About
SwimRVA Swim School and Learn-to-Swim Programs offers swim lessons, group and private swim lessons, swim workouts, and swim team options such as the SwimRVA Rapids team. The programs also include water polo, artistic and synchronized swimming through the Artistic Swimming Team, and specialized options like Autism Swims. Additional activities connected to the program include Summer Camps, the SwimRVA Hammerheads program and Hammerheads Masters Swimming, an adult swim team, Running University, and safety courses such as lifeguarding, CPR, first aid, water rescue, Lifeguard Instructor (LGI), and CPO courses.
• Ages: 5–18 years old
• Schedule: Learn-to-Swim includes seven structured lessons; facility hours vary by site and season, with weekday and weekend options at SwimRVA Collegiate School Aquatics Center and SwimRVA North
SwimRVA’s Learn-to-Swim program provides cost-free, school-based swimming lessons to second graders across multiple districts in the Richmond region, with seven structured lessons that cover essential survival skills, water comfort, and foundational stroke techniques. SwimRVA is a non-profit community hub for aquatics in the Richmond region with a mission to change lives through aquatics and to build a Drownproof Richmond, guided by three pillars: Swim for Safety, Swim for Health, and Swim for Economic Vitality. SwimRVA’s Drownproof Richmond initiative is described as one of the largest and most impactful community water-safety strategies in the nation, and the organization has a stated goal of $7 million in annual economic impact through aquatics.
SwimRVA began as the Greater Richmond Aquatics Partnership (GRAP), a collaboration of five educational and youth sport leaders focused on creating a world-class aquatics facility in Chesterfield. SwimRVA maintains partnerships with civic leaders, schools, community groups, and organizations such as the YMCA of Greater Richmond, the Salvation Army Boys & Girls Clubs, and VSU. Together with the YMCA of Greater Richmond, SwimRVA provides every second grader in the community the opportunity to learn how to swim, and it partners with middle and high schools to teach essential swim skills and provide life safety certifications in lifeguarding, CPR, first aid, and water rescue.
The organization’s leadership team includes Adam Kennedy, Executive Director; Scott Bennett, Director of Communications; Kirk Chamberlain, Director of Facilities; Debbie Kelo, Ph.D., Director of Programs; and Sean Gaffney, Director of Life Safety. SwimRVA uses a station-based curriculum, offers month-to-month billing, and runs programs for any age, including one of two water polo teams in Virginia and an Autism Swims program designed in partnership with behavioral experts and experienced aquatic educators. SwimRVA also serves as a training hub that certifies lifeguards, Lifeguard Instructors (LGIs), and Certified Pool Operators (CPOs).
Last updated May 14, 2026.
• Ages: 5–18 years old
• Schedule: Learn-to-Swim includes seven structured lessons; facility hours vary by site and season, with weekday and weekend options at SwimRVA Collegiate School Aquatics Center and SwimRVA North
SwimRVA’s Learn-to-Swim program provides cost-free, school-based swimming lessons to second graders across multiple districts in the Richmond region, with seven structured lessons that cover essential survival skills, water comfort, and foundational stroke techniques. SwimRVA is a non-profit community hub for aquatics in the Richmond region with a mission to change lives through aquatics and to build a Drownproof Richmond, guided by three pillars: Swim for Safety, Swim for Health, and Swim for Economic Vitality. SwimRVA’s Drownproof Richmond initiative is described as one of the largest and most impactful community water-safety strategies in the nation, and the organization has a stated goal of $7 million in annual economic impact through aquatics.
SwimRVA began as the Greater Richmond Aquatics Partnership (GRAP), a collaboration of five educational and youth sport leaders focused on creating a world-class aquatics facility in Chesterfield. SwimRVA maintains partnerships with civic leaders, schools, community groups, and organizations such as the YMCA of Greater Richmond, the Salvation Army Boys & Girls Clubs, and VSU. Together with the YMCA of Greater Richmond, SwimRVA provides every second grader in the community the opportunity to learn how to swim, and it partners with middle and high schools to teach essential swim skills and provide life safety certifications in lifeguarding, CPR, first aid, and water rescue.
The organization’s leadership team includes Adam Kennedy, Executive Director; Scott Bennett, Director of Communications; Kirk Chamberlain, Director of Facilities; Debbie Kelo, Ph.D., Director of Programs; and Sean Gaffney, Director of Life Safety. SwimRVA uses a station-based curriculum, offers month-to-month billing, and runs programs for any age, including one of two water polo teams in Virginia and an Autism Swims program designed in partnership with behavioral experts and experienced aquatic educators. SwimRVA also serves as a training hub that certifies lifeguards, Lifeguard Instructors (LGIs), and Certified Pool Operators (CPOs).
Last updated May 14, 2026.
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