What We Offer

Kids Survival Swim Lessons

Safety-first survival and learn-to-swim lessons that build real confidence.

Special Needs Swim Lessons

Individualized, adaptive swim instruction tailored to each swimmer’s needs.

Adult & Teen Swim Lessons

Confidence and safety at any age.

Birthday Parties & Pool Rentals

Celebrate and make a splash.

Open Swim & Family Time

Warm-water fun for practice and play.

About Us

Our Story & Mission

Our Method

Our Promise

Our Guarantees

Water Safety Resources

Catch the Wave

Pecatonica, IL

Survival-first swim lessons for babies, kids, adults & adaptive swimmers — taught the BraveSwim™ way.

About This Location

Catch the Wave Swim Club in Pecatonica offers year-round indoor swim lessons for families seeking structured learn-to-swim programs near Winnebago, Rockford, Seward, German Valley, and Ridott. We teach swimmers of all ages — from infants and toddlers to teens, adults, and adaptive swimmers — how to learn to swim safely and confidently. 

Our lessons begin with essential survival skills before progressing through clearly defined levels that help swimmers develop strong technique and independence. Families near Pecatonica choose Catch the Wave Swim Club for its supportive coaching and safety-first teaching philosophy.

Through the BraveSwim™ Method, and backed by Our Promise to Families, parents can expect a welcoming facility, encouraging coaches, and lessons focused on consistent improvement every step of the way.

Contact

Contact

Monday — Thursday:
1:00pm – 7:00pm

Friday:
Closed

Saturday — Sunday:
8:30am – 2:00pm

Location map

How This Location Started

Unmatched Guarantees

We stand behind our coaching and safer swimmer guarantee.

Splash Back Guarantee

If it wasn’t their day, we’ll make sure the next 
one is.

Safer Swimmer Guarantee

We don’t just teach swimming — we guarantee progress.

First Lesson Satisfaction Guarantee

Try your first class completely risk-free — love it or get a full refund.

Simple Pricing

Straightforward pricing with convenient monthly billing. Pay-as-you-go options are available — contact the office for details.

Standard Group Lessons

$22.00

/per lesson

Billed monthly

What’s Included:

Great for swimmers of all ages and levels.

Pricing does not include the annual family fee.

Standard Private or Family Lessons

$44.00

/per lesson

Billed monthly. One flat rate covers 1–4 swimmers.

What’s Included:

Great for siblings, small groups, adults, or swimmers who need more individualized attention.

Pricing does not include the annual family fee.

Annual Family Fee

$36.00

One-time fee

Our $36 annual family fee keeps things easy. One yearly fee covers registrations for your entire family — no per-child charges. And instead of separate processing fees, technology fees, or other add-on costs throughout the year, everything is rolled into this simple charge. Tuition + annual fee.

That’s it.

ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS & OFFERINGS

Special Needs Swim Lessons

We offer adaptive and special needs swim lessons focused on safety and individualized progress. Most swimmers begin in private lessons at our regular private lesson rate, with group options available in some cases. Start by completing our intake form so we can recommend the best fit.

Adult & Teen Swim Lessons

Adult swim lessons are available for teens and adults and are always taught in a private format at our regular private lesson rate. Lessons are typically scheduled during quieter times. Tell us about your goals through the intake form to get started.

Birthday Parties & Pool Rentals

We offer private indoor pool birthday parties at this location for children of all swimming levels. Complete the inquiry form and we’ll email you full party details, including pricing, availability, party length, and what’s included.

Open Swim & Family Time

Open swim and practice swim options are available at select times. Availability and pricing vary based on what you’re looking for. Complete the inquiry form and we’ll follow up with current options.

WaveFit Classes

Wavefit classes are a great way to stay active but in a low impact, warm water environment.

See the BraveSwim™ Difference

Social & Community

Follow Catch the Wave for class updates, safety tips, swimmer celebrations, and more.

Take the Next Step

Choose the option that fits your family best — enroll online, reach out with questions, or connect with our team for guidance.

frequently asked questions

We are located at 450 West Third Street, just a few blocks from the Winnebago County Fairgrounds. Our central location makes us a convenient hub for families in Pecatonica, Winnebago, and German Valley.

Pecatonica offers survival-first swim lessons, Parent-Child classes, private and semi-private lessons, adaptive swim lessons, adult & teen lessons, open swim & family time, water aerobics, and private pool rentals.

Yes—Pecatonica offers year-round enrollment. After-school times often fill fastest, while mid-day options may have quicker openings.

Yes. Pecatonica offers private and semi-private lessons for swimmers who benefit from individualized pacing, additional repetition, targeted confidence-building, or specific goals. 

Tuition at Pecatonica is $22.00 per lesson for Small Groups. If you prefer Private or Family instruction, the rate is a flat $66.00 per lesson (shared by up to 4 swimmers). We charge a single Annual Family Fee of $36. This covers your entire household for a full year, even if you take a break for a month and return later. We never charge hidden “junk” fees.

We teach swimmers from about 3 months old through adulthood, including older beginners.

The Pecatonica location features a specialized salt-water warm-water indoor pool (typically 88-91°F), private changing rooms, accessible entry, viewing areas, hair dryers, and parking.

Arrive a little early so we can show you around the facility and answer any questions. Our team will help you get oriented, explain where to wait and watch, and make sure your swimmer feels comfortable meeting their coach before class begins.

Many families find salt-water systems feel gentler on eyes and skin compared to traditional chlorine pools. Water is still carefully maintained for safety and cleanliness.

Yes—Pecatonica runs year-round with rolling enrollment and no fixed session start dates.

Standard enrollment requires 30 days notice to discontinue. Casual enrollment has no ongoing commitment beyond lessons purchased. The first lesson isn’t free, but it’s satisfaction-guaranteed.

While many of our swimmers live right here in Pecatonica, we regularly serve families traveling from Winnebago, Seward, German Valley, and Ridott. We are also a popular choice for families in Durand and Lake Summerset looking for a premium salt-water pool experience.

Yes. We believe transparency builds trust. You are welcome to visit our Pecatonica facility to observe a class, meet the site director, and see our safety protocols in action. Please check in at the front desk when you arrive so we can guide you to the viewing area.

Yes. We are active members of the Pecatonica community. We regularly host water safety presentations for local preschools, scout troops, and parent groups. If you would like us to speak to your group about drowning prevention, please contact our local office.

Families choose our Pecatonica location for its salt-water warm-water pool, calm environment, and smaller-community feel. It’s especially popular with families seeking a gentler water experience while still receiving the same survival-first curriculum and coaching standards used across all Catch the Wave locations.

Yes. This Catch the Wave Swim Club location is independently owned and operated by a local team while following the BraveSwim™ curriculum, safety standards, and coaching systems used across all Catch the Wave locations.

How This Location Started

The Pecatonica location began with someone who understood pools from the inside out. Before opening Catch the Wave in Pecatonica, the owner had built a career managing swim facilities — overseeing daily operations, maintaining proper sanitation, and ensuring pools stayed safe and functional for the communities they served. Through that work, he became closely familiar with Catch the Wave after bringing his own children through the program and working directly with its founder. Seeing firsthand how the curriculum worked — and the confidence it built — he recognized the potential to bring that same impact to his own community. At the time, the pool operated as part of J&J Tumbling, Dance & Swim. While the facility offered swimming lessons, it was never the primary focus. Gymnastics and tumbling led the program, leaving the pool underutilized and the swim instruction secondary. After seeing the results Catch the Wave consistently delivered, an agreement was made to fully separate and buy out the swim program, shutting down the swimming portion of J&J and allowing Catch the Wave to take its place. Catch the Wave officially opened in Pecatonica in 2019, becoming one of the few swim programs serving the surrounding communities — and the only one focused on survival-first instruction and confidence-building from the ground up. Since opening, the Pecatonica location has become a staple of the community. It reflects exactly how Catch the Wave grows: when experienced people believe in the program, commit fully, and build something with purpose, the results follow.

Water Safety Challenges

To reinforce BraveSwim™ survival skills, we offer optional, age-appropriate Water Safety Challenges at no additional cost: 

During these challenges, swimmers practice applying their survival skills fully clothed — entering the water and demonstrating age-appropriate safety responses in more realistic conditions. 

Water Safety Challenges are offered on an ongoing basis throughout the year. Please check with your local Catch the Wave office for upcoming dates and availability.