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Where to find free swim lessons in the Twin Cities this summer
- Como Regional Park Pool, 1151 Wynne Avenue, St. Paul, Minnesota: July 25 through Aug. 5 at 9 a.m., 10 a.m., and 11 a.m. Walk-ins accepted.
- North Commons Waterpark: Register here.
- YMCA of the North: Apply here for free or reduced fee swim lessons.
Free water safety events
- Highland Park Aquatic Center, 1840 Edgcumbe Road, St. Paul, Minnesota: Wednesday, August 3 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
- Lake Phalen Beach, 1400 Phalen Drive, St. Paul, Minnesota: Thursday, August 4 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
- Como Regional Park Pool, 1151 Wynne Avenue, St. Paul, Minnesota: Friday, August 5 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
$5 swim lessons
- $5 lessons are available at other Minneapolis pools for residents who qualify: Call (612) 230- 6495, or email aquatics@minneapolisparks.org.
Where to find beaches in the Twin Cities that have lifeguards this summer (courtesy of Abbey’s Hope)
- Arden Hills: Long Lake Public Beach, 3500 Lake Johanna Boulevard.
- Eden Prairie: Riley Lake Park Beach, 9180 Riley Lake Road.
- Maple Grove: Fish Lake Regional Park, 14900 Bass Lake Road.
- Minneapolis: Bde Maka Ska Thomas Beach, 3700 Thomas Ave. S.
- Minneapolis: Lake Harriet North Beach, 4740 Lake Harriet Parkway.
- Minneapolis: Wirth Lake Beach, 3200 Glenwood Ave.
- Plymouth: Parkers Lake Beach, 15205 County Road 6.
- St. Paul: Phalen Regional Park Beach, 1400 Phalen Drive.
Water safety tips from the YMCA
- Never swim alone.
- A responsible adult should constantly and actively watch children.
- Always keep young children or non-swimmers within arm’s reach of a parent or guardian.
- Inexperienced or non-swimmers should wear a Coast Guard-approved life jacket.
- Don’t rely on inflatable toys or rafts for safety, because a poke or blown valve can quickly turn into a dangerous situation.
- Don’t hold your breath for fun or as a challenge.
- Don’t jump in the water to save a friend who is struggling in any water. Instead, use a long object to reach for them and pull them to safety.
- Enroll children and non-swimmers in water safety or swim lessons.
- Be mindful of backyard pools, because kids can fall in.
- Install barriers like a fence around the pool.
- Learn CPR.
- Provide constant supervision.
- Make sure there is a way to climb out of the pool if it’s too tall to step out of.
- A simple tip for parents near any kind of water is to take the Water Watcher pledge. As a Water Watcher, an adult agrees to:
- Maintain constant visual contact with the children in a group.
- Not drink alcohol, talk on the phone, socialize, or read while watching children.
- Keep a phone near the water for emergency purposes only.
- Remain by the water until relieved by a new water watcher.
*This post has been updated to reflect the current lifeguarded beaches in the Twin Cities.
