Aquatics

View Winter Spring Schedules below. Registration is open for Swim Lessons all the way through May.

Session 1 Schedule Session 2 Schedule Register

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I sit on the pool deck and watch my child’s swim lesson?
If you have a child in Junior Swim School we strongly urge you to STAY OUT OF SIGHT OF YOUR CHILD. You can watch the lesson; however, we recommend you do so from the other side of the pool deck, or a spot your child cannot see you. If you have a preschooler in dance or gymnastics you are aware that parents are not allowed in the room. We don’t have a divider on the pool deck to make this work. If your child is scared or crying, sometimes it can make it worse if you sit close by on the pool deck. They may see you sitting so close and don’t understand why you’re not in the water with them. If you would like to be close to your child who may be scared, we recommend Water Babies (which goes until 3.5 yrs old), or private lessons.  It is also very distracting for our swim lesson instructors and other children in the class when a parent is sitting next to their child.

My child is 5 years old. Should I sign my child up for Junior Swim School or Swim School?
There is an age overlap for Junior Swim School and Swim School. You have the choice. Make your decision using the following information: There is no skill prerequisite or “test” for Swim School – we have children in Swim School who may be fearful of going underwater and who cannot swim unsupported. Make your decision based on your child’s maturity. Can they listen and follow directions? If a swim lesson instructor is working with another child in the group, will your child stay put and hold on to the ledge of the pool or stay on the in-water riser when the instructor is 15 yards away? If you answered yes to these two questions – Swim School is the right fit for your 5 or 6 year old.

What if my child prefers either a boy or girl instructor, or I want a specific instructor?
We recommend considering “Pop-up” Private Swim Lessons which give you the option to hand select your child’s teacher. It is not possible to select a specific instructor for group lessons.

Why doesn’t my child have the same teacher for each class?
Our goal is to pair your child with the same teacher for the entire session.
Your child may have a different teacher for one of two reasons: an instructor calls in sick and there’s a substitute or your child was moved to a more advanced level.

What if I think there are too many kids in my child’s group?
Our Swim School fees are based on a 6:1 student to teacher ratio. Junior Swim School pricing structure is based on a 4:1 student to teacher ratio. If you would like more individualized attention we recommend private swimming lessons.

Who is teaching my child?
Almost all of our instructors are currently high school or college students. Their energy is through the roof and they love their jobs and working with kids. Many are high school and college swimmers and quite a few are interested in a career specializing in early childhood and/or teaching. We aim for our swimming lesson program to be a highlight of your child’s school year or summer! that is only possible because of our young staff. For many, this is their first job and they are eager to succeed.

Can my child wear goggles?
In Junior Swim School we recommend no goggles. Becoming dependent on goggles will not help your child adapt and feel comfortable in water as they grow older. Opening eyes underwater is a skill in Junior Swim School. Goggles are also not allowed on our diving boards or slides. We want your child’s first experience going off the diving board to be positive and feel familiar underwater. Often times the child who panics after going of the diving board for the first time has never felt the sensation of being underwater with no goggles.

Are there outdoor swim lessons in the rain or inclement weather?
Yes. All swim lessons take place in light rain or cool temperatures. We cancel swim lessons due to heavy rain (when a lifeguard cannot see the bottom of the pool) or lighting and thunder. If a swim lesson is cancelled due to heavy rain or thunder and/or lighting you will receive a one day refund posted to your AHPD account.

Swimming Lesson Code of Conduct

Please read to ensure our program is the right fit for your family:

To participate in group swimming lessons your child needs to be able to stay with their group and follow directions from all aquatic staff (instructors and lifeguards). When our swim lesson instructors are working on a skill with a child – the instructor can be up to 15 yards away from the other children in the group. Our beginner swimmers who cannot swim without assistance need to have the muscle tone and strength to do the following when it is not their turn with their instructor:

1. Sit on the ledge of the pool

2. Stand on the in-water riser

3. Stay put, above water, in their spot in our “zero-depth”, in-water bench area, or stairs that lead into the pool.

When a child moves from their spot and either jumps or slips underwater, we have lifeguards on duty; however, lifeguards are scanning a zone of protection, and have 30 seconds to respond to a swimmer who is underwater or in distress. 

When a child walks or swims away from the group, this puts every child in the group in danger. When an instructor has to take extra time to retrieve the child who has swam away, it also takes class instruction time away from everyone.

If your child does not have the strength or muscle tone to stay above water when it is not their turn, is requiring excessive one-on-one attention from the instructor, or is disruptive to the other children, we will offer you a prorated refund and remove your child from the class. We will discuss other options for swim lessons to keep your child swimming safely. We do take water safety very serious and we appreciate that these policies we have in place for in-water instruction are very well received by the majority of parents.

If you are unsure about your child’s ability to stay above water when it is not their turn, we do offer one-on-one private swim lesson instruction and/or coaching – with no other children in your child’s session.

REFUND POLICY | There is a deadline to request a refund for each class code. This is so we can plan our staffing needs. You can find the refund deadline in the description for each class. The refund deadline will also print on your receipt. 

MAKE-UP POLICY | There are no make-ups for missed classes. Each class has a specific number of instructors who were pre-scheduled based on the number of kids enrolled. Refunds are not provided for the value of one lesson if you miss or don’t show up for a day in a session.

TRANSFERRING TO A DIFFERENT CLASS | If your schedule changes after you register and you’d like to transfer from one class code to another, please contact Angela Neill, Aquatic Supervisor, at 847-577-3029. If there are openings a transfer can be processed over the phone if the fees are the same. This would need to be done the Wednesday before the first class.

Pop-Up Private Swim Lessons | An à la carte experience

Options for preschool through adult.

Adults – see last bullet point.

• Designed so you can pick a specific teacher to make your child feel comfortable- either a boy or girl teacher. Or maybe you have a favorite teacher. (An amenity not possible with group swim lessons).
• Perfect for the young child who does not like a group environment for swim lessons.
• 30-minute swim lesson with private one-on-one attention. Accomplish a lot without the distraction of other kids in a group.
• Tell your instructor what you want to work on – or if you’re not sure, we will come up with a plan together. Some people sign their kids up with one goal in mind such as: eliminating fear water, going off diving board for the first time, afraid of water, or swim team strokes/skills/endurance/breathing tips.
• Great compliment to Muskies or Interpark Swim Team!
• Parents – put your name on the list for class code 85706 and sign up for that class code for Fall registration. We will email everyone who signs up for that code when instructors’ schedules begin to POP-UP on our registration portal.
• Residents | $45
• Non-residents | $68
• Semi-private options available for siblings. Contact Angela Neill, Aquatic Supervisor, for details at 847-577-3029.

ADULT PRIVATE LESSONS

We have three adult instructors passionate about working with adults who want to learn how to swim for the first time  – (it’s never too late!!) – or for those who want to add swimming into their workout routine but don’t know where to start.

BE SMART WITH YOUR golf, tennis, or pickleball game. Introducing a swim program into your workout routine is a great way to enhance your endurance in those other activities. One or two private lessons can be all it takes to gain some tips so you can create a swim workout plan you can manage on your own. Both Margaret and Steve can help you write a workout plan for the next time you jump in a pool by yourself.

MARGARET – Margaret has won her age group multiple times at the Chicago Triathlon and is a qualifier for Age Group Nationals! In this class you may work on: being more efficient with breathing, endurance tips, learning a new stroke, or maybe you want to compete in a Triathlon but you’re not confident with the swimming leg of the race, or perhaps you need help with the open water swim portion of the triathlon that you can practice in the pool. Margaret coached age group swimmers for 17 years. She is also passionate about working with the beginner adult swimmer who may be uncomfortable going underwater. 

STEVE – Steve is one of our adult teachers and has been teaching since 2010. He has experience with all levels and has coached swim teams. Steve is the perfect fit for adults who want to add swimming into their fitness routine, work on proper technique to be more efficient with energy, gain endurance for other sports and activities outside of the pool such as running, tennis, golf, prep for a vacation, or for those who may be afraid of water or don’t know how to swim – it’s never too late!! Alternately – Steve is very popular with our youth and tweens. He was one of our most requested teachers for Swim School this past school year at ARC for our tween participants.

JEFF –Jeff has been a competitive swimmer since he was 8 years old and was on the swim team at Western Illinois University where he held individual records for 200 Backstroke and 400 Individual Medley. While Jeff is not currently competing in Masters swim meets, he did swim the Illinois Masters State meet in 2022 where he scored more points than anyone else in his 55- to 59-year-old age group. After retiring from his job in 2020 Jeff began swimming three mornings a week at the park district open adult swim where he found he loves to help adult swimmers of any level learn to improve their stroke techniques, knowing that small changes can make a huge difference. Alternately, for those with a fear of water, Jeff can help you conquer that fear and begin enjoying the water as he has his whole life.

To reserve a private swim lesson with Margaret, Steve, or Jeff – contact Angela directly 847-577-3029

Keep checking back if you don’t find a time that works for you. We load more classes each week as we review our instructors’ personal availability.

Register

We’ve launched a new pool schedule that’s directly linked to our scheduling system. This means you can easily see all the scheduled pool activities in one place!

Pool Schedule

Sign up for January classes at 1PM on December 26

Ditch the harsh pavement, treadmill and gym floors! Our aqua fitness classes offer a low-impact way to get a full-body workout. We use water resistance (think pool noodles and foam weights) to build strength in your arms, back, shoulders, and core. Deep water classes utilize buoyancy belts for a more supported experience. Choose from high-intensity workouts to get your heart rate pumping or low-intensity options for a gentler exercise. Plus, the water’s adjustability makes it perfect for all fitness levels. Water running classes are a fantastic addition to your training program, especially if you’re preparing for a race like the Chicago Marathon!

• All Aqua Fitness classes are an amenity of our ARC Annual memberships; therefore, reservations are required for all classes to insure this is a member only program.
• These classes are very popular and each class has a specific capacity that coincides with pool size to allow ample room for movement.
• An Annual ARC SplashPass or PlusPass is required. Aqua Fitness classes are not included in a Summer only SplashPass.

Cancel a Class December Schedule Register Now

Deep Aqua Fit
A cardiovascular and strength training workout in the diving well (12 feet deep). Buoyancy belts are used. Every “body” is different—waist sizes and body shapes vary greatly. Over time, buoyancy belts form to the natural shape of your individual body. It’s unique contour shape balances buoyancy evenly around your torso, enhancing correct posture and body alignment. They come in a variety of sizes and there are various brands on the market. For this reason, we strongly urge participants to bring their own personal belt so that over time your belt can form to the natural shape of your own body. We do supply standard belts for aqua fitness and water running participants; however, we cannot ensure that the correct size for your body will be available, especially in larger classes. To ensure the correct belt size to fit your personal frame, we recommend you bring your own. The instructor may also use hand buoys and/or noodles. Hand buoys come in multiple sizes to offer different progressive levels of buoyancy and resistance. We have 3 sizes available; however, we cannot guarantee your specific preference of resistance will be available, especially for large classes. Aqua fitness participants are welcome to bring their own equipment to address personal preferences. We have approximately 50 HYDRO-FIT Noodles available for participant use. These noodles are designed to safely support an adult in the water and provide the level of resistance necessary for effective upper body conditioning. Each noodle is 54 inches in length and 3 inches in diameter. We may also have other noodles available in a variety of lengths and levels of resistance; however, we cannot guarantee your specific preference of resistance will be available, especially for large classes. Aqua fitness participants are welcome to bring their own noodle to address personal preferences.

Shallow Aqua Fit
A cardiovascular and strength training workout in the lap pool. Water should be at least waist high but below the chest. Aquatic shoes are recommended but not provided. Standard aqua fitness equipment is provided.  The instructor may also use hand buoys and/or noodles. Hand buoys come in multiple sizes to offer different progressive levels of buoyancy and resistance. We have 3 sizes available; however, we cannot guarantee your specific preference of resistance will be available, especially for large classes. Aqua fitness participants are welcome to bring their own equipment to address personal preferences. We have approximately 50 HYDRO-FIT Noodles available for participant use. These noodles are designed to safely support an adult in the water and provide the level of resistance necessary for effective upper body conditioning. Each noodle is 54 inches in length and 3 inches in diameter. We may also have other noodles available in a variety of lengths and levels of resistance; however, we cannot guarantee your specific preference of resistance will be available, especially for large classes. Aqua fitness participants are welcome to bring their own noodle to address personal preferences.

Warm Aqua Fit
A shallow water class with slower movements and low impact. This class is in our Wellness Pool. Aquatic shoes are recommended but not provided. Standard aqua fitness equipment is provided.  The instructor may also use hand buoys and/or noodles. Hand buoys come in multiple sizes to offer different progressive levels of buoyancy and resistance. We have 3 sizes available; however, we cannot guarantee your specific preference of resistance will be available, especially for large classes. Aqua fitness participants are welcome to bring their own equipment to address personal preferences. We have approximately 50 HYDRO-FIT Noodles available for participant use. These noodles are designed to safely support an adult in the water and provide the level of resistance necessary for effective upper body conditioning. Each noodle is 54 inches in length and 3 inches in diameter. We may also have other noodles available in a variety of lengths and levels of resistance; however, we cannot guarantee your specific preference of resistance will be available, especially for large classes. Aqua fitness participants are welcome to bring their own noodle to address personal preferences.

Deep Water Running
Can’t ramp up your mileage without getting hurt? Dreading the treadmill, track, or road? Deep Water Running is your answer! This fun, interval-based class is a fantastic cardio workout that strengthens your core and burns calories – all while staying cool in the deep end. Perfect for those who are comfortable in deep water, a flotation belt ensures you feel secure. So ditch the pavement and dive into a deep water adventure! Buoyancy belts are used. Every “body” is different—waist sizes and body shapes vary greatly. Over time, buoyancy belts form to the natural shape of your individual body. It’s unique contour shape balances buoyancy evenly around your torso, enhancing correct posture and body alignment. They come in a variety of sizes and there are various brands on the market. For this reason, we strongly urge participants to bring their own personal belt so that over time your belt can form to the natural shape of your own body. We do supply standard belts for aqua fitness and water running participants; however, we cannot ensure that the correct size for your body will be available, especially in larger classes. To ensure the correct belt size to fit your personal frame, we recommend you bring your own.

Silent Deep Aqua Fit

• No teacher present
• Aqua fitness equipment will be provided
• Written workout will be provided
• All equipment will be made available at 6:30am
• All equipment will be locked up at 7:30am
• This class mimics how we operated fitness classes at ARC in 2020 and 2021.
• Sing up required as you still need to agree to the participant waiver
• Diving well will still be made available for open swim to other members. Only those members who are signed up can use equipment.

Questions about Diving Lessons? Contact Melissa with Windy City Diving.

Windy City Diving requires AAU Diving Athlete membership. This membership is $20 and can be obtained online at AAU Diving. Please bring proof of your AAU Diving registration to your first class.

Winter Spring Schedule      Register

Level 1

The beginner diving class is an introduction to the sport of springboard diving and is designated to teach the safe and proper way to use the springboard. Any individual 8-18 years old who has an interest in diving, can swim comfortably in deep water, and dive in head first off the side of the pool deck into deep water can take this class. Students will be taught a forward approach and a back press. They will progress to forward and backward dives as well as other skills based on ability.

Level 2

The intermediate and advanced diving classes are for those divers who already know how to do a proper diving hurdle and back press. The divers will be taught new skills and tricks based on their current skill and ability. *Prerequisite
Must have previously participated in a level 1 lesson or have gymnastics experience.

Pre-Team prerequisite
Must have completed level 2 lessons and been referred by a coach. This level has the potential to compete at local meets approximately 1 time a month from January – May. Skills required are a front dive with a 4 step approach and a back fall in entry without a spot.

REFUNDS

• The last day to request a refund for Session 1 is Friday, August 30. No refunds will be approved or processed after August 30.
• The last day to request a refund for Session 2 is Wednesday, October 23. No refunds will be approved or processed after October 23.

MAKE-UP POLICY

There are no make-ups or pro-rated refunds for missed classes.

Ages 9 to 14 – Youth Water Polo (Year Round)

Water Polo is an exciting team sport to watch and even more exciting to play. The teams practice then later compete against each other as the session progresses. You will learn the basics of the game, run drills, and scrimmage in the dive well

During the school year we offer an instruction program that meets once a week on Sundays at ARC. During the Summer, practices run on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays for 6 weeks. For questions regarding water polo, please contact Ila Nathanson, Aquatic Supervisor.

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The Arlington Heights Park District offers competitive swim teams year-round for every level of competitive swimmer.

Arlington Muskies | Ages 6-18