Aquatics
About Us
YWCA Central Maine’s aquatics program offers the only regulation-size fully accessible public pool in the Lewiston-Auburn area. We provide a diverse array of classes, teams, open swims, and therapeutic and culturally appropriate swim opportunities. Our swim instructors teach children and adults, alike and offer resources to help swimmers at all levels to grow and develop skills. Our dedicated staff work to meet the needs and prioritize the safety of all swimmers. The YWCA aquatics department partners with many community organizations to support affordable swim lessons for youth in Lewiston-Auburn. From parties, to swim meets, to rehabilitation and wellness, the YWCA pool is more than aquatics, it is a community center.
– SWIM LESSON REGISTRATION opens April 10th for the next session starting April 22nd. To see the schedule NOW and register on the 10th go to RecDesk
– The Aqua Park will be back April 20th and 21st. Sessions do fill up, so reserve your spots now on RecDesk
– A Lifeguarding Class is being offered in May. To sign up open the flyers Lifeguard Training and Requirements
If you would like to receive updates specific to our Aquatics program including swim lessons, please add yourself to our list: Aquatics Updates
Pool Schedule & Swim Descriptions
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Pool Programs
Lap Swim: Swimmers (all ages) must be able to swim continuous laps. Swimmers will be encouraged to follow lap swim etiquette and self-assessing where they should swim according to ability. Faster swimmers will be asked to swim in lanes 4, 5 & 6 while leisure lap swimmers will be in lanes 1, 2 & 3. Depending on lap swim traffic and swim ability of individuals, aquatic staff may ask swimmers to move into another lane in efforts to make our community space a more inclusive and positive experience for all people coming to swim laps. The yellow stairs will remain in lane 1 for swimmers who want to use them for easier pool entry and/or exit.
Family Swim: Open pool for free play (all ages). *You must reserve your spot on RecDesk
MS Wellness Aquatic Therapy: Led by specialists in physical therapy for people who have multiple sclerosis (MS). Registration: This is a free program, but you must pre-register for aquatic therapy. Please see our MS Wellness Program page for additional information.
Single Gender Women-Only Programs: These programs are open to women and girls (10+) who require privacy for personal, religious, safety, privacy, cultural, or any other reason. Only women-identified patrons are permitted in the pool and locker rooms. The viewing area to the pool is curtained off for privacy and no males are permitted in the pool area, including lifeguards or instructors. Register on RecDesk
Women Swim: For folks identifying as women, all ages. Boys under the age of 5 are welcome with a female adult. 3 lanes for lap swim, 3 lanes open for general water time and fitness. Note that this is a different program from Single Gender Women-Only Swim, which does not allow children.
Single Gender Women's Programs
In service of our mission to eliminate racism and empower women, YWCA Central Maine continues to offer several opportunities for women requiring single-gender access to the pool to enjoy the water. These programs are open only to those identifying as women and girls (15 years and older) who may require or prefer privacy for personal, religious, safety, privacy, cultural, or any other reason.
Only women-identified patrons are permitted in the pool or locker rooms. The viewing area to the pool is curtained off for privacy and no males are allowed in the pool area, including lifeguards and swim instructors. Women are encouraged to wear the clothing that they are most comfortable in in the pool.
Current Programs
Wednesday nights from 7-8pm. Here is the flyer. Pre-register on RecDesk
Aquatics Pricing
On March 1st, 2023, we launched a new system that will allow for online registration for classes and for our patrons to buy swim passes and classes online. We are excited to launch this new software in order to improve the user experience and provide an ease of online payment. You can access the site online here – or at a kiosk station located in our front lobby.
There are many ways to pay to use our pool, designed to fit the needs of individuals and families in our community.
A pdf of our current pricing is available to view or print here.
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Annual YWCA Community Access Registration Fee– Required for all YWCA Programs & Services – You will need to renew it after a year.
Annual & Monthly Swim Passes– Includes all public swim programs (Open, Lap, Women’s, Family Swim, Water Fitness). Annual YWCA Community Access Fee is required.
Drop-in Rates (all ages): $15.00 per visit plus annual YWCA Community Access Registration Fee
Individual Punch Card (5 punches)– Includes all public swim programs (Open, Lap, Women’s, Family Swim, Water Fitness), allowing five visits at a discounted rate with a 30-day expiration date. Annual YWCA Community Access Registration Fee is required.
Organizational Entity Group Punch Card– Available for groups of 3, 4, or 5 people and includes all public swim programs (Open, Lap, Women’s, Family Swim, Water Fitness). Allows 12 swims with a 90-day expiration date. **Groups of 6 or more must contact the YWCA to discuss options (207-795-4050)**
**For Family Swims and Open Swims, children 18 months and under swim for free when accompanied by a paying adult**
*ALL SALES ARE FINAL*
*SWIM PASSES & PUNCH CARDS ARE NON-TRANSFERRABLE*
*NO REFUNDS*
Swim Lessons
Here at the YWCA we offer a wide variety of swim lessons for all ages to enjoy. Starting with our parent and child class, we have classes available for children 6 months up through adult lessons. Explore our Aquatics page to learn more about our lessons. Scholarships are available. If you have any questions or would like to discuss a scholarship, please contact our swim lesson department at swimlessons@ywcamaine.org.
**Please note – Scholarships must be approved. Please plan accordingly and apply at least 6 weeks prior to the session you are hoping to participate in. We will not be able to automatically grant new scholarship applications at the same time as swim lesson registration. Applications acceptance must be completed prior to using a scholarship for registration**
Create Rec Desk Account All swim lesson registrations will take place on RecDesk.
Swim Level Descriptions Swim level descriptions
Level Chart What level swim class should my child be in?
Level Chart Under 5 What level swim class should my child under 5 be in?
Swim Lessons FAQ FAQ all about swim lessons.
Swim Lessons What To Expect My child is in swim lessons. Now what? Step by step for day 1.
- Classes are limited in size to benefit students
- YWCA lessons are designed to teach water safety and swim confidence.
- Current individual level of skill, coordination, growth and behavior determine advancement through the swim levels.
- In order for class to start on time please enter the pool area a couple minutes before class.
- Signing up a swimmer for a class who does not meet the class description requirements may result in the swimmer being removed from the class due to safety. The YWCA will make every effort to place the child in a class that meets their correct swim level.
- Cancellations: When you call to register for a class, you agree to the following terms:
- YWCA Central Maine reserves the right to discontinue or adjust any and all classes, including private lesson, on our lesson session schedule. If a cancellation takes place, the guardian for each swimmer will be notified.
- If YWCA Central Maine cancels a class due to a power outage, building closure, inclement weather, or more, we will offer a make-up lesson date/time or a single family swim pass. YWCA Central Maine does not issue refunds for lessons. To check for building-wide cancellations, including those due to inclement weather, visit our Facebook page or call 795-4050.
- If you miss a class after the first day of the swim session for any reason, including illness, you will not be offered a refund, make-up class, swim pass, or other reimbursement.
- If you withdraw from the entire swim lessons session before the first day of classes, you will receive a one-year credit for a future swim lessons session at the same rate (note: you will be responsible to pay any additional fees if you sign up for a more expensive session). No refunds are issued for voluntary cancellations or withdrawals.
- Check storm cancellations on news channels 6, 8, 13 or our Facebook page.
Splash Parties
Rent the entire pool for a private swim party! Perfect for birthdays, work functions, sport banquets, and more.
If you are interested in reserving a Saturday or Sunday afternoon of fun, choose either pool only (1 hour) or rent the party room (1hr.) & pool (1hr) together. The room is set up with party tables for you to bring in your food, cake, and ice cream, and you are welcome to include your own decorations. Please note all Splash Parties are open pool only with no float.
Please call the YWCA front desk at 207-795-4050 to inquire about our splash party availability and pricing. All party reservations are on a first come, first serve basis and a deposit is required to hold your date.
FAQ:
How many people are allowed in the gym and in the pool? Our maximum capacity is based on several factors including facility, staffing and safety. Our maximum capacities: for the gym room is 50 people and for the pool 35 people, not including parents supervising children from pool deck.
Do all kids need to know how to swim? It is highly recommended that you know your swim parties swim abilities. The children attending do not need to know how to swim in order to attend. We have puddle jumpers and lifejackets for children under 50lbs. We have limited larger lifejackets. For children over 50lbs we suggest bringing your own lifejackets.
Do you have pool toys and floats? Are we allowed to bring our own floats? We have a bunch of big and small noodles as well as other pool toys free to use. You may bring your own floats to the pool as long as they are for single use and not used as jumping pads. We do ask if you use our toys that you please pick up after and leave the pool the same as when you came in.
Can we use the diving blocks? We discourage the use of the diving blocks during splash parties. The blocks are for competition swim use only.
I am interested in renting out the pool or gym, but do not want to have a Splash Party, do you have any availability? If you are interested in holding an event at the YWCA that is not a splash party, please contact the YWCA at 207-795-4050, to discuss pricing and availability.
Important Splash Party note: Our lifeguards are on duty to supervise water safety, not child care. We do not have a set ratio for parent to child, but we hold the party hosts responsible for the behavior of the children attending the Splash Party and their ability to follow the pool rules. Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times and pool rules should be enforced by adults attending to ensure a safe and fun pool party. If there is a Splash Party group that does not follow pool rules to the lifeguards standards, they will be reported to director and will not be allowed to host another splash party.
Red Cross Lifeguard Training
YWCA Central Maine is proud to offer American Red Cross Lifeguard Training Opportunities in coordination with trusted community partners.
Prerequisites: include completion of a 300 yard swim, treading water, and timed deep water object removal. All components are valid for 2 years. Must be 15 years of age or older.
A Lifeguarding Class is being offered in February and May. To sign up open the flyers Lifeguard Training and Requirements
Sign up now on RecDesk.
YMCA Twin Cities Swim Team
In October 2021, YMCA of Auburn-Lewiston and YWCA Central Maine announced we are uniting our individual youth swim programs into one entity, the Twin Cities Swim Team. Please visit the YMCA website for additional information, including registration.
Pool Safety & Rules
Pool & Locker Room Age Requirements:
Ages 7 & under: Parents/adults must go into the pool with their child (unless the child is in a swim lesson). Children may use any locker room and must be accompanied by an adult.
Ages 8 – 18: Parents/adults must stay in the YW building. Youth may go into the pool alone only if they are able to swim without the help of a floatation device (bubble belt or life vest). Children must use companion locker room or gender appropriate locker room.
Scholarships
Scholarships are available. If you have any questions or would like to discuss a scholarship, please contact our swim lesson department at swimlessons@ywcamaine.org Scholarship Application
**Please note – Scholarships must be approved. Please plan accordingly and apply at least 6 weeks prior to the session you are hoping to participate in. We will not be able to automatically grant new scholarship applications at the same time as swim lesson registration. Applications acceptance must be completed prior to using a scholarship for registration**
Help the Save a Life Scholarship Fund
Since the 2023/2024 school year began, we have taught 677 swim lessons! That’s a lot of swim lessons and we are able to do this largely in part to your donation to our “Save a Life Scholarship” fund.
Have you ever wondered how swim lessons may connect to our mission of “eliminating racism and empowering women”? Historically, the BIPOC community has had the least access to swimming and lessons resulting in a higher drowning rate among the community. Creating equity means that everyone, no matter what their circumstance, has the same opportunity, and our swim scholarship fund is a fundamental aspect to our aquatics program. In order to keep offering scholarships we need community support and your help.
Ways to donate: PayPal put “swim scholarships” in the notes
Call the front desk 207-795-4050
Send a check – Put “save a Life” in the memo