Children’s Group Swim Lessons

Please email aquatics@georgetown.edu and include “Group Swim Lessons” in the subject line. We will get back to you within 72 hours.

We recommend that you make your best guess based on your child’s past swim experience. At the beginning of the session, we may adjust your child’s level to one that better suits their comfort level and ability.

No, registration is only available for the full session. Each session includes 8 lessons, and participants must sign up for the entire package.

Once a course is full, a waitlist is opened. Those on the waitlist will be contacted if space becomes available due to participant cancellation.

Directions to Yates Field House can be found here.

McCarthy pool is located at Yates Field House on the campus of Georgetown University.  

Sundays: Parking is free at all University garages on Sundays. If you are driving, you can enter campus from Canal Road or Entrance #4 on Reservoir Road. We recommend using the free parking at the Leavey Center Parking Garage. Turn onto the road between Leavey Center and the Hariri Building (Business School) off West Rd – the garage will be signed and to the left.

The parking lot opposite the Field House (Lot Y) is reserved for handicapped members with a valid parking pass issued by OTM, and deliveries. Vehicles illegally parked will be ticketed and towed at the owner’s expense.  For questions or further details about parking on campus, contact the Office of Transportation Management at (202) 687-4372.

Give yourself more time as it is about a 5-minute walk up the hill to the Field House.

First Lesson:  As there will be a more in-depth check-in process the first day, we suggest you arrive 30 minutes early. The building and parking can be challenging so this should give you plenty of time.

Remaining lessons: We recommend arriving 15 minutes early for each lesson in order to have time for check-in and changing.

You will check in at the Group Swim table once you enter through the main doors of Yates Field House. We will direct you after check-in. 

Children and caregivers will enter the pool through the pool balcony to access the locker rooms. We ask that you/your child changes in the locker room and not on the pool deck. All personal items should remain with the caregiver on the balcony. Strollers can be left at the building entrance where they will be monitored by the front desk.

Children 5 years of age or older must use gender appropriate locker rooms. Private restrooms are available behind Basketball Court #3 on Level 1. Please see Aquatic Staff to discuss special accommodations.

Children over the age of 5 are not allowed to enter the opposite gender’s locker rooms. We recommend bringing your child to the lesson in their swim suit if you are not comfortable with them changing by themselves. There are also alternative change room options that can be discussed with you upon check-in. The pool deck is accessed from the locker rooms on the first floor or through the balcony on the entrance floor. If you have any questions or concerns, we will have staff to assist you upon entry.

Our water temperature sits around 81 degrees and can be cool for young children. Please dress accordingly to account for this. Here is a link to a website that we recommend for children’s cool water swim suits.

Please remember: 

• Children with long hair (longer than shoulder length) must have their hair pulled back. 
• Swim caps can be worn to keep hair from the face and provide extra warmth. 
• Goggles are recommended for all classes other than Parent-Tot- instructors may teach portions of the class without goggles. 
• Towels and flip-flops can be placed pool-side during the lesson. 

Please avoid t-shirts (unless swimming material), shorts, sewn-in floats, or swim aids such as inflatables.

Your child is permitted to wear a waterproof diaper. However, it is mandatory that they wear a swim suit over top of their waterproof diaper.

There is an observation balcony that we request spectators view the class from. We understand your child might need some encouragement on the first lesson but it will be required to view from the balcony for each lesson following.

Children under 16 years of age must be accompanied and directly supervised by a parent or guardian over the age of 18.

Our program strives to maintain a 2:5 instructor-child ratio. We like to remain flexible and have additional staff on hand that can assist when needed.

Unfortunately, you cannot cancel your registration after 72 hours before the start date of the session. In the event of a documented medical condition, you may be eligible for a pro-rated refund.

** No refunds will be issued after the first lesson.

We do not offer make-ups for missed group swim lessons.

Not all disciplinary problems are addressed and taken care of by our instructors.  We use positive reinforcement to encourage appropriate class behavior such as self-identification of the problem, warnings, and time-outs.  If our instructor does not have success with this, we may approach you in an effort to find a better method that is more effective for your child. We ask that you teach, talk about and review appropriate class behavior and pool rules with your child.  We encourage parents to lead by example and to help children understand “respect” for the water, classmates, and instructors.

Children who sign up for the group or private lessons may not swim in the pool before or after class unless they have a membership to Campus Recreation and the pool is scheduled for open swimming. Parents of children, who are not members, are not allowed to work out in any part of the facility.

You may take pictures. However, for the safety of our participants you may only take photos of your child.  This includes the instructor.

Yes, an ActiveNet account can be created before registration is open for group swim lessons.