Swim Lessons
Stroke Clinic
NBAC Masters

NBAC Swim School Lessons
NBAC offers a variety of educational swimming opportunities for lifelong aquatics fitness. During the Winter season (Labor Day to Memorial Day) group, private and semi-private lessons are offered at three locations by the North Baltimore Swim School. Meadowbrook, Knight Diver and the Timonium Holiday Inn Select have served as host pools for swim instruction since 1993. 

Begun in Timonium, the Swim School expanded and moved to the Mount Washington location upon completion of the Meadowbrook Aquatic & Fitness Center in 1995. The North Baltimore Swim School (NBSS) was started as an out-growth of the North Baltimore Aquatic Club (NBAC), the premier competitive swimming club in the state, and one of the top age group clubs in the country. The lesson program is now administered by the Meadowbrook Aquatic & Fitness Center 

Lesson sessions run for six weeks for one-half hour per week. Group lessons cost $50 per six week session, semi-private lessons cost $80 per six week session and private lessons cost $120 per six week session. Enrollment is handled by mail, in person, and by telephone (after an announced date) at the Meadowbrook Aquatic and Fitness Center for both locations (410-433-8300).

Lessons are divided according to ability and age. The first level of aquatic instruction is the Get Wet level. This is a parent and child class for children 3 years of age and younger (exceptions are made for older children). This level focuses on water comfort, games, and relaxing in a water environment. As varied as the ages can be, so obviously are abilities as parents are encouraged to challenge each child’s skills and level of comfort in the water. Continually under the guidance of an experienced instructor, the emphasis in this class is on fun in the water! 

The next level is Pre-Beginner. This is our first class without parental involvement. Children must have reached the age of three to enroll in this level. The emphasis here is on basic water skills such as floating, aided and unaided, "blowing bubbles" and retrieving items from the bottom of a shallow (3 foot) area. Listening to instructions and working within a group are also stressed along with very important water safety lessons. This level has games and activities which serve to overcoming fear of the water. Pre-Beginner has two age divisions. Pre-Beginner I is for 3-5 year olds. Pre-Beginner II is for 5-8 year olds. The skills covered in the two divisions are identical in intention if not form. 

By far the largest level of lessons is Beginner. These children are very comfortable in the water, able to completely submerge and can float on the front and the back. Children remain in the Beginner level until they are swimming freestyle and demonstrating rotary breathing. It is not unusual for children to remain in this level for multiple sessions as the skills to be mastered are quite broad and varied. As with Pre-Beginner or any of our levels, there are two age divisions in Beginner. Beginner I is for children ages 4-6 and Beginner II is for children ages 6-10 years. 

Advanced Beginner is the next level in which freestyle (crawl) stroke skills are honed and other competitive strokes are introduced and taught. Children should be able to demonstrate rotary breathing and have mastered the air exchange process. Similar to the other levels, there are two age levels of this class. Advanced Beginner I is for swimmers ages 5-7. Advanced Beginner II is for swimmers 8-12 years of age. 

Intermediate is the highest level of group lessons as structured above. Intermediate swimmers can swim a distance unaided while demonstrating good rotary breathing with freestyle and a competent backstroke. These children will work to improve their skills so they can swim several laps of each stroke.