Drowning Prevention
First 5 Riverside County invests in partnerships throughout the county to teach children how to be safe in the water and families the importance of water safety for their children. These investments include one-on-one classes through SoCal Water Babies as well as group swimming lessons through Corona Norco Family YMCA, Desert Recreation District, Jurupa Area Recreation and Park District, and the City of Temecula.
Remember: ALWAYS watch young children when they are near or in any body of water. From a bucket to a bathtub to a pool to the ocean, young children always need adult supervision to stay water safe.
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One-on-One Survival Swim Lessons
Swim lessons for children ages 6 months through 5 years and water safety education classes for their parent/caregivers. Includes survival floating lessons for children 0-3 and swim-float-swim lessons for children 4-5. Young children learn how to rotate in the water and float up onto their backs and cry for help in the event of accidental submersion. 3-4 sessions a week for 4 weeks depending on age.
Group Classes
First 5 Riverside County also sponsors the full cost of swimming lessons for children in group setting through partnerships throughout the county. Lessons are available for children 5 years or younger, starting at 6-18 months old depending on the partnering agency. Application information and class types by partner are listed below.
Families may enroll by meeting one or more of the following criteria:
Served by a First 5 Riverside County-funded program
Live near an open body of water
Children of families eligible for public assistance, including but not limited to:
CalWorks
CalFresh
Medi-Cal
WICApplicants
If a family who does not meet the above criteria has a child aged 2 years or younger, they are still eligible to enroll in classes as we strive to ensure the county’s youngest, and most vulnerable, children have equal access to swimming lessons to help prevent drowning incidents.
Corona Norco Family YMCA
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Swim Lessons for all children aged 6-months to 5 years. Classes are arranged based on age and swimming ability. Sessions are 4-weeks long. Weekday classes are 30 minutes long (Mon/Wed or Tu/Thu) and meet twice per week for 8 total classes per session. Active all year.
(951) 284-4585 | WEBSITE | EMAIL
City of Palm Springs
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Swim lessons for children ages 6 months through 5 years. Classes taught Tuesday through Friday. Sponsored lessons are for full sessions, which equal 8 days over two weeks.
Classes held at the Palm Springs Swim Center. Active year-round.
(760) 323-8278 | WEBSITE | PROGRAM FLYER | ENROLLMENT FORM | EMAIL
Family YMCA of the Desert
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Swim lessons for children ages 6 months through 5 years. Classes taught Monday through Thursday. Sponsored lessons are for full sessions, which equal 8 days over two weeks.
Classes held at the Palm Desert Aquatic Center. Active March through June.
(760) 565-7467 | WEBSITE | ENROLLMENT FORM
City of Temecula
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Swim lessons for children ages 6 months through 5 years. Qualifying applicants must submit an application to [email protected] to receive a promo code to use when registering online for Youth Swim Lessons or Adaptive Swim Lessons. Priority for free swim lessons will be given to low-income children based on whether the family is currently receiving public assistance (including, but not limited to CalWORKS, CalFresh, FDPIR WIA, or KIN-GAP). This scholarship can also be used for Adaptive Swim Lessons for participants with special needs ages 5 and under.
Classes held at the Temecula Elementary School (TES) Pool. Active June-August.
(951) 694-6480 | WEBSITE | ENROLL ONLINE | EMAIL
City of Desert Hot Springs
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Swim lessons for children ages 6 months through 5 years. Classes taught Monday through Wednesday. Sponsored lessons are for full sessions, are three days a week over four weeks.
Applicants can register by completing the enrollment form to submit to the City of Desert Hot Springs.
Classes held at John H. Furbee Aquatic Center Active July through August.
(951) 922-3242 | WEBSITE | PROGRAM FLYER | ENROLLMENT FORM | EMAIL
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Desert Recreation District
Ready Set Swim Jr. program to provide aquatic services to families of the Coachella Valley with a focus on water safety and drowning prevention. Priority for free swim lessons will be given to low-income children based on whether the family is currently receiving public assistance (including, but not limited to CalWORKS, CalFresh, WIC, California National School Breakfast and Lunch Program). Each qualified applicant is eligible for ONE Session for free swim lessons. (one session = 8 45min classes).
Parent & Me Level 1 & 2 - For ages 6 months through 3 years old: Parents help introduce their children to the presence of water. Children blow bubbles, explore water, enter and exit the pool safely and increase their comfort with being fully submerged in water.
Guppies - For ages 3-5 years old - Skills taught in this swim lesson are to understand basic safety rules, water adjustment skills, blowing bubbles, supported and unsupported front and back float for five seconds, front and back kicks with support and demonstration of alternating arm actions with simultaneous use of legs. Offered in Cathedral City, Coachella, Indio, La Quinta, and Mecca. Active all year.
WEBSITE | ENROLL ONLINE - English | ENROLL ONLINE - Spanish
City of Banning
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Swim lessons for children ages 1 year through 5 years. Classes taught Monday through Thursday. Sponsored lessons are for full sessions, which equal 8 days over two weeks. Class types include Parent and Tot, Beginning Preschool, and Advanced Preschool. Eligible Riverside County residents may apply for multiple sessions of swim lessons per season.
Classes held at the Repplier Park Aquatic Center. Active June through August.
(951) 922-3242 | WEBSITE | PROGRAM FLYER | ENROLLMENT FORM | EMAIL
Jurupa Area Recreation and Park District
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Learn to Swim program for children aged 6-months to 5 years. Morning and afternoon swim lessons held at Rubidoux and Jurupa Valley High Schools. Active June-July.
(951) 361-2090 | WEBSITE | ENROLL ONLINE
City of Beaumont
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Swim lessons for children ages 3 years through 5 years. Classes taught Monday through Thursday. Sponsored lessons are for full sessions, which equal 8 days over two weeks.
Applicants must register online, select “scholarship” and complete a paper application in person at the Albert A. Chatigny Sr. Community Recreation Center, 1310 Oak Valley Parkway.
Classes held at Beaumont High School. Active July through August.
(951) 922-3242 | WEBSITE | PROGRAM FLYER | EMAIL
First 5 Riverside County is always looking to further expand access to sponsored swimming lessons for children up to age 5. If you are interested in bringing sponsored swimming lessons to your area to increase water safety education and reduce drowning incidents, please complete our swimming lesson sponsorship form and email to [email protected].
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