Question 1

How do I register for my first lesson?

Accepted Answer

We love to meet new swimmers! But before you can register for your first lesson, you must register for an account on our website. Once you are logged in, head to our "Book Online" page, select the class type you are interested in, pick a convenient time, and then you're ready for your first lesson!

Question 2

How can I cancel or reschedule a Bloomfield Lesson?

Accepted Answer

Lessons must be cancelled or rescheduled 2 days prior to the lesson. If you meet this criteria follow these steps:
To Reschedule or Cancel: Log in to your account, head to the "My Bookings" tab under your account tab, and click the reschedule button. To cancel, click the drop down arrow and press cancel. Alternatively, requests can be sent via email to matt@505swimming.com NO LESS than 48 hours in advance of the start of the class.

Question 3

Do we have to pay admission to the aquatic center?

Accepted Answer

No, the cost that you pay for your lesson covers our pool use fee and the City of Bloomfield will not charge an entrance fee to any lesson participants.

Question 4

Is there a required monthly commitment?

Accepted Answer

No! All of our group & private classes have the option to register per class with no commitments or monthly sign ups, giving you the flexibility to register for classes with a schedule that best suits your family! We also offer discounted recurring monthly plans that give families 8 private lessons per month for those who wish to sign up for lessons roughly twice per week. 8 lessons must be completed within that month and the plans renew until cancelled.

Question 5

Are we required to pay admission to the pool?

Accepted Answer

Yes, you must pay admission to the pool to enter for the class. The prices are listed here https://www.cabq.gov/parksandrecreation/recreation/swimming/admission-fees

Question 6

What is the cancellation policy for lessons?

Accepted Answer

Lessons must be cancelled or rescheduled with us AT LEAST 48 hours prior to the start of the lesson in order to receive credit or a refund.
We reserve the right to disable the account registration access of those who fail to comply with this policy 2 or more times.

Question 7

What skill and age levels are covered in the group lessons?

Accepted Answer

We are offering a parent-tot and levels 1 and level 2 class which are structured on the basis of skill, not necessarily age.

Parent-tot: For kids 1-3 years old with one parent in the water.
Level 1: For kids who are not comfortable in and under the water, are likely new to swimming, and starting with very little to no meaningful swimming skills. Average age is typically 3-5.

Level 2: For kids who are totally comfortable both in and under the water, but are still working on the basic swim skills. Likely can't swim independently and are working on kicking, floating, and swimming with arms. Average age is typically 5-7.

Intermediate level lessons for kids beyond the skills described in level 2 must be taken within our private lessons.

Question 8

Do I have to be an El Gancho member to receive private swim lessons at El Gancho?

Accepted Answer

Yes, to receive lessons with us at El Gancho, you must hold an active individual or family membership. Please contact us if you have more questions! We offer a wider variety of group and private lessons at the Genoveva Chavez Center!

Question 9

How can I cancel or reschedule a Santa Fe lesson?

Accepted Answer

Lessons must be cancelled or rescheduled 2 days prior to the lesson. If you meet this criteria follow these steps:
To Reschedule or Cancel: Log in to your account, head to the "My Bookings" tab under your account tab, and click the reschedule button. To cancel, click the drop down arrow and press cancel. Alternatively, requests can be sent via email to matt@505swimming.com NO LESS than 48 hours in advance of the start of the class.

Question 10

How do I register for more lessons?

Accepted Answer

Just head to our "Book Online" page, select your lesson level, choose the time that works best for you, and book the lesson. Easy as 1, 2, 3!
Lessons can be booked as soon as 2 days before the lesson and as far out as 60 days in advance

Question 11

Do we have to pay admission to the GCC for lessons?

Accepted Answer

No, the cost that you pay for your lesson includes our pool use fee and the City of Santa Fe will not charge an entrance fee to any lesson participants.

Question 12

How do I register for my first class?

Accepted Answer

We love to meet new swimmers! But before you can register for your first lesson, you must register for an account on our website. Once you are logged in, head to our "Book Online" page, select the class type you are interested in, pick a convenient time, and then you're ready for your first lesson!

Question 13

How can I cancel or reschedule my Los Alamos lesson?

Accepted Answer

You must cancel or reschedule your lesson no less than 48 hours in advance, and no refunds/exceptions will be given to late-cancelled or no-show lessons. You must call or visit the Walkup Aquatic Center to cancel or reschedule your lessons and this cannot be done by us. They can be contacted at (505) 662-8170

Question 14

How do I sign up for Los Alamos lessons?

Accepted Answer

1. Navigate to the Los Alamos County Recreation Department's registration page linked above

2. Just below the words "Search Results" click on the drop down box next to "Display Option"

3. Select the "Calendar" option from the drop down list to get redirected to a 1 month calendar view of available group and private lessons!

4. Select a lesson from the calendar and press "Add to Cart" in the window that appears.
**Please Note: All lessons taught by us will be labeled as 505 Swim along with one of our instructor's names. View our team here! The instructor Anna Zhang is unaffiliated with 505 Swimming and not a part of our program.

5. Log in or sign up on the login page that you are directed to.
**Please Note: This website and system is separate from ours and will require a different account!

6. Complete the registration and payment process in the following page

7. Show up ready to swim!

Question 15

What are the criteria for each group level?

Accepted Answer

Parent-Tot: For infants aged 1-2. One parent is required to be in the pool with the child. These lessons are primarily meant to introduce children to the water, build confidence, and start working on very basic skills like kicking and back floats. The emphasis on these lessons is fun!

Level 1: Minimum age 3 y/o. Best for kids who have little to no experience swimming and may not be comfortable in the pool or with submerging or floating. Lessons will work on establishing confidence in the water, basic skills like floating and kicking, as well as into to water safety skills.

Level 2: Minimum age 3 y/o. Best for kids with at least some experience swimming. These lessons are usually with children aged 5 or 6 or above. Children in this level should be comfortable with swimming, submerging, and floating with assistance. Lessons will work on building foundational skills like floating, swimming, and kicking independently as well as water safety skills.

Private lessons: Open to all ages above 10 months and all skill levels. Intermediate level students must enroll in private lessons.

Question 16

I've created an account, but am not able to log in!

Accepted Answer

As soon as you create an account on our website, your account will be pending. We do this to prevent spam and ensure that everyone is able to sign up for the lessons that best suit their needs. When you first signed up, an email should have been automatically sent to you with the next steps in getting started, but if for some reason you did not receive this, please email us at matt.505swimming@gmail.com and we can help get you started!

Question 17

What ages do you offer lessons to?

Accepted Answer

We start our lessons as young as 1 year old and have options available for all ages from there. Many lesson providers do not offer lessons to older children or adults, but we want to ensure that everyone has the chance to learn to swim regardless of their age. Whether you are looking for lessons for your 5 year old, 2 year old, 14 year old, or for a 75 year old we have lessons for you!

Question 18

What makes your private lessons worth the price?

Accepted Answer

While our private lessons are more expensive than group lessons that may be available elsewhere, our lessons offer many benefits:
	-  1-on-1 attention
	- A customized learning plan
		- Spend more time working on challenging skills and less time on already mastered skills
	- An environment with less distraction that is more conducive to learning
	- A closer relationship with the instructor that helps nervous swimmers feel more comfortable 
	- Greater flexibility

On top of that all of our instructors for all lessons :
	- Are trained and certified
	- Are certified in CPR
	- Have a vast involvement in swimming and/or a history of working with children

Our private instruction program will enable you/your swimmer to learn faster and have more fun in a safer environment, ultimately leading to savings over traditional group lessons. We cannot wait for you to feel safer, more confident, and more capable in the water!

Question 19

Are group or private swim lessons a better option for my child?

Accepted Answer

This all depends on the goals that you have for your child. Private lessons provide much more individualized attention and are best for kids who are still fearful of the water or are just getting started swimming. On top of that, they provide the time to work on specific skills that you may want them to work on that there might not be time for in the group sessions. On the other hand, our group lessons provide an affordable small-group environment that can be more fun for many kids and help them if they learn better with others! Many families choose to enroll in both options to provide the balance of both benefits for their child!

Frequently Asked Questions