Swim Lesson Program
Program Overview
The District swim lesson program is designed to provide youth in the Columbia River Gorge the skills and confidence needed to enjoy the water safely. The ultimate goal of the program is to have every participant walk away with improved swimming technique, greater swimming endurance, and expanded water safety awareness.
The curriculum is designed using standards established by the American Red Cross, a national leader in water safety education.
Swim lessons are offered in sessions. Each session of swim lessons lasts two weeks, with 30-minute classes Monday through Friday. Over the course of a session, participants receive five total hours of expert instruction from our swim instructor team.
2026 Registration Dates
April 27, 2026 at 12 PM | Priority Registration Opens for In-District Residents & Active Rx Participants
May 4, 2026 at 12 PM | Public Swim Lesson Registration Opens
Level Descriptions
Level 1
For beginner swimmers who are not comfortable in the water. Participants will develop and improve the following skills: blowing bubbles from the nose and mouth, submerging the head, front and back floats, and pushing off from the wall with arm strokes.
Parent/Child
Level 2
For intermediate swimmers who can submerge their head. Participants will develop and improve the following skills: retrieving objects from the bottom of the pool, front crawl with side breathing, backstroke, sitting dive, and rolling front-to-back.
Level 3
For advanced swimmers who can swim at least 15 yards of front crawl unassisted. Participants will work on completing the following skills: swimming 25 yards front crawl and backstroke, treading water, and diving from a kneeling position.
Class focuses on water adjustment for infants and toddlers ages 1 to 3. Participants will work on blowing bubbles, floating, kicking, and learning to enjoy the pool environment.
An adult must accompany the participant in the water at all times.
Swim Lesson Schedule
Session 1
June 15 - June 26, 2026
Level 1 | 10 AM, 10:35 AM, 11:10 AM, 11:45 AM, 12:20 PM, 4:15 PM, 4:50 PM
Level 2 | 10 AM, 11:10 AM, 11:45 AM, 12:20 PM
Level 3 | 10 AM, 10:35 AM, 11:10 AM, 4:15 PM, 4:50 PM
Parent/Child | 11:45 AM, 12:20 PM
Classes run Monday through Friday and are 30-minutes long.Session 4
July 27 - August 7, 2026
Level 1 | 10 AM, 10:35 AM, 11:10 AM, 11:45 AM, 12:20 PM, 4:15 PM, 4:50 PM
Level 2 | 10 AM, 11:10 AM, 11:45 AM, 12:20 PM
Level 3 | 10 AM, 10:35 AM, 11:10 AM, 4:15 PM, 4:50 PM
Parent/Child | 11:45 AM, 12:20 PM
Classes run Monday through Friday and are 30-minutes long.Session 2
June 29 - July 10, 2026
Level 1 | 10 AM, 10:35 AM, 11:10 AM, 11:45 AM, 12:20 PM, 4:15 PM, 4:50 PM
Level 2 | 10 AM, 11:10 AM, 11:45 AM, 12:20 PM
Level 3 | 10 AM, 10:35 AM, 11:10 AM, 4:15 PM, 4:50 PM
Parent/Child | 11:45 AM, 12:20 PM
Classes run Monday through Friday and are 30-minutes long.Session 5
August 10 - August 21, 2026
Level 1 | 10 AM, 10:35 AM, 11:10 AM, 11:45 AM, 12:20 PM, 4:15 PM, 4:50 PM
Level 2 | 10 AM, 11:10 AM, 11:45 AM, 12:20 PM
Level 3 | 10 AM, 10:35 AM, 11:10 AM, 4:15 PM, 4:50 PM
Parent/Child | 11:45 AM, 12:20 PM
Classes run Monday through Friday and are 30-minutes long.Session 3
July 13 - July 24, 2026
Level 1 | 10 AM, 10:35 AM, 11:10 AM, 11:45 AM, 12:20 PM, 4:15 PM, 4:50 PM
Level 2 | 10 AM, 11:10 AM, 11:45 AM, 12:20 PM
Level 3 | 10 AM, 10:35 AM, 11:10 AM, 4:15 PM, 4:50 PM
Parent/Child | 11:45 AM, 12:20 PM
Classes run Monday through Friday and are 30-minutes long.How to Register for Swim Lessons
Step 1 — Access Your DaySmart Account
Access DaySmart, our registration software system, and login to your account. If you don’t have an account yet, you can easily create one.
Confirm your account is registration-ready:
Add all family members to your account who will be signed up for swim lessons.
Ensure that all user accounts have a valid physical address, email address, phone number, and date of birth.
Step 2 — Prepare to Register
Find your registration date. Registration dates are posted on this page of the website. If you think you might qualify for the Active Rx program, click here to learn more. Click here to find the District boundary map.
Find the right level. You can read swim lesson level descriptions on this page of the website. If you have any questions about level placement, email aquatics@nwprd.org.
Pick your sessions. Check out the swim lesson schedule on this page of the website. Pick the session, level, and time slot(s) that work best for you and make a back-up plan in case those classes are full.
Step 3 — Register
Once your registration opens, login to your DaySmart account and click the “Register” button.
Search for the desired session, time slot, and level and add them to your cart.
Finish the registration process by clicking “Checkout” and making the payment.