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MWR Aquatics at NAS Patuxent River has announced its 2026 summer swim lesson schedule. American Red Cross aquatic instruction is available for private, semi-private and group lessons at the Pax River Outdoor Pool.
Registration will begin May 30 at the Outdoor Pool during regular hours of operation.
Group Swim Lessons
When: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday
- June 16-26
- July 7-17
- Aug. 4-14
Time:
- 9:30-10 a.m. Level 1 or Level 2
- 10:15-10:45 a.m. Preschool or Parent & Child
- 5-5:30 p.m. Level 1 or Level 2
- 5:40-6:10 p.m. Level 3/4 Combo or Level 5/6 Combo
Cost: $60 E1-E5, $75 all others
Who: All with base access
Info: Drill Hall at 301-757-3943 or Outdoor Pool at 301-342-4225 or 301-757-5466
Private / Semi-Private Swim Lessons
When: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday
- June 15-26
- July 7-17
- Aug. 4-14
Time: 12-2 p.m.
Cost:
- Private (one-on-one, 4 lessons): $100 E1-E5, $110 all others (price for 1 student)
- Semi-Private (one-on-two, 4 lessons): $150 E1-E5, $160 all others (price for both students)
Who: All with base access
Info: Drill Hall at 301-757-3943 or Outdoor Pool at 301-342-4225 or 301-757-5466
Class Descriptions
Preschool (Ages 3-5 years) - A parent, or other participant at least 16 years of age, is required to be in the water with the preschooler throughout each class. All Preschool-level classes incorporate games and activities to encourage a fun and safe swimming experience.
- STEP 1: For children who are being exposed to a swim class for the first time.
- STEP 2: For children who are continuing their swim training. Participants at this level have successfully completed the Preschool Step 1 swim course.
- STEP 3: For children who are continuing their swim training. Participants at this level have successfully completed the Preschool Step 2 swim course.
Level 1: Water Exploration This class is designed to help participants become familiar in the water, introduce basic rescue skills and teach water safety.
Level 2: Primary Skills In this class, participants will learn to float without support, recover to a standing position, learn basic locomotive skills and expand upon the basic rescue skills learned in Level 1.
Level 3: Stroke Readiness Building on the skills learned in Level 2, this class teaches the fundamentals of treading water and front and back crawl, and introduces elements of the backstroke and additional safety skills.
Level 4: Stroke Development This course helps swimmers develop confidence and increase endurance using familiar strokes and teaches the breaststroke, sidestroke and butterfly (dolphin kick). It also focuses on treading water as a safety skill.
Level 5: Stroke Refinement In addition to teaching stroke coordination and refinement, this level also introduces swimmers to advanced safety skills, open turns, feet-first surface and poolside dive techniques.
Level 6: Stroke Proficiency This class will focus on individual stroke refinement, allowing greater power, ease and efficiency.
Please note that classes are subject to cancelation due to adverse weather conditions that pose a safety hazard to participants and staff (thunder/lightning/sustained high winds/water clarity due to rain).
Classes that are canceled by MWR will be made up at the next scheduled class.
If a participant opts to not attend class, this time is not available for "make-up" instrution with the instructor on a different date/time.
