This summer, the city is offering free Learn to Swim lessons at select outdoor pools. Families can enter a lottery for a spot at either Kosciuszko Pool in Bed-Stuy or Red Hook Pool in Red Hook. The Tots Learn to Swim program (for ages 1.5 to 5) introduces little ones to basic swimming and water safety skills over 4–5 sessions, with a parent or guardian required in the water. For kids ages 6 to 17, the Children’s Learn to Swim program is a two-week course that covers swimming fundamentals like breath control, floating, arm strokes, and more.
Click here to enter the lottery. You can register for one class per person, and you must enter the lottery between the following dates for a chance to be selected:
- Session 2: June 24 – July 17
- Session 3: June 24 – August 1
- Advanced Session: June 24 – August 15
Kosciuszko Pool | Bed-Stuy
- 7/23/25 – 8/06/25 | 9:00 – 10:00 am | Ages 6-17
- 7/23/25 – 8/07/25 | 11:00 am – 12:00 pm | Ages 6-17
- 7/23/25 – 8/07/25 | 12:00- 1:00 pm | Ages 6-17
- 7/23/25 – 8/06/25 | 1:00 – 2:00 pm | Ages 6-17
- 7/24/25 – 8/07/25 | 1:00 – 2:00 pm | Ages 1.5-5
- 8/08/25 – 8/22/25 | 9:00 – 10:00 am | Ages 6-17
- 8/11/25 – 8/22/25 | 11:00 am – 12:00 pm | Ages 6-17
- 8/11/25 – 8/21/25 | 12:00 – 1:00 pm | Ages 6-17
- 8/12/25 – 8/21/25 | 1:00 – 2:00 pm | Ages 1.5-5
Red Hook Pool | Red Hook
- 7/23/25 – 8/07/25 | 11:00 am – 12:00 pm | Ages 6-17
- 7/23/25 – 8/07/25 | 12:00 – 1:00 pm | Ages 6-17
- 7/23/25 – 8/06/25 | 1:00 – 2:00 pm | Ages 6-17
- 7/23/25 – 8/06/25 | 2:00 – 3:00 pm | Ages 6-17
- 7/24/25 – 8/07/25 | 1:00 – 2:00 pm | Ages 6-17
- 7/24/25 – 8/07/25 | 2:00 – 3:00 pm | Ages 1.5-5
- 8/08/25 – 8/22/25 | 11:00 am – 12:00 pm | Ages 6-17
- 8/08/25 – 8/22/25 | 12:00 – 1:00 pm | Ages 6-17
- 8/08/25 – 8/22/25 | 2:00 – 3:00 pm | Ages 6-17
- 8/11/25 – 8/20/25 | 1:00 – 2:00 pm | Ages 6-17
- 8/12/25 – 8/21/25 | 1:00 – 2:00 pm | Ages 6-17
- 8/12/25 – 8/21/25 | 2:00 – 3:00 pm | Ages 1.5-5
- Advanced: 8/25/25 – 8/29/25 | 9:00 – 10:00 am | Ages 6-17
- Advanced: 8/25/25 – 8/29/25 | 10:00 – 11:00 am | Ages 6-17
- Advanced: 8/25/25 – 8/29/25 | 11:00 am – 12:00 pm | Ages 6-17
- Advanced: 8/25/25 – 8/29/25 | 12:00 – 1:00 pm | Ages 6-17
- Advanced: 8/25/25 – 8/29/25 | 1:00 – 2:00 pm | Ages 6-17
If you are selected in the lottery, you will have 3 days once the lottery is closed to confirm your spot. Children selected for Saturday classes must attend a mandatory water test before the first day of class. If a child misses the mandatory water test and the first day of class, they will be dropped from the session and replaced with someone from the waitlist. Lottery winners must also have good attendance! Any swimmer who misses two classes in a row will be dropped from the class and replaced with someone from the waitlist.
If you are not selected, add yourself to the waitlist and keep entering the lottery for future dates!
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Updated: July 6, 2025.
