Aquatics

Indoor swimming pool with a sign on the wall that reads 'eliminating racism, empowering women, ywca', and lane markers on the pool floor.

The YWCA Pool is currently closed. Click here to learn the most up-to-date information on the pool project.

More than health and fitness: YWCA Aquatics programming is deeply rooted in racial justice. 

In the 1950’s, there were two branches of the YWCA in Asheville: a white branch and a black branch, and swim lessons were one of the first programs to be integrated. Still today, drowning is the leading cause of unintentional death of school-age children with African American children being six times more likely to drown than white children of the same age. By providing swim lesson scholarships, lessons for children in our Early Learning Program, and by partnering with schools and community programs, YWCA Aquatics is taking aim at this disparity in our community.

    • Everyone who enters the YWCA must sign or scan in at the front desk.

    • Women’s locker rooms are located on the ground floor, and Men’s locker rooms are located upstairs.

    • The YWCA has two gender-neutral changing rooms, one on each floor. One upstairs across from the Fitness Studio includes a bathroom stall. One downstairs on the pool deck includes a bathroom stall, shower stall, and lockers.

    • Adults may accompany children 6 and under into locker rooms.

    • As part of the YWCA’s continuing commitment to equality and inclusion, there is no dress code requirement for the pool. Swimmers are welcome to wear whatever keeps them comfortable with only one exception: no jeans.

    • All of our Aquatics staff are certified lifeguards, and there is always a lifeguard on duty.

  • The YWCA follows the National Lightning Safety Institute guidelines regarding thunder and lightning.

    When either is present, the pool and pool deck must be cleared for 20 minutes after each instance.

  • *** Our Pool Is Temporarily Closed, Please give us a call at 828.254.7206 to learn or the most up-to-date reopening timeline.

    Pool party rentals include 1 hour in the pool from 12-1pm and and 1 hour in the Multipurpose Room from 1-2pm. Your party has the pool all to itself with a dedicated lifeguard on duty.

    Pool party rentals are available for up to 30 people, including all adults and children. If participants exceed 25, then an additional lifeguard is required at the fee of $20.00. We require 1-week notice of the need for an additional lifeguard. If no arrangements have been made and more than 30 persons show up, the guard will need to control the number of people in the pool by having swimmers take turns.

    YWCA’s swimmies and balls may be used. You may bring your own pool equipment. The diving board, slide, mermaid fins, and blocks are not available for use during parties. Kitchen facilities are not included with any rental. The playgrounds are for YWCA program use only and are not included in any rentals.

    Please be on time as these times have been reserved for you and cannot be adjusted due to tardiness. You are responsible for your own setup and clean up. Please allow enough time in your booking to set the space up as you need. We provide tables and chairs only. Please bring your own supplies for use during your function. The YWCA does not provide office supplies or meal supplies such as napkins, plates, cups, etc, or serving utensils. Be sure to leave areas as you found them before your function. This includes sweeping floor areas, wiping down the tables. The front desk can help in locating a broom and dustpan for your use. Please stack the chairs as they were and fold up any tables and place them by the windows. Chaperons are required to check the locker rooms to be sure these areas are clean and showers are turned off after pool use.

    For More Information or to Book a Pool Party, contact:

    Guest Services

    reservations@ywcaofasheville.org

    828-254-7206 x 230

    CLICK HERE TO COMPLETE RENTAL FORM

    We are a smoke-free campus so please refrain from smoking in the building or on the YW campus at any time. This includes all participants of your party. The YWCA is also a fragrance-free environment. Thank you for not wearing any cologne/perfume, scented aftershave, perfumed hand lotion, hair products, etc.

Swim Lessons

  • Child swimming with lifevest

    Baby

    Ages: 6 – 23 months
    Lesson time: 30 minutes
    Number of students min/max: 5/10

    One adult must accompany the child in the pool. Swim diapers are required. Water adjustment and swimming skills are taught through songs and games.

    YW Member: $60-72
    General Public: $90-108

  • children swimming with pool noodles

    Preschool

    Ages: 2 – 3 years
    Lesson time: 30 minutes
    Number of students min/max: 5/10

    One adult must accompany the child in the pool. Swim diapers are required. Water adjustment and swimming skills are taught through songs and games.

    YW Member: $60-72
    General Public: $90-108

  • Two young girls in a swimming pool wearing goggles and holding pool noodles, smiling at the camera.

    Little Swimmers

    Ages: 2-3 years
    Lesson time: 30 minutes
    Number of students min/max: 5/6

    This class is for advanced Preschool 2 swimmers who have some independent swim skills along with the social ability to be away from their parent/guardian in the water. Subject to instructor approval.

    YW Member: $72
    General Public: $108

  • children along the poolside

    Kinderswim

    Ages: 4 -5 years
    Lesson time: 30 minutes
    Number of students min/max: 5/6

    Teaches breath control, water comfort, back floating, swimming on front, and elementary back stroke.

    YW Member: $72
    General Public: $108

  • A smiling young boy swimming in a pool, with water droplets on his face and shoulders.

    Level 1/2

    Ages: 6-15 years
    Lesson time: 45 minutes
    Number of students min/max: 5/6

    • Level 1: Water adaptation, breath control (blow bubbles), comfort floating, swimming on front and back. Intro to streamlining front and back, treading, front crawl, and backstroke.

    • Level 2: Must be able to hold breath and swim independently on front and back and complete body length glide with face in water along with a 3-second back float. Increase endurance, and work on rhythmic breathing, front crawl, and elementary backstroke.

    YW Member: $108
    General Public: $130

  • Indoor swimming pool with a blue tiled wall, orange and blue bunting, a lifebuoy, benches, and pool safety equipment. Words on the wall read 'eliminating racism empowering women ywca.'

    Level 3

    Ages: 6- 15 years
    Lesson time: 45 minutes
    Number of students min/max: 5/10

    Slower-paced, working on endurance, comfort in the deep end, refining Level 2 skills with the addition of rotary breathing. Subject to instructor approval.

    YW Member: $90
    General Public: $108

  • A young girl with curly hair wearing pink goggles and a pink swimsuit in a swimming pool, smiling at the camera.

    Level 3/4

    Ages: 6-15 years
    Lesson time: 45 minutes
    Number of students min/max: 5/10

    Intermediate: Must be able to swim independently across the pool on front and back. Refine Level 2 skills with the addition of rotary breathing and scissor kicks. Further development of freestyle and backstroke, intro to breaststroke, butterfly, and diving. Subject to instructor approval.

    YW Member: $108
    General Public: $130

  • Two children swimming at an indoor pool, one wearing goggles and snorkeling mask, the other in blue swim trunks, practicing swim strokes.

    Level 5/6

    Ages: 6-15 years
    Lesson time: 45 minutes
    Number of students min/max: 1/10

    Advanced: Pre-swim team. Working on all four competitive strokes, turns and starts. The swimmer must pass team standards in all four strokes (Freestyle, Back, Breast, Butterfly) before advancing to Swim Team Level. Subject to instructor approval.

    YW Member: $108
    General Public: $130

  • Three people smiling and enjoying a swim in a pool, with one person wearing goggles and a colorful swimsuit, another person wearing glasses, and an older woman in a sleeveless top, all standing in the water.

    Developmental

    Ages: 6-15 years
    Lesson time: 45 minutes
    Number of students min/max: 1/15

    Swim Team Level: Must have passed level 5/6. Refinement of all four competitive strokes (Freestyle, Back, Breast, and butterfly). Enhancement of turns, starts, endurance, and team building with other swimmers. Subject to instructor approval.

    YW Member: $108
    General Public: $130

  • Indoor swimming pool with blue tiled walls, orange and blue bunting hanging from the ceiling, and a message on the wall that reads 'eliminating racism empowering women ywca'.

    Adult Beginner

    Ages: 16+
    Lesson time: 45 minutes
    Number of students min/max: 5/6

    Beginner: No prior swim experience needed. Working in shallow-end water, focus on water adaptation, treading, floating, front crawl with breath control, & intro to backstroke.

    YW Member: $108
    General Public: $130

  • Indoor swimming pool with blue tiled walls, bunting flags hanging from ceiling, and benches along the sides. The wall has motivational text: 'eliminating racism empowering women ywca.'

    Adult Advanced Swim

    Ages: 16+
    Lesson time: 45 minutes
    Number of students min/max: 5/6

    Improves techniques for all four 4 strokes (Freestyle, Back, Breast, and butterfly) using the full length of the pool.

    YW Member: $108
    General Public: $130

  • Indoor swimming pool with blue tiled walls, orange and blue pennant banners hanging overhead, and a sign on the wall that reads 'eliminating racism empowering women.'

    1-on-1 Lessons

    Ages: 3+
    Lesson time: 30 or 45 minutes
    Number of students: 1 student

    Customizable classes to fit your personal needs.

    $30 / $45 per class

Upcoming Sessions

Our pool is closed for renovations. Please give us a call for the most up-to-date reopening estimate and class restart.

*Our Pool is Temporarily Closed
YWCA has been providing high-quality swim instruction to women and families since the 1920’s! Generations have learned to swim at the YWCA. Although our YWCA Fitness Center members do get special lesson pricing, we offer free Swim Lesson Accounts for the general public to sign up for lessons online.

Eliminating Racism, Empowering Women and Promoting Peace, Justice, Freedom and Dignity For All -

Eliminating Racism, Empowering Women and Promoting Peace, Justice, Freedom and Dignity For All -

Badge with text 'YWCA IS ON A MISSION' in red and black letters on a white background.

YWCA is on a mission. For 119 years, we have been at the forefront of movements for social justice, freedom, and equality.

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