Camp Olympia

We all know how important it is to know how to swim. Whether you live ilon a beach or ever take a vacation where there is a pool it’s safer and more fun if you can swim.
Camp Olympia helps you achieve this goal. Sure classes may be a bit more chaotic and larger than other more expensive lessons but you can tell the instructors care and spend equal time with each child.
Our son has been coming for over a year and advanced at differing paces but has definitely become comfortable in the water and has strong swimming skills at four and a half. Supplementing these group lessons with private will certainly help accelerate his learning but he’s received a solid base here.
Be warned that the pool and facilities are the reason I’m ranking 3 stars. It’s in the John Jay high school and it’s old. Pool is clean but temperature varies. The pool area is always hot (sauna got) t, humid and fetid with the smell of chlorine and sweat. Lots of noise and yelling that just reverberates of the tile walls to add to the chaos. The showers are just as bad with soap frequently out and that «orange is the new black» feel.
If the facilities were nicer it’d be at least 4 stars but I’m sure a lot more money too. Take Camp Olympia for what it is — a great place to start your kid swimming at at a reasonable price with caring staff. Just dress in layers.

This is my daughter’ 2^nd class at Camp Olympia this fall and so far I like them very much! But I do have to say they have too many children for 2 instructors to deal with in a short 30 minute time frame! So every kid only gets around 5 minutes of time but they do have patience with the kids and do try their best. My daughter has learned from them but not as much as I hoped for at this time. The place is super hot no matter what time of the year and sometimes no place to sit. Parking is very tough to find and they great hours on weekends. Instructors again are all good! The price for the 8 weeks (1 30 minute class per weeks) is $ 185 and is good but I wouldn’t pay more than that.

I love this place for my daughter. This is her second session here. The instructors are very warm and friendly. They work with the kids and most important they dont force them to do anything, they find creative interesting ways to get the kids invovled.

Camp Olympia was recommended by other parents so we decided to give it a try for the Winter 2014 session. My girls were 2.5 and 4.5 yrs old at the time, so the little one was in the ‘mommy & me’ class while the older child was swimming without a parent.
Pros: 1) classes are cheaper than most other programs, at $ 185 per child for 8 weeks. 2) class times are on weekends-​convenient for working parents 3) higher class size and frequency of classes means you can typically get a spot for your child
Cons: 1) See #3 above — too many children per instructor! During a 30-​min class, your child will get no more than 5 minutes of individual instruction from the teacher. Most of the time, kids just wait their turn by holding onto the walls. 2) Skills develop very slowly. Children use floating belts for too long. 3) Pool temperature is highly erratic. Some lessons, the water is very pleasant, others it’s frigid cold. 4) There are too many people in the pool at all times. Mommy & me classes look like a scene from Titanic — there’s very little room to practice actual swimming with your child — a lot of bopping in place. 5) Facilities are very dirty. People wear shoes on the pool deck which makes the whole place extra gross, especially in the winter months. Locker rooms are a disaster. As bad as you can imagine a public high school to be, that hasn’t been renovated in decades.
On the whole, it was a good introduction to the swimming options in New York but I wouldn’t recommend it to others — but don’t take just our word for it. After suggesting Camp Olympia to two other families who’ve previously gone to the Y in Park Slope, they quit after their first class, observing the same flaws we’ve noted above.

Did two full session at Camp Olympia this past winter and spring, starting when my son was 7 months old. Starting again in the fall when he will be 15 months.
Class Style & Instructors — I think they definitely give great tips to how to teach your child different swimming movements, but aren’t super strict on following along to the tee, so you’re free to do whatever you and your child are comfortable with. There’s also some free time for you to do your own activities like jumping in or the paddle board or trying to go after the rubber duckies. The instructors are always helpful and are very good and patient with the kids.
Location — This is a high school, so they changing rooms aren’t baby changing friendly, but also aren’t meant to be. Despite that, I just very quickly rinse him under the shower (not exactly warm) and just lay him down on his towel to change and dress him him, so really
not that big of deal.
It’s in Park Slope, surrounded by a ton of brunch places and parks to go to after, which is a great reason to be out with the kid instead of sitting home on the weekends.
Progress — After just a few sessions, he was extremely comfortable with the water, and by the end of the classes, he was already scooping his arms and kicking has feet, while we would just have one hand under his stomach!

Great swimming classes, my little one started swimming here since he turned 6 months. The classes are fun and it is centered around the comfort and well being of my son. The only thing is that the water has been recently colder than usual. I only noticed it because all the children except Dylan (my baby boy) had blueish purple lips after the session. If I were to see Dylans lips turn blue, I wouldnt hesitate to leave the water. That and the lack of warm water in the showers is the only reason they got 4 stars.

Great swimming classes. Our 3 year old has been taking swimming classes (Angel Fish Plus) here and the instructors are amazing with the children. They have up to 5 children per instructor and they are very attentive to each one of them.

My nephew had swim lessons at another pool but then switched to Camp Olympia because it was cheaper. Unfortunately, the instructors here don’t seem to have much of a background in swimming. Two years later, he is still traumatized by a clueless CO teacher who shoved his head under the water and held him under. Without warning. He never went back. It took months to get him back in the pool. Years later, he still talks about that incident with unmistakeable fear in his big round eyes. He now is taking privates lessons with a kind, patient instructor at the original (more expensive) facility who has helped him move past his trauma with the bozo and onto being able to swim. I would not recommend this place.

My 5 year old came in as a mortified swimmer and now after 6 classes she loves the water! the instructors are patient and caring. The prices are great. Dress light because the swimming area feels like a sauna. Over all the prices are extremely reasonable!

This place is Awesome. My oldest is 8 and he’s a lil merman. My other son is 4 he gets in but I’m beginning his lessons asap, as well as mine. I’ve sent people there and they love it for themselves and their children.

We’ve now done the infant class here and a prospect park Y, and I know folks in the area often try to decide between the two (all in all, I’d give the Y about the same rating).
Pros of Camp Olympia over the Y:
Classes involve more skill building – parents manipulate the babies’ arms and legs in kicking motions and generally feels more like a swimming lesson
Classes are well organized, and the instructors fill the time well.
Cons of Camp Olympia compared to the Y:
Pool is colder
locker room isn’t suited for changing a baby
GIANT ROACH on the pool deck
The Y doesn’t dunk the babies, and here, you do dunk with your little one. I don’t think that’s a con, but I know some folks will.

My son has been attending swimming lessons with Camp Olympia since he was 6 months old. After just a few classes, he was totally comfortable in the water!
The instructors are very friendly and very very good with babies!
I would definitely recommend camp olympia

Great place for infant swimming classes. The pool water is very warm, and they keep the air temperature at about 80+ degrees. The first time I went i thought I was going to faint! The swimming teachers are great with the kids, and prices are reasonable.