KIDS Programs

The Kentwood Inner District Sports (KIDS) program. Established in 2000, KIDS offers a wide-range of classes to provide meaningful learning opportunities outside of the school day in a variety of areas.What began as a way to offer athletic classes for students has grown over the years. Today, the KPS KIDS program offers classes in a whole bunch of sports but also offers instructional opportunities like STEM learning, as well as opportunities in the arts and music, crafts, and much more.
Each year thousands of KPS students take advantage of classes in the KIDS program to learn from KPS coaches, teachers, students, and student-athletes. The KIDS program, run by the KPS Athletics Department, cultivates a love of sportsmanship and collaborative learning plus a commitment to healthy living within the Kentwood community. This all happens at a minimal cost to families, normally $10, with some exceptions, for a complete series of classes.

At KAC, we host three types of KIDS programming, based on the three aquatic sports: Swimming, Diving and Water Polo

See the sections below for more information on each program. See all other sport options at through the link below at the KIDS landing page.

KIDS Home Page

5th Grade Swim Program

The 5th Grade program is provided to 5th grade students in the Kentwood Public School District free of charge. Students are bussed to the High School Campus four consecutive days in a scheduled week to get an introduction to all aquatic sports, with a focus on learn-to-swim basics.  The basic program timeline is listed below.  Students must supply their own suits and towels for 5th Grade Swim Program. Introductory video will be sent to teachers two weeks in advance to prepare students and parents on what to expect. 

Monday

Arrival/Introduction; Swim Evaluation; Group Assignment; Breathing/Submerging/Floating

Tuesday

Split directly into Group Assignments; Review of prior skills; Kicking/Gliding/Pulling; Water Polo Passing

Wednesday

Split into Group Assignments; Review of all water skills; Swimming techniques; Water Polo Shooting

Thursday

Safety Topics; Survival and Lifejacket fitting; Deep Water movement w/ lifejacket; Optional Swim Test; Optional Diving Board Jump; Water Polo Scrimmage

Parent/Child Lessons

(ages 6 months - 3 years)

This Parent/Child swim lessons follow the Red Cross guidelines and help familiarize young children and their caregivers to aquatic environments. In addition to orienting young children to the water, parent/child classes also serve as an orientation for caregivers to understand how to be safe with children in the water. These classes also include several aquatic readiness activities that will help children transition from lessons with their guardian into preschool lessons with certified instructors.  These lessons are held in the warm water pool, which is 3-4ft deep and 88-90 degree water temp.  They are taught by a Red Cross certified Water Safety Instructor.

These classes are designed for young children ages 6 months to age three.

This is a 'parent participation' class, so an adult caregiver must be in the water with the child during the duration of the lesson.

Prices:

Members: $10/30 min      Resident: $12/30 min      Non-Resident: $14/30 min

See Our Course Schedule Here

Preschool Lessons

(ages 3 - 6 years old)

Preschool swim lessons at the KPS Aquatic Center follow American Red Cross guidelines, and are taught by a Red Cross certified Water Safety Instructor. These lessons are broken into three (3) levels, and each have entry qualifications and exit assessments. Lessons last 30 minutes, and are held in the warm water pool, which is 3-4 ft deep and between 88-90 degrees water temp. Lessons are in small groups of no larger than five (5) participants.  A session must have a minimum of two participants enrolled 48 hours prior to the first session to run.

Prices:

Members: $10/30 min      Resident: $12/30 min      Non-Resident: $14/30 min

Preschool Level 1

Preschool Level 1 is for swimmers that are uncomfortable in the water, or have yet to spend time in the water.  The goal of level 1 is to get swimmers comfortable in the water and be able to float and put their faces into the water.  Swimmers either taking lessons for the first time or uncomfortable in the water should start in Level 1.

Check Out Our Available Courses Here

Preschool Level 2

Level 2 is for swimmers that are comfortable in the water,  and can float and put their faces into the water.  The goal of level 2 is to get swimmers to be more capable in the water and start to learn the basics of moving through the water on their own. Participants that age out of Preschool would start in Level 2 of the KIDS Swim program.

Check Out Our Available Courses Here

Preschool Level 3

Level 3 is for swimmers that can be independent for brief moments moving through the water.  The goal of level 3 is to get swimmers to move independently through the water for a half length of the pool, and learn the beginning of stoke concepts. Participants that age out of Preschool would start in Level 3 of the KIDS Swim program.

Check Out Our Available Courses Here

Adult Group Lessons

(13+)

Adult group swim lessons have two different types based on the ability level of the participant. taught by a Red Cross certified Water Safety Instructor.  A session must have a minimum of two participants enrolled 48 hours prior to the first session to run.

Prices:

Members: $13/45 min      Resident: $16/45 min      Non-Resident: $19/45 min

Adult - Learn-to-Swim

Following American Red Cross guidelines, this lesson is designed for participants that are looking to become comfortable in the water and learn basic swimming skills in a small group setting. Learn breath control, submerging, floating and early movement.  Classes are held in the warm water pool, which is 3-4 ft deep and 88-90 degree water temp. 

Classes are taught by a Red Cross certified Water Safety Instructor and are capped at five (5) participants per class.  A session must have a minimum of two participants enrolled 48 hours prior to the first session to run.

See Our Course Schedule Here

Adult - Stroke Development

Following American Red Cross guidelines, this lesson is designed for participants that are already comfortable in the water. Participants should be able to float, submerge and understand the basics of moving through the water safety and comfortably. This lesson is designed for those looking to learn early swimming strokes like freestyle and breaststroke.  Classes are held in both the warm water pool, which is 3-4 ft deep and 88-90 degree water temp, and the competition pool, which is between 7-13 ft deep and between 78-80 degree water temp.

Classes are taught by a Red Cross certified Water Safety Instructor and are capped at six (6) participants per class. A session must have a minimum of two participants enrolled 48 hours prior to the first session to run.

See Our Course Schedule Here

Private Swimming Lessons

There are two models for scheduling a private swim lesson at the KPS Aquatic Center, which have different costs per lesson. Classes can be held in both the warm water pool, which is 3-4 ft deep and 88-90 degree water temp, and the competition pool, which is between 7-13 ft deep and between 78-80 degree water temp.  Classes are taught by a Red Cross certified Water Safety Instructor.

Pay lesson-by-lesson

You can select any time that works best for you from our available "Appointments" page, only committing to one lesson at a time.  This option works well for someone who wants to work with a trained instructor, but are only focusing on a small number of skills to learn or improve.  

Member: $40/30 min      Resident: $45/30 min   Non-Resident: $50/30 min

These private lessons are scheduled as "APPOINTMENTS" and can be found on our TeamUp page.

Check Instructor Appointments Here

Scheduled monthly lesson

You can select a regularly scheduled timeslot from the "Courses" list that works best for you, committing to a weekly session for a month (generally 3-5 weeks depending on day/month/holidays).  This option has a discount for committing to multiple sessions, reducing the rate by $10/30 minutes.  This option is great for participants that want to work with an instructor in a very focused setting, but are looking to continuously improve many skills over time.  

Member: $30/30 min      Resident: $35/30 min   Non-Resident: $40/30 min

These private lessons are scheduled as "COURSES" and can be found on our TeamUp page.

Check Available Private Lessons Courses Here

KIDS Swim

(1st - 5th Grade)

Our KIDS Swim - Learn to Swim runs year-round and in 2025 will see some changes to the program that we hope will allow us to help the largest number of people possible. These adjustments should allow the program to serve as an introduction to the water, and still provide first through fifth graders an opportunity to develop swimming skills if they enjoy the water. This program is designed only for elementary grades 1st through 5th grade. Older and younger students that do not meet this criteria that are seeking to learn to swim can check the opportunities through the KPS Aquatic Center website.

Please note that beginning in 2025, a swimmer will only be permitted to register for three sessions of KIDS Swim, regardless of the advancement.  Upon completing the third session, they will be given other options available to continue swimming lessons if they choose.  Group placement and 'levels' will also see adjustments with these new sessions.  Swimmers will now see a level 1 that is primarily about getting comfortable in the water.  Level 2 will be about learning breath control and floating.  Level 3 will be about movement through the water and learning freestyle and backstroke.  Once a swimmer has those skills, they would be eligible to try swimming on a local swim team, and would 'graduate' from the KIDS Swim Learn to Swim program. 

For questions about the KIDS Swim program, please email kentwoodaquatics@gmail.com

Registration Page

KIDS Polo

Various KIDS Polo programs are offered throughout the year, including SplashBall (1st-5th grade) and Middle School Water Polo (5th-8th grade). Check back regularly to see the current and upcoming offerings for water polo in the KIDS program.

Registration Page

KIDS Dive

Coming Summer 2025!

KIDS Dive will return with an opportunity for students in 1st through 5th grade to try out the competitive diving experience.  Check back soon for more details!

Participants must be able to swim comfortably, fall into the water and independently return to the surface of the water, and get themselves to the poolside.  If students are interested, but not quite ready to swim, take a look at the KIDS Swim program!