2019 Golden Teddy Awards — Camps + Classes

Winner: YMCA

Winner YMCAs of Western Washington earned a pool full of votes for its swimming lessons. Voters told us these high-quality classes not only turn your children into confident swimmers, but they’re affordable, accessible and welcoming for all kinds of families. At the Y’s swimming lessons, available at locations all over western Washington, kids and teens learn to enjoy swimming in a safe and fun environment.

Finalists

Our readers say it’s not only the swimming lessons that make Bellevue’s PRO Club special — it’s the number of pools: four! That means one pool is for swimming lessons only, another is reserved for family fun, the third is dedicated to lap swimming, and the fourth is reserved for deep-water activities. Rec time doesn’t end with swim time, as the club has a gym, a spa and a staff that includes an on-site acupuncturist.

Bellevue’s Samena Swim & Recreation Club offers private and group lessons to both its members and the community. Readers rave about the dedicated staff and the club’s awesome themed summer swimming camps. More cool news: The indoor and outdoor pools are open year around, and there’s a summertime wading pool, too.

With one Mukilteo location and two Seattle locations, SwimGuru provides private, semiprivate and small-group swimming lessons for kids and adults of all ages, with classes available for babies as young as 6 months. “Within three lessons, both of my swim-resistant kids were happily jumping in, going underwater and loving the pool!” says one parent.

According to our voters, Waterbabies Aquatic Program is top-notch, with great facilities, an easy-to-navigate enrollment process and fantastic teachers. With six locations in the Greater Seattle area, there’s a class for every age (from infants to adults) and swimming level. Better yet: Its mission focuses on safety and developing confidence in the water, and instructors employ a gentle, child-centered teaching method.