Children can begin swim lessons as early as 6-months at Neal Fitness Center.

Yes! Our indoor pool allows us to offer swimming lessons year-round; even in the depths of winter in Muskegon, MI!

Yes, we offer beginner and intermediate adult swim lessons. Our classes are small and the instructor will work with you to meet your individual goals; whether that be facing a fear, learning to float, learning or improving stroke technique, developing a workout, or training for an event.

At the Clubhouse Aquatic Center, we understand that fear of water is a common and valid concern, and our instructors are specially trained to create a supportive and encouraging environment. Here’s how we help fearful swimmers build confidence and learn to enjoy the water:

Personalized Approach: Every swimmer’s journey is unique. Our instructors take the time to understand each individual's fears and tailor lessons to their comfort level, starting with small, manageable steps to build trust and confidence.

Gentle Progression: We emphasize gradual exposure to the water, beginning with basic skills like breathing and floating. By focusing on small achievements, we help swimmers feel a sense of accomplishment at every stage.

Patience and Empathy: Our instructors are patient, kind, and empathetic, providing constant encouragement and reassurance. We aim to create a stress-free experience where swimmers feel safe and supported.

Fun and Playful Learning: For many, fear of swimming stems from negative past experiences. We turn lessons into fun and engaging sessions, using games and activities to foster a positive relationship with water.

Communication and Trust: Building trust is key. Our instructors maintain open communication, explaining each step of the process so swimmers know what to expect and feel in control of their learning journey.

We believe that with the right guidance and a nurturing environment, anyone can overcome their fear of swimming and discover the joy of being in the water.

• You will need to check in at the front desk before each lesson.Make sure to sign the liability waiver early and have your picture taken at the front desk.

• Our classes start and end promptly! Please arrive with enough time to change, use the bathroom, and shower before entering the pool.

• Please note that street shoes are not allowed on the pool deck. Please remove your shoes in the locker room area. We encourage wearing flip-flops or shower shoes (not worn outdoors).

• Upon arrival on the pool deck, please find a seat on the benches. Your instructor will come to call your swimmer when it's time to begin the class. Swimming before and after lessons is not permitted.

• If you are late for class, it will be your responsibility to locate your class in the pool and join.

• If you are going to miss a class, please let your instructor or the front desk know.

• If you miss a class or your class is canceled during the 6-week session, you are entitled to one make-up class during the 7th week at your regularly scheduled class time.

• You MUST register with the front desk for make-ups. Instructors may not be available or prepared for make-up if you do not register in advance.

• Occasionally, classes may be canceled due to unforeseen circumstances. Every attempt will be made to contact you in advance via email, text, and phone call. Please make sure you have updated contact information on file.

• If a regular class falls on a federal holiday, we will reschedule it for week 7, at the same day and time. If you also need a makeup class, it can also be scheduled for week 7, but on a different day and time, provided it is for the same level.

• If you attend all 6 of your regularly scheduled classes, you do NOT qualify for a make-up class on week 7.

• After week 7, any missed classes will be forfeited.

Refunds are available up to 3 days before the session starts, minus a $10 administrative fee. No refunds are given within 3 days of the start or once a session begins. In cases of illness or injury, a prorated credit may be issued with a doctor’s note. A $10 administrative fee is non-refundable. To request a refund or credit, email: aquatics@bgclubmuskegon.com. Please include your swimmers full name, session details, reason for requesting a refund, and any pertinent documentation.

We keep our pool at 82*.

Here are some tips to help keep your swimmer comfortable during lessons if they get chilled easily:

• Wear a long-sleeved swimsuit, rash guard, neoprene wetsuit or vest.

• Consider using a swim cap or neoprene headband to reduce heat loss through your head.

• Bring two towels: one to wrap up in immediately after exiting the pool, and one for after showering. Shower robes and cover-ups may also help.

• Take a cool rinse shower before entering the pool, to make the water feel less cold.

• Engaging in physical activity will aid in maintaining a comfortable body temperature! Keep moving, and avoid getting in and out of the water too many times.

• Having a light snack before swimming can give your body the energy to generate heat through physical activity. Hungry bodies can have a harder time maintaining a comfortable body temperature.

• Infants and young children benefit from shared body heat, and you can too! Ask your instructor about techniques for holding that increase comfort in cold water.

Swimmers can progress to the next level upon passing an exit skills assessment. More information about exit skills can be found in the Red Cross Swim Lesson Achievement booklet and on the Red Cross Swim App.

Don't worry if your swimmer needs to repeat a level multiple times! Every swimmer progresses at their own pace. Our role is to facilitate learning in a safe environment and challenge our swimmers to progress towards their goals. It's common for swimmers to take a level a few times before being ready to move ahead. You can support your swimmer’s learning by giving them extra time to practice their skills in a pool and using the Red Cross Swim App for tips.

We do not offer Infant Self-Rescue lessons. Instead, we proudly utilize the American Red Cross Swimming and Water Safety Program, which is widely regarded as the gold standard in water safety and swim instruction.

Our program focuses on age-appropriate skills that promote safety, confidence, and enjoyment in the water, while adhering to the highest standards set by the industry. Through our comprehensive approach, we ensure that swimmers of all ages learn critical water safety skills in a safe, nurturing, and effective way.

• Red Cross Swim Lesson Newsletter: A digital newsletter specific to your enrolled level is distributed by your instructor on day one.

• Red Cross Swim Lesson Achievement booklet: Swimmers will receive an Achievement booklet on their first day of lessons. They can use this booklet to track their progress through the Learn-to-Swim levels. Once a participant completes all the requirements for a level, the instructor will sign and date the page in the Swim Lessons Achievement Booklet and check a box to indicate the participant's readiness to enroll in the next level.

• The Red Cross Swim mobile application (app) supports and promotes the Red Cross Swimming and Water Safety program, with a focus on the Preschool Aquatics and Learn-to-Swim courses. This app provides water safety information for both adults and children and connects them to Red Cross Training Providers that offer Red Cross Learn-to-Swim programs. The main goals of the app are to:

  • Support and promote the American Red Cross Swimming and Water Safety program.

  • Enable parents to monitor and share their children's progress through the Preschool Aquatics and Learn-to-Swim levels.

  • Provide adults with general water safety information and specific safety guidelines for different environments.

  • Help children learn about water safety through video segments from Longfellow’s WHALE Tales, age-appropriate water safety messaging, and quizzes for the parent and child to complete together.

• Photo booth opportunity! Please feel free to take photos of your swimmer, but please be considerate of others who may not want their children photographed or posted on social media. There is a photo backdrop on the pool deck that can be used to celebrate a great day at swim lessons! If you choose to post on social media, please consider using the following hashtags: #LearnToSwim #RedCross #SafetyFirst #Fitness4All

At our Aquatic Center, safety is the top priority, with cleanliness and maintenance close behind. Every member’s and visitor’s enjoyment depends on following these rules. We ask everyone to maintain a “safety first” mindset in and around the water.

Our commitment to you:

• Proper water balance and disinfectant levels.

• A well-maintained, clean environment.

• Education to help you stay safe and healthy.

A clean, safe pool minimizes the risk of recreational water illnesses—this requires everyone’s participation.

Access & Supervision

• Access is not permitted without a lifeguard on duty.

• Aquatic Center hours differ from Neal Fitness Center hours—check the schedule.

• Lifeguards enforce safety rules and have full authority on the pool deck.

• Primary supervision of youth under 16 is the responsibility of the accompanying adult guardian.

• Anyone unable to stand in the shallow end must have an adult within arm’s reach at all times.

• Deep end access (under age 15) requires passing a deep water swim assessment.

• During swim lessons, open swimming may be limited or restricted to adults only. This is to prioritize the safety and quality of the swim lesson program.

Prohibited Behaviors

• Running on the pool deck (wet surfaces can be slippery).

• Diving in water shallower than 9 ft.

• Horseplay, roughhousing, dunking, tossing others, or excessive splashing.

• Prolonged underwater swimming or breath-holding.

• Entering under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Equipment & Toys

• May be used only with lifeguard approval.

• Must be handled safely to avoid injury or damage.

Health & Hygiene Standards

• Do not enter the pool if you are sick, have had diarrhea in the past 14 days, or have contagious illnesses.

• No swimming with open wounds, unhealed abrasions, or while wearing bandages.

• Take a cleansing shower before entering the pool.

• Rinse off after swimming to reduce chlorine’s effect on skin and clothing.

• Street shoes are not allowed in wet areas (pool deck, showers, sauna).

• Use shower shoes or flip-flops in these areas.

Prohibited Items

• Food, drink, gum, and tobacco products.

• Glass containers, soap, lotions, or hazardous materials on deck or in water.

Hair & Attire

• Long hair should be tied back, covered, or secured.

• Hair products must be rinsed out before swimming or covered by a swim cap.

• Swim attire must be clean, fitted for safety, and designed for swimming.

• Swimwear worn in natural bodies of water must be washed before use in the pool.

For Swimmers with Diapers

• Swim diapers or vinyl diaper covers are required.

• Use restrooms before swimming.

• Diaper changes must be done at designated stations in locker rooms.