Instructional Programs

Swim Lessons, Fitness Classes, and more for youth and adults. MIT Recreation instructional programs offer a community of fitness enthusiasts of all levels who relax, de-stress and train together.

Summer 2017 Program Registration is now open. Use the filter below to choose classes, and view times and descriptions.

Youth Aquatics Schedules
Summer 2017: Early Summer  |  Lunchtime Lessons  |  Summer A  |  Summer B

Aquatics Surveys
Adult Aquatics: Placement Survey
Youth Aquatics Surveys: 2.5 – 3 yrs  |  3 – 5 yrs  |  5 – 14 yrs

Select at least one

Class Age Class Type
MIT Jr. LifeguardView description Youth (11 yrs +) Aquatics
Swimming For EnduranceView description Adult Aquatics
CrossFit ONE-XView description Adult Fitness
Youth Diving ClinicsView description Youth (7 yrs +) Aquatics
Boxing Conditioning IView description Adult Fitness
Boxing Conditioning IIView description Adult Fitness
OFT: Outdoor Fitness TrainingView description Adult Fitness
ScullingView description Adult Rowing
Lifeguard Pre-Course TestView description American Red Cross
Lifeguard TrainingView description Adult American Red Cross
Intro to SpringboardView description Youth (6 yrs +) Youth (8 yrs +) Aquatics
Tech TeamView description Youth (6 yrs +) Aquatics
Level 5 Stroke RefinementView description Youth (5 yrs +) Youth (6 yrs +) Youth (8 yrs +) Aquatics
Level 4 Stroke ImprovementView description Youth (5 yrs +) Youth (6 yrs +) Youth (8 yrs +) Aquatics
Level 3 DeepView description Youth (5 yrs +) Youth (6 yrs +) Youth (8 yrs +) Aquatics
Level 3 ShallowView description Youth (5 yrs +) Youth (6 yrs +) Youth (8 yrs +) Aquatics
Level 2 Fundamental SkillsView description Youth (5 yrs +) Youth (6 yrs +) Youth (8 yrs +) Aquatics
Level 1 Intro to Water SkillsView description Youth (5 yrs +) Youth (6 yrs +) Youth (8 yrs +) Aquatics
Preschool Level 3: Advanced BeaversView description Youth (2.5 yrs – 5 yrs) Aquatics
Preschool Level 2: Intermediate BeaversView description Youth (2.5 yrs – 5 yrs) Aquatics
Preschool Level 1: Beginning BeaversView description Youth (2.5 yrs – 5 yrs) Aquatics
Parent BeaverView description Youth (2.5 yrs – 5 yrs) Aquatics
Parent ToddlerView description Youth (6mo – 35mo) Aquatics
Parent InfantView description Youth (6mo – 35mo) Aquatics
Efficient FreestyleView description Adult Aquatics
Pre-Masters WorkoutView description Adult Aquatics
Stroke TechniqueView description Adult Aquatics
Intermediate SwimView description Adult Aquatics
Beginning SwimView description Adult Aquatics
Intro to SwimView description Adult Aquatics
Intermediate SquashView description Adult Squash
Learning SquashView description Adult Squash
Functional CircuitsView description Adult Fitness

MIT Jr. Lifeguard

Aquatics | Youth 11 yrs +

Designed for youth 11 to 16 years of age, or those who have completed the 5th grade age. MIT Jr Lifeguarding provides a foundation of lifeguarding and life skills. Junior Lifeguarding involves a significant amount of physical activity and is perfect for youth, looking to transition from MIT Youth Levels Program. Upon successful completion of course requirements, each participant may receive an MIT Junior Lifeguard Certificate.
NOTE: This class does not satisfy the basic requirements nor certify a participant as a Lifeguard.
Pre-requisites:

    • Swim the front crawl for 25 yards continuously while breathing to the front or side.
      Swim the breaststroke for 25 yards using a pull, breathe, kick and glide sequence.
      Tread water for 1 minute using arms and legs.
      Show a level of comfort on the back by floating on the back for 30 seconds or swimming on the back for 25 yards using the elementary backstroke or back crawl.
      Submerge and swim a distance of 10 feet under water.
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Swimming For Endurance

Aquatics | Adult

This class will build up your endurance! The goal for students is to be able to swim a quarter mile ( 400 yards) by the end of the class. Participants should be able to swim 50 yards without stopping. Class will focus on: Fine tune your freestyle stroke, learn to use pace clock and intro to interval training. Each class will be a timed continuous swim. 2min, 3 min etc, focusing on basic sighting skills for triathletes and open/ flip turns.

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CrossFit ONE-X

Fitness | Adult

ONE-X is a high-energy one hour class that includes a warmup, workout, and cool down. In ONE-X you will find all of your favorite movements and equipment. From burpees, box jumps, and wall balls to kettle bells, spin bikes, and jump rope…ONE-X is perfect for anyone looking for a fast-paced, non-stop, fun workout! You don’t need any prior fitness experience to join this class. Just show up ready to sweat & have fun, and we will take care of the rest. Instruction by One Nation CrossFit Coaches.

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Youth Diving Clinics

Aquatics | Youth 7 yrs +

The Youth Diving class will consist of 1 and 3 meter springboard, as well as 3 and 5 meter platform diving. This will start from the very basic entry in to the water, all the way up to multiple somersaults and twists in every direction. The class will also contain a strength and flexibility component intended to improve form for diving. Prerequisites: Participants should be able to swim 50 yards in deep water, to safety perform a headfirst entry from the side of the pool and be able to jump off a 3 meter board.
Parental supervision within the same pool area is required during lessons.

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Boxing Conditioning I

Fitness | Adult

This class is open to all levels and is a pre-requisite for Boxing Conditioning II. Participants will focus on proper punching technique and footwork as it relates to boxing. Conditioning drills will improve your cardiovascular endurance and strength to enhance your boxing skills.

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Boxing Conditioning II

Fitness | Adult

Prior boxing experience or completion of the Boxing Conditioning I course is recommended. This class is the total package as it targets both cardiovascular and strength in one workout. Participants will continue to work on punching technique, punch combinations and footwork as it relates to boxing. Conditioning drills will enhance coordination, speed, agility, quickness, and cardio endurance.

*Participants will need to provide their own boxing gloves for class.

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OFT: Outdoor Fitness Training

Fitness | Adult

Looking to take your cardio and strength to the next level in the great outdoors? Circuit training drills in our OFT class will drive your cardio endurance up while keeping your muscles loaded for strength training. This class combines simple athletic drills in a unique and novel Group Fitness environment that will motivate you to finish hard and strong.

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Sculling

Sculling | Adult

This class is suitable for those who wish to learn to row, or to improve their sculling skills.  Each participant will take to the water in a single-person recreational shell and scull along the Charles River. Experience is not necessary, but participants must be at least 18 years of age and pass the small-boat swim test (mitpe.com/swim-boat-test). A DAPER Membership is not required.

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Lifeguard Pre-Course Test

American Red Cross | Adult

The Lifeguard Pre-Course Test is the pre-requisite to taking the Lifeguard Training Course. Candidates must register for and successfully complete the precourse test prior to registering for the full Lifeguard Training Class.
During the pre-course test candidates must bring an ID showing that they will be 15 years old or older by the last day of the Lifeguard Training Course and successfully complete the Pre-Course Swim Skills Tests:
300 yard swim (100 front crawl, 100 breaststroke, and 100 crawl or breaststroke)
Tread water for 2 minutes with legs only
Timed Swim of 20 yards using front crawl or breaststroke, surface dive to a depth of 7-10 feet, retrieve a 10-pound brick, return to the surface, and swim 20 yards back to the starting point with the object and exit the water without using a ladder or steps, within 1 minute, 40 seconds.

Please contact arcinfo@mit.edu with any questions or concerns.

*Precourse tests completed at MIT Recreation are valid ONLY for courses at MIT Recreation.

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Lifeguard Training

American Red Cross | Adult

The lifeguard training course will train participants in lifeguard skills and knowledge to prevent and respond to aquatic emergencies. Upon successful completion of this course, participants will receive the Lifeguard Training, Fist Aid,  and CPR/AED certificate which are all valid for 2 years.   Participants must be 15 years old on or before the last day of the class. Participants must also pass a swim test on the first day of class. The test includes a 300 yard swim (100 Freestyle, 100 Breaststroke, and 100 where you choose between those two strokes), treading water, and picking a dive brick up off the bottom of the pool (swim 20 yards, surface dive of 7-10 feet, and retrieve the 10lbs brick and return to the starting point, within 1 minute and 40 seconds).

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Intro to Springboard

Aquatics | Youth 6 yrs +

In Introduction to Springboard Diving participants will learn the basics of springboard diving from the 1 meter board. Skills learned will include diving safety, springboard approach, and diving form for a variety of dive positions. Depending on participant interest and skill the class may progress to the 3 meter boards.

Prerequisite: Participants must be comfortable in deep water, be able to safely perform a headfirst entry from the side of the pool and be able to swim at least 15 yards.

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Tech Team

Aquatics | Youth 6 yrs +

Tech Team will focus on improving technique, speed, and endurance. Each workout will last 1-2 hours and will have a 10:1 swimmer to coach ratio. This program will work on starts, turns, endurance, as well as building strong sportsmanship.

Prerequisite: Children must have passed the American Red Cross Level 5 or its equivalent, be able to swim 100 yards continuously, and be comfortable swimming all 4 competitive strokes.

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Level 5 Stroke Refinement

Aquatics | Youth 6 yrs +

Level 5 will provide students with an opportunity to develop coordination, stroke refinement and endurance in all strokes while learning flip turns and improving dives from the side and starting blocks.

Pre-requisite: Swimmers entering this level should be able to comfortably swim 25 yards of Front Crawl with side breathing, Backstroke and Elementary Backstroke. They should be able to swim 15-25 yards of Breaststroke, Sidestroke and Butterfly, be very comfortable in deep water and able to tread water for 2 minutes

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Level 4 Stroke Improvement

Aquatics | Youth 6 yrs +

Level 4 will give swimmers the opportunity to refine their Front Crawl, Backstroke, and Elementary Backstroke while improving skills in swimming underwater, treading water, Breast Stroke, Sidestroke and Butterfly. Swimmer will also learn open turns and standing dives.

Prerequisite: Swimmers entering this level should be able to swim 15-20 yards each of Front Crawl with side breathing, Backstroke, Elementary Backstroke, and 5-10 yards of Breaststroke or Sidestroke. They should also be comfortable in deep water and able to tread or float in deep water for 1 minute.

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Level 3 Deep

Aquatics | Youth 6 yrs +

Level 3 Deep is an advanced Level 3 class for youth swimmers who are comfortable in deep water, have participated in the Level 3 class and are working on completing the advanced Level 3 swim skills.  This class will focus on improving Front and Back Crawl, Elementary Backstroke, Sidestroke and Butterfly kicks.

Prerequisite: Swimmers entering this level should be comfortable swimming independently in deep water, be able to swim at least 10 yards on their front with breathing, at least 10 yards on their back with Backstroke and Elementary Backstroke and be able to tread water for 15-20 seconds.

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Level 3 Shallow

Aquatics | Youth 6 yrs +

In Level 3 swimmers will continue putting previously learned skills together into full swim strokes. Topics covered in Level 3 include rotary breathing, Front and Back Crawl, Elementary Backstroke, Sidestroke and Butterfly kicks.

Prerequisite: Swimmers entering this level should be comfortable under the water, be able to float on their front and back without support for 10-15 seconds, be able to swim 5-10 yards on their front and back and be ready to begin attempting skills in deep water.

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Level 2 Fundamental Skills

Aquatics | Youth 5 yrs +

Level 2 will expand and develop fundamental skills and marks the beginning of true locomotion skills. Topics covered at this level include: floating without support and recovery to a vertical position, underwater exploration, gliding, swimming on front and back, and treading water.

Prerequisite: Swimmers entering this level should be comfortable putting their face in the water and fully submerging underwater with minimal assistance. They should be able to float with minimal assistance on their front with their face in the water and on their back with their ears in the water. Participants should also be ready to attempt these skills without support.

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Level 1 Intro to Water Skills

Aquatics | Youth 5 yrs +

Level 1 will help students feel comfortable in the water and learn basic swimming and safety skills that they will build on as they progress through the Learn to Swim program. Topics covered at this level include: airway control, floating with support on front and back, underwater exploration, kicking with support, entering and exiting the water safely and changing body positions in the water.

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Preschool Level 3: Advanced Beavers

Aquatics | Youth 3 yrs - 5 yrs

This class begins the independent use of the swim skills developed in previous classes. Class size is still small with only 4 students and is taught on a tot-dock, but swimmers will work on floating, gliding and swimming with decreasing support from the instructor.

Prerequisite: Swimmers entering this level should be comfortable putting their face in the water and fully submerging without assistance.  They should be able to float with assistance on their front with their face in the water and on their back with their ears in the water and should be ready to attempt these skills without assistance.

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Preschool Level 2: Intermediate Beavers

Aquatics | Youth 3 yrs - 5 yrs

This class will continue to develop the swimming readiness skills of airway control and floating and introduce gliding and supported kicks and arm movements.  Swimmers will begin to attempt some skills with minimal support from the instructor in preparation for independent swimming.

Prerequisite: Swimmers entering this level should be willing to put their face in the water and/or fully submerge their head with minimal assistance. They should also be willing to float on their back with ears in the water with support.

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Preschool Level 1: Beginning Beavers

Aquatics | Youth 3 yrs - 5 yrs

This class begins the child’s on-their-own experiences in the water and is the first class without the parent in the water. Swimmers will learn basic swimming readiness such as bubble blowing, floating on front and back with assistance and underwater exploration. This class is taught on a tot-dock so that the students can stand in the water and begin to develop independent skills. Class sizes are 4 students per instructor.

Prerequisite: Swimmers entering this class must be at least 3 years old on the first day of class.

Parental supervision within the same pool area is required during all lessons.

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Parent Beaver

Aquatics | Youth 2.5 yrs - 4 yrs

This class requires a parent to accompany the toddler into the water and is designed to build swimming readiness while beginning to build your toddler’s confidence and independence in preparation for classes without the parent in the water.  Parents and toddlers will be lead in fun activities designed to work on the basic skills needed for successful transition into the Beaver Swim Program.

Prerequisite: Toddlers must be at least 2.5 years old on the first day of class. A parent/guardian must accompany the toddler into the water. Toddlers not fully toilet trained must wear tight fitting rubber pants over a swim diaper.

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Parent Toddler

Aquatics | Youth 18mo - 35mo

The main focus of the Toddler class is on building swimming readiness by emphasizing fun in the water. Parents and toddlers will be lead in songs and games as toddlers learn basic swimming movements and skills that will be expanded upon once he/she enters the Learn to Swim Levels.

Prerequisite: Toddlers must be at least 18 months on the first day of class. A parent/guardian must accompany the toddler into the water. Toddlers not fully toilet trained must wear tight fitting rubber pants over a swim diaper.

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Parent Infant

Aquatics | Youth 6mo - 18mo

The main focus the Infant class is on water adjustment. Parents will learn how to safely support and hold their swimmer while learning to enjoy the water. Songs and games will be used to build a sense of comfort while having fun!

Prerequisite: Infants must be at least 6 months on the first day of class. A parent/guardian must accompany the infant into the water. Infants must wear tight fitting rubber pants over a swim diaper.

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Efficient Freestyle

Aquatics | Adult

This course will break down the coordination, flexibility, timing, and power of the freestyle stroke to help swimmers learn good form and increase overall efficiency. Drills that teach proper posture, body-line, and balance will be used to create the desired fluid motion when moving through the water.

Prerequisite: Participant needs to be able to swim 50 yards of freestyle continuously and should be comfortable in deep water.

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Pre-Masters Workout

Aquatics | Adult

This program is designed for the adult swimmer who wants to gain swimming endurance and learn the fundamentals of participating in a swimming workout. Pre-Masters will help prepare swimmers for either a Masters Swim Program or for the use of lap swimming as a form of aerobic exercise.  Prerequisite: Students should know the front crawl, backstroke, and breaststroke prior to taking this class and be able to swim 200 yards continuously.

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Stroke Technique

Aquatics | Adult

This program is designed for swimmers with basic knowledge of swim strokes who want to improve their stroke technique.   Prerequisite: Students should know the front crawl, backstroke, and breaststroke prior to taking this class, and be able to swim 50 yards continuously.

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Intermediate Swim

Aquatics | Adult

Do you understand swimming basics but need help putting it all together? Improve your front crawl, back crawl, breathing techniques, breaststroke, and sidestroke.

Prerequisite: Participants must be comfortable swimming on their front and back.

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Beginning Swim

Aquatics | Adult

This course offers instruction in basic swimming skills for beginners. Learn or improve on the basics of the crawl stroke, elementary backstroke, backstroke, sidestroke, and breaststroke.

Pre-requisite: Participants must be comfortable getting their face wet, floating on their front and being in shallow water.

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Intro to Swim

Aquatics | Adult

This course is designed for the true beginner who has little experience with swimming or who has swimming apprehension.  Instructors provide support, guidance, and patience to help you learn to enjoy and be safe in the water. The focus will be on floating, treading, changing body position and comfort.

Prerequisite: Participants must be willing to stand in 4 feet of water and get their face wet.

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Intermediate Squash

Fitness | Adult

Already have intermediate squash skills? This class offers sequential shot exercises isolating specific regions of the court with greater complexity blended with 2 and 3 shot option drills to simulate real time match play. Consistent trouble-spots and common errors will be re-assessed, and short round-robin competition will roundup each session. Racquets, balls, loose athletic clothing, non-marking sneakers and lensed polycarbonate eye-protection are required.

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Learning Squash

Fitness | Adult

Interested in learning how to play squash? Here’s an introduction to the basic stroke mechanics and rules of the game. In this course you will gradually address more challenging exercises as you demonstrate better shot control and efficient movement around the court. Strength, flexibility and fitness for the beginner are all considered through the lens of racquet skill acquisition and sharper overall execution. Drills designed to enhance consistency and address common problem areas are followed by round-robin games. Racquets, balls, loose athletic clothing, non-marking sneakers and lensed polycarbonate eye-protection are required.

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Functional Circuits

Fitness | Adult

Using the NEW Synrgy 360, join a fun and fast moving circuit workout led by a certified personal trainer. In this small group training class youÆll rotate through each unique station over the course of 45 minutes. Stations include battle ropes, TRX, kettlebells, resistance tubing and more for a functional, efficient, full body workout. If you are looking to try something new, enjoy working in small groups or want get out of a workout rut this class is for you!

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