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TRIDENT AQUATIC CLUB
Trident Swim School

Learn. Grow.
Love the Water.

A clear, skill-based pathway that helps every swimmer build confidence, independence and strong technique — from their very first lesson to team-ready swimming.

The Trident Pathway

A progression parents can understand

Small instruction settings at the beginning. More independence, space and swimming as skills grow.

1
Discovery
2
Exploration
2B
Confidence
3
Foundation
4
Advanced
PREP
Team Prep
TEAM
Swim Team
Level 1

Water Discovery

Private · 1:1

Individual instruction for new swimmers developing comfort, safety and their first independent water skills.

  • Water comfort and safe entries
  • Beginning kicking and body position
  • Individualized instructor support
Skills & Requirements

Best for swimmers who benefit from individualized 1:1 instruction.

  • Developing comfort and confidence in the water
  • Learning safe water entry and exit
  • Beginning floating and body-position skills
  • Beginning kicking and independent movement
  • Learning to follow basic instructor directions
  • Benefits from direct, individualized instructor support
Level 2

Water Exploration

Semi-Private · 1:2

A bridge from private lessons to group swimming, with continued attention and more opportunities for independent practice.

  • Learning alongside one other swimmer
  • Building independent kicking and movement
  • Preparing for group instruction
Skills & Requirements

For swimmers ready to share instruction with one other swimmer.

  • Can follow directions with less hands-on support
  • Building independent kicking, movement and body control
  • Ready to practice alongside another swimmer in a 1:2 setting
  • Preparing for group instruction
Level 2B · Water Confidence

One level. Three stages of growth.

The first true group pathway, organized by independence and skill.

Skill-Based Placement
Stage 01

Foundations

Beginner Group · Up to 6 swimmers

For swimmers entering group instruction. Independent with fins, able to travel 25 yards with a board, kick on the back with a board, and begin incorporating arm movements.

Skills & Requirements
  • Completed introductory instruction and is ready for a group setting
  • Can swim independently with fins
  • Can hold a kickboard and travel across the 25-yard pool
  • Can hold a board on the chest and kick on the back
  • Beginning to add arm movements while swimming on the back
Stage 02

Development

Intermediate Group · Up to 6 swimmers

Greater independence, stronger body position and endurance, and less reliance on equipment or instructor assistance.

Skills & Requirements
  • Stronger body position and breathing control
  • Increasing distance and endurance
  • Less reliance on fins, boards or instructor assistance
  • More consistent freestyle and backstroke coordination
Stage 03

Advancement

Advanced Group · 6–8 swimmers · 2 lanes as needed

Independent group swimming with increased distance, stronger technique and preparation for the transition into Stroke Foundation.

Skills & Requirements
  • Can handle increased distance and more continuous swimming
  • Shows stronger freestyle and backstroke technique
  • Maintains independence in a 6–8 swimmer group using two lanes as needed
  • Ready for more structured stroke development
Skills & Requirements
  • Comfortable swimming independently in a group environment
  • Ready to improve breathing, body position and stroke mechanics
  • Can participate in longer, more structured swimming sets
  • Beginning preparation for breaststroke and more advanced skills
Level 3

Stroke Foundation

6–8 · 2 lanes as needed

Build efficient freestyle and backstroke while introducing stronger stroke mechanics, endurance and practice habits.

  • Stroke technique
  • Breathing and body position
  • Increasing swimming endurance
Skills & Requirements
  • Comfortable swimming independently in a group environment
  • Ready to improve breathing, body position and stroke mechanics
  • Can participate in longer, more structured swimming sets
  • Beginning preparation for breaststroke and more advanced skills
Level 4

Advanced Skills

6–8 · 2 lanes as needed

Advanced skill development across all four competitive strokes with greater endurance, consistency and technical awareness.

  • Four-stroke development
  • Starts, turns and streamlines
  • Greater independence and endurance
Skills & Requirements
  • Demonstrates consistent freestyle and backstroke skills
  • Ready for breaststroke and butterfly development
  • Working on starts, turns, streamlines and increased endurance
  • Prepared for advanced swim-school training before Team Prep
After Level 4

Choose the next swim pathway

After Level 4, swimmers can choose the pathway that best matches their goals.

Competitive Pathway

Team Prep

For swimmers preparing to transition into a team environment. Team Prep builds endurance, lane awareness, practice skills and confidence before moving into Trident's Developmental Team pathway.

6–8 swimmers · 2 lanes as needed
Skills & Requirements
  • Strong independence across multiple strokes
  • Ready for increased endurance and longer structured practices
  • Developing lane awareness, circle swimming and team-practice habits
  • Refining starts, turns, streamlines and stroke consistency
  • Preparing for evaluation into the Developmental Team pathway
Recreational Pathway

Recreational Refinement

For swimmers who want continued stroke improvement, endurance and fitness without moving into competitive team swimming.

Best For Swimmers Who Want To
  • Continue improving all four strokes
  • Build endurance and overall swimming fitness
  • Refine starts, turns and technique
  • Continue structured instruction without competitive team participation
  • Progress recreationally at their own pace
Swim School Pricing

Simple pricing. Clear options.

All swimmers are evaluated and placed in the level that best matches their current skills and independence.

Program 8-Lesson Package Drop-In Rate
Water Discovery · Level 1 $600 ($75/lesson) $90
Water Exploration · Level 2 $520 ($65/lesson) $80
Water Confidence 2B · Foundations $440 ($55/lesson) $70
Water Confidence 2B · Development $440 ($55/lesson) $70
Water Confidence 2B · Advancement $520 $80
Stroke Foundation · Level 3 $520 $80
Advanced Skills · Level 4 $520 $80
Team Prep Jr. · Ages 6–11 $520 $80
Team Prep Advanced · Ages 12+ $560 ($70/lesson) $85
Private Swim Lessons · 30 min $640 ($80/lesson) $100
Adaptive Group Lessons $440 ($55/lesson) Package only
Drop-in lessons are offered when space is available. Session packages provide the best value and help families maintain a consistent class day, time and instructor.
Attendance & Credit Policy

No makeup classes

Makeup classes are no longer offered. A maximum of one class credit may be issued per swimmer, per session, when the absence is reported according to the notification requirements.

How to report an absence

All absences must be reported by email to info@tridentaquaticclub.com . The subject line must include ABSENT in capital letters, along with the swimmer’s full name, scheduled class day and class time.

Planned absences must be reported at least 24 hours before class. For same-day illness, email must be received by 9:00 AM on the day of the scheduled class.

Credits may be transferred only to the immediately following session and cannot be saved, extended or carried beyond that session.

Email notification only · Please do not text or call.
Fall 2026

Priority Registration

Fall session scheduling is offered to current swimmers first. Contact us to request your preferred time slot. We will do our best to accommodate the same day and time, but placement is not guaranteed.

Email Your Interest
Important Timeline
Current swimmers · August 24, 2026
Open registration · September 1, 2026
Fall session hours · Last lessons end at 4:30 PM
Individualized Instruction

Private & Adaptive Swim Lessons

One-on-one instruction for swimmers who benefit from individualized support, including swimmers with special needs, adaptive learning needs, sensory considerations, water-safety goals, or specific stroke and skill development needs. Lessons are tailored to each swimmer’s abilities, comfort and goals.

Email About Private & Adaptive Lessons
TRIDENT AQUATIC CLUB · SWIM SCHOOL   |   Confidence first. Strong swimming next.
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Where We Swim

Learn to Swim at Wagner College

Trident Aquatic Club's Learn-to-Swim School is located at Wagner College on Staten Island, providing swimmers with a structured environment to build confidence, technique and long-term swimming skills.

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Wagner College 1 Campus Road
Staten Island, NY 10301
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Weekend Learn-to-Swim Classes Lesson times and availability vary by session. Swimmers are placed according to skill level and current class availability.
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Questions About Placement?
Your Next Step

Ready to Get Started?

Explore Trident's complete Learn-to-Swim pathway to see our levels, class sizes, skill requirements, Team Prep options and current pricing.

View Levels & Pathways Email Trident