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Swimming camps near you

We list kids' swimming camps across the country. Find your city in the list below and use our advanced search to discover swimming summer camps near you, including the following cities:

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More than just summer camp

For those deeply interested in swimming, there are various ways to get better, and to explore your love of the pool. Use our site to find different options below.

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The benefits of swimming camps

At swim camp, your child will improve their swimming skills and have a great time doing it. Here’s a deeper look at what kids get and gain here: 

Individualized coaching. Many swim camps listed here offer low instructor-student ratios, meaning your child will receive all of the benefits of personalized, one-on-one instruction while forming friendships and learning from peers in a group lesson environment. Additionally, most camps are endorsed by both the Lifesaving Society and the Red Cross, so you can rest assured knowing your child is learning in a safe environment with certified and experienced instructors.

Improved endurance. The primary goal of swim camps is for children to gradually increase the distance and speed they’re able to swim, and achieve personal bests in pursuit of becoming a confident swimmer. The practice and skill your child will gain at swim camp will help them get to know their body, learn breathing techniques and develop mental resilience to help them swim longer distances. It has also been proven that swimming is one of the best aerobic exercises and helps increase lung capacity. Endurance is an extremely beneficial skill to have, as it can be applied to other sports and fitness activities, and can be key to maintaining a healthy active lifestyle.

Gain the building blocks for other water sports. There are an abundance of fun water sports and activities out there that may pique your child’s interest—as children, teens and adults—and becoming a confident swimmer is the essential entry point. Enrolling kids in swim camps may lead them to a new hobby In fact, water sports camps listed at Our Kids offer a variety of fun in the water, including everything from surfing to waterskiing, and sailing. (Find more related camps below.)

Improve physical strength. Swimming is a fantastic workout because it requires you to use nearly all of your muscles in order to move your body against the resistance of the water. It’s a great way to tone and strengthen muscles. It’s also beneficial for cardiovascular health, as it keeps your heart rate up in a decidedly low-impact sport. 

Opportunity for advancement. Swim camps operate based on tiered skill levels. Your child will first be enrolled in a camp that suits their current age and ability, and throughout camp they gain skills to progress to the next level. If they pursue Red Cross Swim Levels, they have goals to achieve, keeping them constantly striving for improvement. If they acquire a love for competing, there are numerous competitive teams and clubs across Canada. 

What will your child learn in swimming camp?

Swimming strokes and skills. Swimming is a lifelong skill. Young children tend to have a much easier time picking up this skill than older children and adults. When a child is exposed to water in their early years, they’re much more comfortable with it, avoiding a fear of water. In swimming camp, students learn basic swim strokes such as the breaststroke, front crawl, backstroke, and butterfly, and they learn how to execute them correctly to become confident swimmers.

Principles of water safety and survival skills. The most fundamental lesson taught in any swim camp is the seriousness of water safety. They learn fundamental techniques to prevent drowning if they ever find themselves in a dangerous situation around water. Swim instructors incorporate Water Smart education into their camps, developed by the Lifesaving Society to teach kids the risks associated with water activities and how to prevent injuries, emergencies and fatalities. Your child will learn basic techniques like floating, treading water, swimming a minimum distance to be able to exit the water, pulling themselves out of the water without the use of a ladder, being aware of and understanding weather conditions, and more. With swim camp under their belt, kids will be well-versed in water safety so they can more easily enjoy the fun activities water has to offer, well into adulthood.

Lifesaving skills. As your child becomes more comfortable in the water and gains fundamental swimming skills, swim camps may incorporate basic lifesaving skills into their curriculum. This is a crucial skill to have for any child or adult if they plan to spend time around the water. Kids can even progress to completing lifesaving programs, where they learn the principles of first aid and how to apply swimming skills in a lifesaving situation. Learn more about this below. 

Social skills. Swim camps operate in a group setting. Not only will your child have opportunities to interact with a new group of kids their age and form friendships, they also learn how to safely interact and play with others in water. They learn the difference between acceptable water behaviour and rough play that can harm someone or cause distress. You can be confident your child will know how to ‘play nice’ for future pool parties, swim meets and water games!

Camps related to swim camp

OurKids.net includes pages and lists of camps focused on a wide variety of related sports that may also interest you. Here’s a brief glimpse at types of camps that may appeal to young swimmers:

Diving camps are another type of water sport that focuses on an activity that is a related interest for many kids who love the pool. These camps are a great way for kids to explore if they have skills and interest in this Olympic sport. 

Overnight camp often features extensive swimming activities that may also include competitions (all in great fun, of course.) A staple of a Canadian childhood, these also offer kids and teens the opportunity to meet others from a wide geographical range, including kids from other countries.

First aid camp offers instruction in water safety. Kids can progress to achieve their Bronze Star, Bronze Medallion and Bronze Cross to become a working lifeguard. This is a fantastic summer or part-time job for teens and young adults, helping them grow and mature. 

Add this to more information and advice from OurKids.net: 

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Swim camps are there?
There are 6 programs specializing in Swimming. In addition, there are 12 programs offering swimming as an activity. Use the filters to narrow by age and program type, then click on matched programs to see daily activities, dates, rates and registration information.

What are the fees to attend Swim camps?
Fees for Swim camps range from $260 to $1,316 per program (program types and lengths vary). Use the filters here to narrow programs by age and type.

What age do Swim camps start at?
There are programs available for children aged 1 through 19.

Where can parents meet with Swim camps?
Meet with program directors and staff at the Our Kids Camp & Program Expo. The Expo is held annually in February, and is a fun and informative day for parents, kids, and teens. Find event details and free tickets here.