About Our Swim School
Menlo Swim School
Welcome to Menlo Swim School! We’re all about making a safe splash and helping our community become stronger, more confident swimmers. Whether you’re a water baby or an adult, we have swim lessons tailored just for you!
At Menlo Swim School, we believe it’s never too early or too late to start learning to swim. That’s why we offer swim lessons for infants as young as 6 months old and adults of all ages! Our Instructors go through multiple weeks of training so that they can gain experience with every age and skill level. Each Instructor comes from different swim backgrounds and varying skill levels, making each one unique so that everyone can find the right fit.
For our youngest swimmers, our Water Babies classes focus on water acclimation with a parent or caretaker in the water. We work on building water confidence and introduce basic water skills in a safe and nurturing environment. We use songs and activities to help babies and parents bond while introducing this important life-saving skill.
For children 3 years old and up, we offer classes for all skill levels starting at Level 1, where we teach basic fundamentals such as kicking and floating, through Level 4, where students will graduate out of swim school knowing Freestyle, Backstroke, Breaststroke, and Butterfly. To see the classes we offer as well as the skills we teach at each level, please visit the Levels and Classes page.
With our adult swimmers, we understand that everyone has different goals and comfort levels in the water. Whether you’re a beginner looking to overcome your fear of water or an experienced swimmer aiming to improve your technique, our instructors will guide you every step of the way. To see the classes we offer for adults please visit the Adult Swim Lessons page.
Youth swim lessons are offered year-round as a series ranging from 10-15 weeks. Classes meet once per week for sessions held in Fall through Spring. In the Summer, lessons are 4-day sessions (Monday-Thursday), so your child can make the most of those hot summer days while learning a life-saving skill. Specific sign-up dates and session dates vary each season. We recommend signing up for our newsletter so that you never miss a registration announcement!
Whether you’re just starting your swim journey or looking to take your skills to the next level, Menlo Swim School is here to support and encourage you. We can’t wait to see you make a splash and help you become a safe, confident swimmer! Want to know more about our Swim School schedule and lessons? Sign up for our Swim School Mailing list!
Class Level Progressions at Menlo Swim School
During the first group lesson, our instructors will assess swimmers through our in-water progression to assess skills and confirm whether that is the appropriate level for your swimmer. The Instructor and Deck Coordinator will decide which level best suits swimmers based on their abilities, comfort, and safety. If the staff decides that the level is too easy or too difficult for the swimmer, the caretaker must sign up for the appropriate class based on the staff’s evaluation.
*Class Ratios are for booking purposes. Unforeseen circumstances day of may increase ratio.
This Fall we will be offering a 16-week session (September 3 – December 21). Classes meet once per week on the same day at the same time you register for. Swimmers are welcome to sign up for more than one class.
For specific class details like entry requirements and class level goals, please visit our Class Levels page to learn more.
Schedule
September 3 – December 21
ALL lessons are 30 minutes.
Levels 1-4 & Waterbabies 1 and 2
| Monday – Friday | 3:00pm – 6:45pm |
| Saturday | 9:15am – 1:30pm |
Swim School Holidays
There will be NO Swim School on the following days:
| Monday, September 3 (Labor Day) |
| Thursday, October 31 (Halloween) |
| Thursday, November 28 – Sunday, December 1 (Thanksgiving Weekend) |
*Classes on these days will be prorated at the time of booking.
Pricing
Group Swim Lessons
Resident: $464 for season ($29 per lesson for 16 weeks)
Non-Resident: $512 for season ($32 per lesson for 16 weeks)
BBAF Scholarships
- We had an incredible summer and were able to offer hundreds of BBAF scholarship lessons during this season!
- We will be temporarily pausing our scholarship lessons beginning this Fall Season after exhausting our scholarship funds.
- Beyond Barriers and Menlo Swim and Sport continue to work on raising money and we hope to bring back the scholarship lessons as soon as possible.
- If you’d like to help provide swim school scholarships for low income families, you can donate to Beyond Barriers Athletic Foundation here.
Fall Swim School Session Cancellation Policy
15% non-refundable fee
Pro-rated cancellations are available minus all past sessions plus 15% non-refundable fee
No credits, or refunds for missed classes.
This Winter we will be offering a 10-week session (January 6 – March 15). Classes meet once per week on the same day at the same time you register for. Swimmers are welcome to sign up for more than one class.
For specific class details like entry requirements and class level goals, please visit our Class Levels page to learn more.
Schedule
January 6 – March 15
ALL lessons are 30 minutes.
Swim School Holidays
There will be NO Swim School on the following days:
| Monday, January 19 (MLK Day) |
| Mid-Winter Break (TBD) |
*Classes on these days will be prorated at the time of booking.
Pricing
Group Swim Lessons
Resident: $29 per lesson
Non-Resident: $32 per lesson
Winter Swim School Session Cancellation Policy
15% non-refundable fee
Pro-rated cancellations are available minus all past sessions plus 15% non-refundable fee
No credits, or refunds for missed classes.
Beyond Barriers Athletic Foundation Scholarships
Menlo Swim & Sport is proud to partner with the Beyond Barriers Athletic Foundation (BBAF). BBAF offers scholarships to those financially in need who want to develop a life-long love for swimming in the Bay area. You can visit their website by clicking the link above to see all of their partners in the Bay area.
Fall 2024 Update
We had an incredible summer and were able to offer hundreds of BBAF scholarship lessons during this season! That has left very limited scholarship funds for the Fall season.
Beyond Barriers and Menlo Swim and Sport continue to work on raising money and we will continue to offer scholarships as funds become available.
As additional scholarship funds become available, our team will reach out to you with.
If you’d like to help provide swim school scholarships for low income families, you can donate to Beyond Barriers Athletic Foundation here.
Menlo Swim & Sport está orgulloso de asociarse con Beyond Barriers Athletic Foundation (BBAF). BBAF ofrece becas a personas con necesidades económicas que quieran desarrollar un amor por vida por la natación en el área de la Bahía. Puede visitar su sitio web haciendo clic en el enlace de arriba para ver todos sus socios en el área de la Bahía.
Las últimas novedades para el otoño de 2024
¡Tuvimos un verano increíble y pudimos ofrecer cientos clases de natación con becas BBAF durante esta temporada! Eso ha dejado fondos de becas muy limitados para la temporada de otoño.
Beyond Barriers y Menlo Swim and Sport continúan trabajando para recaudar dinero y continuaremos ofreciendo becas a medida que haya fondos disponibles.
Cuando haya fondos de becas adicionales disponibles, nuestro equipo se comunicará con usted.
Si desea ayudar a proporcionar becas para escuelas de natación para familias de bajos ingresos, puede donar a Beyond Barriers Athletic Foundation aquí.
Coaches & Instructors
Our Instructors
Each of our instructors completes training with a master instructor trainer before beginning solo instruction. Our Master Instructors have over 5 years of experience teaching swim lessons. New instructors are cross-trained with current instructors, so all instructors are familiar with current teaching techniques and methods. All our instructors attend regular on-going training throughout the year, to develop them as instructors, swimmers and individuals and strengthen our swim lesson program.
Our Head of Swim School
Bri Peralta
Bri grew up in a family of competitive swimmers and water polo players, so her experience in the water started before she can remember. She swam competitively in Summer leagues up until high school where she played water polo and swam for the high school team.
Bri has been a swim instructor since 2016 teaching skills from novice to advanced for students as young as 4 months old up to adults. She has also been an aquatics manager since 2021 where she has trained and developed swim instructors while aiming to provide high-quality swim lessons. Bri adores children since growing up in her mom’s home daycare. She combined this with her passion for swimming to help every child gain confidence to learn life-saving skills in the water. She provides a safe and fun learning environment to encourage students to want to go past their comfort zone in order to become safe and better swimmers!
Meet our Swim Instructors!
Jacob Allen
Jacob has been teaching lessons for over 12 years. His primary focus is safety and building a fun and enjoyable environment for kids who want to learn and improve. His goals with the Bridge Youth Program are to help give back to the community and inspire a lifelong love of swimming and aquatics through fun, dedication and safety.
Arnecia Smith
Arnecia has been teaching lessons since 2019. Her style of lessons is built on communication and creating a comfortable environment for her students. Arnecia understands that every swimmer is unique and tailors her teaching approach to meet their individual needs. By fostering open communication and building trust, she ensures that her students feel safe in the water so they can overcome fears and build on their skills in a supportive environment. Aside from seeing Arnecia in the water, you may also find her at the front desk, in the lifeguard chair, or on the pool deck coordinating swim lessons.
Ella A.
Ella enjoys swimming competitively and in her free time. She has been teaching swim lessons at Burgess Pool since 2022 and is an enthusiastic swim instructor who absolutely loves teaching! With her passion for the water and teaching, she creates a fun, yet rewarding class for everyone.
Lily G.
Lily has been teaching lessons with us since 2022. She has a passion for working with children and has done so through various camps and babysitting. With her gentle and patient approach, she creates a safe and fun environment for kids to learn and love swimming.
Callie K.
Callie grew up learning to swim from Water Babies to Level 4 classes at Menlo Swim School. Once she was old enough to apply for a job, she wanted to serve her interest in giving back to the community and has now taught with us since 2022. She applies her profound passion of instructing kids on how to be safe in the water, gain confidence while swimming strokes, and build endurance to each student. Aside from seeing Callie in the water, you may also find her in the lifeguard chair or on the pool deck coordinating swim lessons.
Hana C.
Hana has been teaching swim lessons since 2022. In her free time, she loves spending time in the water, swimming, and surfing. She enjoys working with children of all ages and seeing them progress in their swimming abilities. With Hana’s experience in swimming and passion for teaching, she creates a safe and fun learning environment for kids to learn and grow as swimmers.
Katharine R.
Meet Katharine, a passionate swim instructor who teaches swimmers in Water Babies through Adult lessons. Katharine has been sharing her skills as an instructor since 2022 and has helped many students become confident swimmers. No matter your age or ability, Katharine’s fun and supportive approach will make swim lessons a blast while becoming safe and better swimmers! Aside from seeing Katharine in the water, you may also find her at the front desk, in the lifeguard chair, or on the pool deck coordinating swim lessons.
Kate C.
Meet Kate, a fun and enthusiastic swim instructor and assistant Bridge coach since 2022. She learned to swim through Menlo’s Swim School and Summer Maverick’s team growing up. She also participated in a state beach junior lifeguard program every summer. Kate’s positive energy and patience makes every lesson a memorable and enjoyable experience for children of all ages. Aside from seeing Kate teaching in the water or coaching on deck, you may also find her on the pool deck coordinating swim lessons.
Mila L.
Meet Mila, a passionate and dedicated swimmer who has been sharing her love for the water with children of all ages since 2022. Mila teaches swim lessons for all class levels in addition to being an assistant coach for our Bridge Youth Program and Summer Mavericks team. With her experience as a PASA swimmer and enthusiasm for swimming, she not only trains young swimmers to excel in competitions, but also helps them build life-saving skills and confidence in the water. Aside from seeing Mila teaching in the water or coaching on deck, you may also find her on the pool deck coordinating swim lessons.
David B.
Meet David, a swim instructor who’s not only engaging and fun, but is also patient while helping swimmers move out of their comfort zone. David creates a fun and supportive environment where students feel motivated to learn while improving their skills. David has been teaching swim lessons since 2022 and is also a Lifeguard and Deck Coordinator!
Frederica (Freddy) A.
Freddy has been a Swim Instructor and Lifeguard since 2023. Freddy describes herself as a fast paced instructor that caters to each child’s needs with a strong focus for areas of improvement. Freddy has a firm, yet encouraging approach that builds confidence and strength in the water.
Rebecca P.
Rebecca has been teaching swim lessons with us since 2023. Rebecca learned to swim at the Richmond Plunge, and holds prior experience as a Swim Instructor and Lifeguard decades ago. She also swam competitively from 7th grade through high school and college. Rebecca recently retired from Ravenswood Health Center after 30+ years in Gynecology and realized that her first job was calling her, so she’s teaching swimming again! Rebecca has a nurturing, yet firm approach as she values the importance of water safety and learning a lifelong skill.
Jake C.
Jake has been teaching swim lessons with us since 2023. He has a passion for surfing with over 6 years of experience and also swam competitively, played water polo, and worked with children at various summer camps. With a deep understanding of the water, Jake brings a unique perspective to swimming lessons while having fun!
Alex N.
Alex joined our team in 2023. He has a blast with his students while bringing his PASA (Palo Alto Stanford Aquatics) experience to lessons! With a playful approach and a background in competitive swimming, Alex creates a fun and engaging environment for kids to learn how to swim.
Phineas B.
Phineas started teaching with us in 2023. He has a large background of public speaking through 4 years of Stanford Model UN, where he has traveled as far as South Korea for events, and holds 5 years of speech and debate training. Additionally, he has volunteered at alternative schools in India where he assists in teaching the children English. Phineas also has previous experience as a competitive swimmer. Although he is new to instructing, Phineas is eager to be on our team and to teach swim lessons to the community!
Evelyn M.
Evelyn joined our team in 2023. Although she is new to instructing, she has a very patient and gentle teaching style. She was eager to be trained in all of our levels from Water Babies through Level 4, and we are excited to see her develop her skills as an instructor as time goes on!
Vicky T.
Vicky started teaching with us in our busy season of summer 2023. She has been extremely adaptable to her students’ needs as well as when she covers someone else’s lessons. Vicky holds a gentle approach to teaching, while maintaining a fun learning environment.
Riya M.
Riya has been teaching with us since 2023. She grew up swimming competitively from 4 years old through college. She holds prior experience as a youth teams’ coach for a local swim club. With her firm but fair teaching style, she helps kids improve their skills while fostering a love for the sport.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How do I schedule a swim lesson for my child?
A. Lessons can be booked online here for private or group lessons.
Q: Are there makeup lessons?
A: At this time we do not offer make-up lessons for missed classes. There are no makeups, credits or refunds for missed classes.
For classes booked individually (Adult, Private, One-off) cancellations made more than 48 hours in advance will receive a refund.
Q: Is there a minimum age requirement for swim lessons?
A: Our youngest age group starts at 6 months old. Depending on the class, there are minimum and maximum age restrictions in addition to skill requirements for safety and class efficiency. For more information and class descriptions, please visit Levels and Classes.
Q: What is the minimum age for lessons where the parent is not in the water?
A: 3 years old.
Q: I’m not sure what level my child is at.
A: If it is your child’s first time in swim lessons, they will likely be in one of our Level 1 classes. If your child has some swim experience, you can compare their current abilities to the skills in each level here. During the first group lesson, our instructors will take swimmers through an in-water progression to assess skills and confirm the appropriate level for your swimmer. The instructor and deck coordinator will decide which level best suits swimmers based on their abilities, comfort, and safety. If the instructor deems the group unsafe or not a fit for your swimmer’s swim level, your child may be removed from the class.
When in doubt, register for the lower level than what you’re considering. It’s easier (and safer) for the instructor to assess skills at a lower level because they typically review skills at a slower pace compared to higher level classes. If you would like an assessment at your first lesson, please let the deck coordinator know so that they can get an update from the instructor at the end of class. If we need to change your child’s level we can do so at no additional charge if space is available.
Q: Do you offer Adaptive Lessons?
A: Since we are still building our swim school after pandemic-caused delays, we do not have a program specifically for adaptive lessons. However, an adaptive lesson may be accommodated upon request. Please email customerservice@menloswim.com for more information.
Q: What days are you closed?
A: Swim School is closed on certain holidays. To see our holiday schedule for the current season, check out our schedule here.
Q: It is raining! Is my swim lesson going to be canceled?
A: Lessons continue rain or shine! In the event of lightning or thunder, the pool will be closed for 30 minutes following the last event. If we decide to cancel lessons, the payment method you used to book classes will be refunded at the end of the season.
Q: Can we meet our instructor prior to class?
A: We do not allow personal communication between clients and instructors. If you have a specific question or information you’d like your swim instructor to know, please let the deck coordinator know and we can pass along the information to the instructor.
Classes are taught back-to-back so instructors do not have time to chat between classes. If you need to speak with your instructor please keep the conversation brief so they are not late to start their next lesson.
Q: Can I join my child in their swim lesson?
A: Parents cannot join group lessons for Levels 1-4.
One parent/adult is required to be in the water with their child for Water Babies.
For private lessons, you can bring up to 4 people in your time slot. Please try to bring swimmers of similar abilities for efficient class flow.
Q: What should I bring to the lesson?
A: Swimmers will need their own swimsuit, goggles, and towel. If you do not have your own goggles, you may check our lost and found to borrow a pair for the lesson.
Q: Are there showers?
A: Yes, we have Men’s and Women’s bathrooms with locker rooms equipped with showers. Additionally, we have two private family bathrooms with changing tables for infants.
Please keep in mind that children over the age of 6 must use their same gendered bathroom.
Q: My child keeps crying during their lesson. What should I do?
A: Don’t worry, crying is normal! There are many factors that can cause tears. Whether it’s meeting a new instructor, being in lessons for the first time, fatigue, or hunger, we have seen it all in swim lessons. Our instructors will not be bothered or surprised if they get a fussy child. This behavior usually tapers off once swimmers get more comfortable in the environment and feel more confident in their skills. While it’s tempting to put off or cancel lessons because your child keeps crying, don’t! Learning to swim provides life-saving skills that will last a lifetime and should not be neglected.
The best thing to do in this situation is leave your child with the instructor or deck coordinator and walk away out of sight from your child, “Out of sight, out of mind”! Bring something to distract yourself or take a walk around the performance pool (the one further away from the lesson pool).
Please do not sit on the edge of the pool next to the lesson. Sitting on the edge of the pool with a crying child reaching out to you from the platform is unsafe and distracting to the rest of the class. If the staff see an alternative solution to “out of sight, out of mind”, we will let you know, we’re here to help!
Q: My child doesn’t want to put their face in the water, can they skip this skill?
A: No. Learning to swim includes learning how to put their face in the water. While we won’t force a child underwater, we will adapt the skill in different ways to help ease their comfort such as pouring water over their head and blowing bubbles to work up to going underwater.
To help with this discomfort, it’s best to practice these skills at home or during our Public Open Swim. If you don’t have access to a bathtub or pool, you can practice these skills at home by filling a large bowl with water. Have your child practice blowing bubbles, working up to their “balloon face” to hold their breath.
Most children don’t like going under water because they’re inhaling through their nose. While breath control can be learned over time, it’s important to teach them how to blow out of their nose when this happens. You can practice blowing their nose into a tissue, and then remind them to do this if they ever get water up their nose.
You can check out YouTube videos for more tips for at-home practice!
Policies
Registration
All of our lessons are by appointment. Payment for lessons are due in full at the time of booking.
Registration for a new lesson can be done online by clicking this link.
Summer Swim School Session Cancellation Policy
10% non-refundable fee per session.
No refunds for cancellations made within 1 week of session start date.
No makeups, refunds, or credits for missed lessons.
Saturday One-off Cancellation Policy
If you cannot make the lesson after booking, please cancel as soon as possible so that another student can benefit from the lesson.
Cancellations made more than 48 hours in advance, receive a refund.
No refunds for cancellations made within 48 hours of start.
No makeups, refunds, or credits for missed lessons.
Policy on swimmers booked in incorrect levels
If the instructor deems the group unsafe or not a fit for your swimmer’s swim level, your child may be removed from the class.
In this case only, the 15% cancellation fee will be waived.
“Double-Diaper” policy is required for students under 3 years old. This is a disposable swim diaper covered by a reusable swim diaper.
15 Minute Sunscreen Rule
Menlo Swim and Sport requires that swimmers apply sunscreen at least 15 minutes prior to getting into the pool. This allows us to maintain optimal cleanliness to our facilities.
Pool Rules
General Pool Rules
- No swimming allowed unless a lifeguard is on duty.
- Children ages fourteen (14) and under must be supervised by an adult at all times while at the pool facility.
- Children 5 years and under must have a parent/guardian in the pool, within arm’s reach at all times.
- Roughhousing, shoving, and dunking are not allowed. No pushing or pulling into the pool, hitting with noodles or other objects.
- No spins, flips, belly flops, back dives, or back jumps.
- No long breath holding, hyperventilating, or extended underwater swimming is allowed.
- No playing, swinging, jumping, or diving on stairs, ladders, or railings.
- No diving into the Instructional Pool. Jump in feet first, facing forward only.
- Water wings and other inflatable devices are not allowed. Only Coast Guard approved flotation devices are permissible and must be provided by the patron.
- Non-toilet trained children must adhere to the double diaper policy. They must wear a water-proof diaper and a diaper cover; a swim suit over the diaper counts as a diaper cover.
- Swimmers must wear proper swim attire at all times.
- No glass or ceramic containers are allowed anywhere in the facility.
- No running or skipping on deck. Walk at all times to avoid accidents.
- No unauthorized swim lessons or coaching.
- Please do not visit with or distract the lifeguards. If you have questions, inquire inside at the Front Desk.
- Only lifeguards who are properly trained are allowed on lifeguard chairs.
- No sitting on, pushing down, or swimming over lane lines.
- Kickboards, pull buoys and fins provided by Menlo Swim and Sport are for lap swimming only. They are not allowed in open swim areas.
- Starting blocks are for use by competitive programs only when directly supervised by a qualified coach.
- No smoking (including electronic cigarettes), alcohol, or drugs allowed in the facility.
- No food or drink on the pool deck. Eating is permitted on tables, benches and grassy areas.
- Bicycles, skateboards, in-line skates, and other vehicles are not allowed to be operated in the pool area and must be walked while on deck.
- No dogs or other pets are allowed in the facility except service animals.
- Persons currently having active diarrhea or who have had active diarrhea within the previous 14 days shall not be allowed to enter the pool water.
- Changing clothes on deck is not allowed.
- In the event of an emergency, follow directions from the staff.
- Any action or behavior that is deemed unsafe or inappropriate by the aquatics staff will not be allowed. All aquatics staff have full authority over guests using the pool area and as situations warrant, they may enforce rules not listed.
- The Pool Manager on Duty may close the entire pool complex or any portion(s) of the pool complex, for any safety or maintenance reason.
- Please respect the rights of others to feel safe and secure.
- Please refrain from using profanity or offensive language, loud conversations or music, inappropriate public display of affection, or any other disruptive behavior
- Admission price is for one entry only. No in and out privileges.
- Menlo Swim and Sport, Team Sheeper, Inc. and City of Menlo Park are not responsible for any lost or stolen personal items and assume no liability for the loss or theft of a patron’s personal belongings.
- Lockers are provided to secure personal belongings; guests may bring locks for use on lockers. All locks must be removed at the end of the day.
Facility Rules
- Locker rooms will close 20 minutes after the pool closes.
- Emergency doors are to remain closed and be used in case of emergency only.
- Emergency doors, facility doors, storage areas, and safety equipment are not to be blocked by guests or objects.
- Please dispose of all trash in receptacles provided.
- Restrooms and locker rooms may not be used for loitering or other unintended uses. Cell phone use in locker rooms is prohibited
- Offices and areas marked as “Employees Only” are not for use by the general public unless approved by staff.
Swim School
- Only participants who are registered for a class or program may attend.
- Siblings of a participant may not join any class or program without registering.
- During a class or registered program, parents must wait in designated areas. Please respect the instructors, counselors, or coaches, as well as the other participants of the class by avoiding any interruptions.
- Participants and parents must follow all specific class and program policies unless otherwise specified.
- For programs that require parents to sign in and out their children, ONLY a parent or designated guardian (over 18 years old) will be allowed to pick up and/or drop off the child unless otherwise communicated with staff.
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