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Swim Safe Boston

Get ready to make a splash with Swim Safe Boston!

Swim Safe builds off the Mayor’s commitment to ensure all Boston kids learn to swim and can safely enjoy our City’s coastline and pools.

Through Swim Safe Boston, we’re thrilled to offer:

  • Free swim lessons for youth ages 6 months-18 available at locations across the City
  • Free life jackets for youth that are swimming with their families in open water locations
  • Incentives and free training for lifeguards to keep our city pools safe throughout the year
International Water Safety Day

Water Safety Tips

  1. Sign up for swim lessons and learn to swim.
  2. Always swim near a lifeguard.
  3. Don’t let children swim alone. Make sure they always have a swimming buddy.
  4. If someone is in trouble in the water, call for help immediately. Don’t go in after them!

Free swim lessons

BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF BOSTON

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston offer swim lessons to youth ages 6-18 at their four Boston pools: Charlestown, Dorchester, Roxbury, and South Boston. To register or for more information, please contact the Club that is most convenient to you:

  • Charlestown
  • Dorchester
  • Roxbury
  • South Boston
DOTHOUSE HEALTH

The DotHouse Health Pool of Dorchester offers swimming lessons for youth ages 3-18, catering to all swim levels. For the Swim Safe Program, we will be offering an increased number of classes for beginners. All swimmers must undergo a swim evaluation prior to enrollment.

register at DotHouse

YMCA GREATER BOSTON

The YMCA of Greater Boston offers swim lessons for youth 6 months and older at its nine Boston locations. Swim lessons are offered by age and include Parent / Child, Preschool, School Age, and Teen options, all of which utilize a nationally approved curriculum. Free swim lesson spots will be prioritized towards beginner swimmers of all ages.  

register at the Y

Free Swim Lessons
BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF BOSTON

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston offer swim lessons to youth ages 6-18 at their four Boston pools: Charlestown, Dorchester, Roxbury and South Boston. To register or for more information, please contact the Club that is most convenient to you:

  • Charlestown
  • Dorchester
  • Roxbury
  • South Boston
DOTHOUSE HEALTH

The DotHouse Health Pool of Dorchester offers swimming lessons for youth ages 3-18, catering to all swim levels.

For the Swim Safe Program, we will be offering an increased number of classes for beginners.

All swimmers must undergo a swim evaluation prior to enrollment.

register at DotHouse

YMCA GREATER BOSTON

The YMCA of Greater Boston offers swim lessons for youth 6 months and older at its nine Boston locations. Swim lessons are offered by age and include Parent / Child, Preschool, School Age, and Teen options, all of which utilize a nationally approved curriculum. Free swim lesson spots will be prioritized towards beginner swimmers of all ages.  

register at the Y

Become a Lifeguard

Lifeguard Jobs

INTERESTED IN BECOMING A LIFEGUARD?

We are hiring lifeguards to keep our pools safe! Boston Centers for Youth & Families is offering a starting wage of $22 per hour, signing and retention bonuses, and part-time positions that might appeal to retirees or others seeking a lower number of hours. Training is free!

Find a lifeguard job 

Free life jackets

Kids swimming in a pool

NEED A LIFE JACKET FOR YOUR CHILD?

Using properly-fitted Coast-Guard approved life jackets can reduce the risk of drowning by 50 percent. Contact us at swim@boston.gov for more information about how to pick one up. 

request a life jacket

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