Free Swim Lessons
Free Swim Lessons – For Montclair State University Students
Spring 2026 – From January 26 – April 17
Beginners
Never swam before? No problem! These lessons will give you the important foundational skills in swimming and help you be more comfortable in the pool. Learn how to use proper breath control, float, and swim with a kickboard.
Skills Focus:
- Being comfortable in the water
- Learning how to float on your back and front
- Learning how to kick off the wall with a kickboard
- Introducing proper breath control in the water
- Learning how to tread water
- Learn alternate kicks (Froggy Kick)
- Being comfortable in the deep end
- Introducing arms to your strokes
How do I Sign-up?
- Registration is not required
- FREE with valid Montclair State ID
When and Where?
- Monday: 1-2PM & 5-6PM
- Tuesday: 5-6PM
- Wednesday: 5-6PM
- Thursday: 4-5PM
- Student Recreation Center – Pool
Intermediate
Take your swimming to the next level! Get introduced to new strokes or work on the ones you already know. These lessons are for swimmers who are a little more comfortable in the water but still want to improve their technique and expand what skills they know.
Skills Focus:
- Swimming unassisted on your front and back
- Improve treading (in the deep end)
- Improving breath control in the water
- Learn alternate kicks (Dolphin Kick)
- Introduction to and/or improving your breaststroke
- Swimming laps
- Introduction to open and flip turns
- Introduction to Butterfly
How do I Sign-up?
- Registration is not required
- FREE with valid Montclair State ID
When and Where?
- Monday: 1-2PM & 5-6PM
- Tuesday: 5-6PM
- Wednesday: 5-6PM
- Thursday: 4-5PM
- Student Recreation Center – Pool
Free Swim Clinics- Semester Long
Take your swimming even further! Do you have a specific skill you really want to work on but never had the chance to, or that you have been meaning to learn? Each clinic will have its own topic to work on and really be able to go in-depth on. Skills include treading, flip turns, sprints, starts, and more.
Clinic Focus Dates
- 2/4 – Breaststroke
- 3/4 – Treading and Turns (flip turns and open turns)
- 4/1 – Butterfly
How do I Sign-up?
- Registration is not required
- FREE with valid Montclair State ID
When and Where?
- First Wednesday of every month
- Student Recreation Center – Pool
Check out our free swim promo video.
Email srcaquatics@montclair.edu to begin scheduling your lessons!
Questions?
If you have any questions about Campus Recreation’s Aquatics Department, please call 973-655-3349.
Open Swim
Open Swim Hours – Spring 2026
The Student Recreation Center Pool offers general open swim for students, faculty, staff, and alumni members. No reservation is required. Locker rooms and showers are available for use.
Effective Friday, January 16 2026, the Student Recreation Center Pool hours are as follows:
- Monday – Thursday: 6 a.m. – 11 p.m.
- Friday: 6 a.m. – 10 p.m.
- Saturday: 8 a.m. – 10 p.m.
- Sunday: 8 a.m. – 11 p.m.
- All patrons must still abide by Student Recreation Center regulations. In order to enter the facility, you will be required to show:
- A valid Montclair State University I.D.
Information about Student Recreation Center memberships can be found on our Memberships web page.
Questions?
If you have any questions about Campus Recreation’s Aquatics Department, please call 973-655-3349.
Events
The Student Recreation Center strives to create a welcoming and fun environment for all whether it be on land or in water! Aquatics Planned Events brings creativity and excitement through events for students to come alone or with friends! For either a relaxing night come enjoy our Dive-in movies, Paddleboard Yoga, and many more! Or if you’re looking for an adrenaline rush check out Wipeout, Hamster Glow, or Pool Bingo! Come join us on Monday nights from 6-8 p.m!
Spring 2026 Events!
Have you ever tried to walk on water before? I’m sure if you did it didn’t work out too well… but come on down to the SRC pool you will be able to achieve that dream! Bring a friend and race each other and see who the true winner is. Spend your evening tumbling around and have a chance to win your very own Switch Lite! You won’t want to miss out on a once in a lifetime opportunity!
How do I sign-up?
- No registration required.
- FREE for students with a valid Montclair State ID.
Where and when?
- Thursday, November 20
- 5pm – 7pm
- Student Recreation Center Pool
Come celebrate Valentine’s Day with us as we teach you at the Montclair State Student Recreation Center! Whether you’re floating in the pool on a cozy raft or relaxing at the water’s edge with a bag of popcorn, you’re invited to enjoy a fabulous movie night featuring How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days in a totally unique setting. Not a fan of getting in the water? No worries! We’ll have plenty of comfortable seating around the pool so you can stay warm, relax, and still soak in all the fun and laughter of this classic rom-com. Join us for a charming, lighthearted evening you won’t want to miss!
How do I sign-up?
- No registration required
- FREE for students with a valid Montclair State ID
Where and when?
- Thursday, February 12
- 5pm-7pm
- Student Recreation Center Pool
Questions?
If you have any questions about Campus Recreation’s Aquatics Department, please call 973-655-3349.
Family Swim
Faculty/Staff Family Swim
On the last Friday of each month during the academic year, the Department of Athletics and Recreation invites the University faculty/staff to bring up to 4 guests to use the pool for free! No membership to the facility is required, but you must have a valid Montclair ID to join. Flotation devices are allowed as long as they are USCG approved. We also have life jackets available – just ask the lifeguard.
Please note the following rules:
- You must be affiliated with the University to join (Student, Faculty, Staff or Alumni with ID).
- Bring your Montclair ID in order to check-in.
- No prior registration required. First come, first served. Space is limited to 30 people total
- You must accompany your guests at all times during the program.
- All children must be over the age of 5 and fully potty-trained
- The program is limited to the pool only – guests are not permitted to use any equipment or the gymnasium.
Check-in Process:
- Check-in at the table outside of the pool area to receive your wristband. Each ID holder must be present to check-in up to 4 guests over the age of 5.
- Check-in begins at 5pm each day of the program, and all guests must be checked-in before 7pm
- The pool closes at 9:30pm.
Spring 2026 Dates:
- Friday, January 30, 2026
- Friday, February 27, 2026
- Friday, March 27, 2026
- Friday, April 24, 2026