. However, not every temporary interruption qualifies for a makeup lesson or credit.

Our general guidelines are:

• Minor Interruptions: When fewer than 20 minutes of a scheduled 30-minute lesson are lost, makeup lessons and credits are generally not provided.
• Significant Interruptions: When 20 minutes or more of a scheduled lesson are lost, the District will make reasonable efforts to provide a replacement lesson, subject to staffing and facility availability.
• Extended Closures or Substantial Loss of Services: When a closure lasts more than 24 consecutive hours, or more than 50% of the scheduled lessons in a session cannot be provided, the District will conduct an administrative review to determine an appropriate resolution. Options may include rescheduling, extending the session, or providing a prorated credit or refund for services the District is unable to deliver.

The District may also review isolated cancellations individually when a substantial portion of the purchased instruction cannot be delivered, even if the closure lasts fewer than 24 hours.

Credits or refunds for District-initiated cancellations are considered separately from the 50% extraordinary-circumstances credit limitation.

Why Do We Have This Policy?

Our swim lessons operate with small class sizes, trained instructors, lifeguard supervision, and limited facility availability.

Once a class space has been reserved, we commit resources to providing that instruction. When a swimmer withdraws or misses lessons after registration closes, we often cannot fill the space with another participant or recover the associated costs.

Our policy helps us:

• Maintain affordable program fees.
• Provide consistent staffing and safe instructor-to-student ratios.
• Recover the costs of operating our programs.
• Treat registration requests fairly and consistently.
• Support the long-term financial sustainability of community recreation services.

We appreciate your understanding and encourage families to review class schedules, program expectations, and registration policies before enrolling.

What About Private Swim Lessons?

Private swim lessons have separate scheduling, cancellation, refund, credit, and rescheduling requirements. Please review the Private Swim Lesson Policies before registering, as the group lesson policy does not apply to private instruction.

Questions or Special Circumstances?

Please contact our Front Desk at (831) 678-3745 or email aquatics@soledadrec.org.

We value the opportunity to serve your family and will make every reasonable effort to communicate clearly, apply our policies consistently, and support a positive swimming experience.