★ 2

Review for Life Time Swim Maple Grove -
Staff is good facility is deteriorating.

We've had our kids enrolled in group swim lessons at this Life Time facility for over two years now, and unfortunately, the experience has consistently fallen short of what you'd expect—especially at nearly $30 for a 30-minute group session per child.

Facility Maintenance:
The overall maintenance of the swim facility is extremely poor. The bathrooms are consistently dirty, and it seems like cleaning only happens during shower times—which is not a substitute for proper sanitation. Fixtures like toilet paper holders are rusted, and trash cans are visibly corroded. These are not isolated incidents—I have photos documenting this over a long period. It’s clear that upkeep is simply not a priority here.

Dryers & Amenities:
There are always issues with the hair dryers. Only one dryer ever works, and it’s constantly in use or malfunctioning. The drainage in that area is poor, often resulting in water pooling and making the area unpleasant to use.

Scheduling & Missed Lessons:
Life Time operates swim lessons every day of the week, but if they decide to close for a national holiday, families still get charged for that week’s session. Instead of a refund or no charge you're given a "replacement token"—which rarely matches the quality or continuity of a normal lesson. This feels more like arip off than a solution.

Source: Google

★ 1

Edit: I’m adjusting my review from 5 ⭐️ to 1 ⭐️

After an in-depth, repetitive discussion with their corporate lead it is my perception that their goals for swim lessons vastly differ from my own. My goal is that I pay for my child to learn a skill in these classes, that the instructor manages and keeps the class organized on a path to completion, and that the pool manager is consistently managing the instructor. Given my situation and the corporate lead asking me point-blank “what is your goal” after months and months stuck on the last skill to pass the class and trying to motivate them to get their instructor to work on my child’s last skill so she can move on to the next class I don’t believe our goals align. I pay for my child to learn a skill, the pool manager to manage the instructor, and the instructor keep the class organized and progressing, however, I’ve had to intervene through emails (including one from their front desk telling ME to tell the pool manager to test my child out of the class-ok, I’ll just pay myself to do your job and manage your staff) and getting frustrated when I’m face to face with the corporate lead because I basically repeated myself several times until he finally heard it just one, more time that their team did not communicate that an instructor was not returning months after they said she would…and he wants me to have a call, because the face-to-face got me so frustrated after repeating to him the same things over and over until he understood while I’m the one turning red in the face and calling me out for being visibly upset. Yikes.

So, to be honest I don’t know what their goals are at this swim school if the corporate lead is questioning what my goal is after again-repeating my goal that should also be theirs. It is definitely not to pay hundreds to watch my child struggle with a final skill because they are in my opinion, not trying to a teach her it to pass and move on. This is the second time a teacher has spent MONTHS and months not paying attention to what final skill my child needs to complete her class to move on until I had to step up in emails to make them aware of what is going on.

They keep reverting back to this final skill as hard to learn, but they cannot agree that the child needs to be taught and instructed to actually pass, and not hang out in the middle of pool and play games for a large portion of class. I fully expect to have to explain this again to them. They still have not answered how much time it has taken to get this final star complete. They also seem to accept these instructors are ok to stay on staff even if we were to move classes, which seems odd.

I would like to know what their goal is if I have repeat to the company my goal is for my child to learn a skill, as that they don’t understand that. I should not be questioned, they should be questioning their staff and what they can do better.

The other reviews about stagnation within this swim school are spot on. I just don’t understand that if this corporate leader has been in his role for many years that he is just being passive to generate more income for the company, or if he’s trying to sell me on the perception that what I’m experiencing is wrong…idk..I get they are trying to get me to move on without fixing the problem, but how does that help my child or the rest of their customer base? I disagree with the corporate leader, this is not the best swim school in MN if this their personal best.

Then, this corporate leader became visibly and publicly upset when my daughter urged me once more to leave and go have dinner with my family after he didn’t try to listen (again I had to repeat myself so my many times I became frustrated with him and we were getting nowhere-he just really wanted me to give in and accept they were not going to try to help fix a problem that agree was on their shoulders).

Hopefully a better update later.

Source: Google

★ 5

Swim team is amazing and competitive!

Source: Google

★ 2

We had both sons enrolled at this swim school for nearly a year and our youngest never moved up. He could do all the skills for me in the pool, but when it came time for him to test out they didn’t give him enough time to complete each task. They have high standards without the proper skills to help kids meet those standards.

My oldest was enrolled as well and only moved up a class once. We were at Foss prior to Lifetime then made the switch due to availability; that was a mistake. Our kids moved up two classes in the span of 3 months at Foss. Foss holds high standards with proper support and teaching techniques, as well as giving kids adequate time to work on each skill in the pool properly with guidance. I saw my kids practicing bad habits in front of their teachers without correction and guidance from their teachers.

I used to teach swimming lessons, and I compete in triathlons and OWS races, so I have a fairly good head on my shoulders when it comes to swim skills. I feel Lifetime either wants to keep their students in each class for longer periods of time because it’s more money in their pockets, or they lack the proper teaching skills to coach young children in the water.

I wouldn’t recommend.

Source: Google

★ 4

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★ 5

Awesome place, front desk staff is positive and always say hi when you walk in.
Pool is super clean and so are most showers. Great place to swim at!

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★ 5

Great place great people

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★ 5

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★ 5

My daughter has been doing really well.Great teachers overall, except maybe one.

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★ 5

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★ 1

Moved from foss swim to try out life swim after moving near to the location. After months, I have found out the whole program system is a rip off. They’ll keep your child stagnant on a level for months just to collect money from you for the longest, then blame the child for not performing enough to move on to the next level.

Also they’ll tell you that you’ll have make up classes but never has any opening. So your money will be gone to the drain if you’re ever to miss any classes.

We will be going back to foss swim.

Source: Google

★ 2

Terrible front desk staff who wasn’t listening to the customer and kept repeating herself with impatience. It seems she doesn’t understand the rules of how to make up for missed sessions, which are not assigning a specific instructor for it. It’s not a complicated system so it implies the incompetence. I do not recommend this place!

Source: Google

★ 5

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★ 5

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★ 5

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★ 2

This establishment should be reported to the BBB for their inability to honor the tokens they hand out for missing sessions due to no fault of the customer. Scheduling is poorly managed and their system constantly fails to notify parents when class is canceled. I suggest Life Time corporate take a close look at their swim school business before it affects their gyms. Disappointing to say the least.

Source: Google

★ 1

You will not receive credit or refund for classes the swim school cancels (lack of instructors, broken heaters, unsafe electrical, weather, etc). You will receive tokens that you cannot use, and that expire quickly; it’s a nightmare system. Because of their staffing issues, your child will lose progress while waiting for spots to open in other classes. They will also charge you full monthly amounts if you are on autopay, even if you’re not currently taking classes. Monitor your credit card statements!

Source: Google

★ 1

The day I enrolled, hearing having flood or other issues in a pool. keep getting tokens without our failure. and on August 6th, 2023 when we were there for swim lesson, instructed told come out of the pool, since either someone threw up or pooped in a pool, so disgusting. in my life I have never experienced such gross accident. I'm wondering why any family bring either sick kids or not fully trained kids to swim school ??? when it's come to hygiene, it is not acceptable. Today, again we need to for swim lesson I m having so bad anxiety so enter that building. it seems very poorly handled & managed.

Source: Google

★ 1

LT Swim Maple Grove is poorly managed, please avoid the facility. They keep issuing makeup tokens regularly for reasons like pool not safe, class cancelled, overflow not working and what not. I have been accumulating makeup tokens for past 3 years and nobody ever told me that they expire. I lost 2 years worth of makeup tokens. Moreover, the makeup classes are never communicated and every time I asked they kept telling me that nothing is available. Please avoid this facility, you are better off not losing money due to poor communication, billing issues, trainer unavailability, pool issues etc.

Source: Google

★ 4

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★ 1

Their makeup swim token process is an absolute joke and total nightmare. We have so many make up tokens to use but I cannot get my child signed up due to their ridiculous process. Sign up window “opens” at 9am but only for “some people” so good luck getting into a class! Oh and good luck trying to get ahold of someone that works here. They don’t care! Beyond done trying to make it work here, going back to FOSS.

Source: Google

★ 1

My frustration with LT Swim continues to grow. One of my kids finally started swimming again after her class was paused for staffing issues. She finished that level and now we’re on long waitlists trying to get into the next level. One thing that originally sold us on LT was the fact that they issue make up tokens if you miss a class, which can be used for swim clinics and private lessons. Don’t bother, the clinics and private lessons fill up less than 1 minute after registration opens.

Source: Google

★ 1

So you’d have to provide medical receipts if your kid can’t make it for a class or else no refund. Being a lifetime gym member for over 4 years I found this place appalling that one has to spend time download medical receipts for cancellation refund. Foss says thanks!!!

Source: Google

★ 5

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★ 1

I am a current Bronze Swim Team member, and today was probably my worst with this team. The current and head coach, Josh, has been very snappy as of recently, trying to get me and another girl to do a 100 Fast. After he told us repeatedly that "we missed it, and to get out of his pool if we didnt want to swim." (the intervals), I got very discouraged to do any major workout due to my diagnosed anxiety and depression, which HE knows. I was also on my period last week, causing me to miss 2 days of practice, which he also knew. I don't want to see this behavior from a swim coach. PLEASE. For the faith in humanity, train your coaches on not snapping at others for not going fast enough. Thank you.

Source: Google

★ 1

I had a membership and they towed my car while I was there! The front desk ladies were rude and not helpful at all. They accused me of not being a member. Never in my life have I ever had a business do this to me. This was so unprofessional and disgusting. They told me they were paranoid of the residents who lived in the apartment building across from the business parking in their parking lot. What a poor excuse. The two front desk ladies should be fired for being so bad at their job!

Source: Google

★ 1

Horrible management of school, in the last 2 months we had 1 class only due to all the cancelation, lack of appropriate teachers, inadequate planning for working with kids, and broken down equipment. You will be promised a private less for 3 missed, except nothing is available and there's no way to schedule anything. Skip it and go to Foss. We are going back to Foss after this disaster.

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★ 5

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★ 1

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★ 4

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★ 5

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★ 5

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★ 5

Positive experience for my kids. Swim instructors are patient and encouraging.

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★ 5

All the swim instructors and front desk staff are incredible! Melia stands out as a teacher who pushes swimmers to excel and has wonderful communication with the parents, but we've had great experiences with Leah, Isabelle, Rachel and Charles as well! I love how even when your children level up they can typically stay in the same group, unless they are far ahead of the other swimmers. It helps to maintain a stable schedule and plan for other activities.

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★ 5

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★ 5

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★ 5

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★ 4

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★ 5

Clean, family friendly environment with spacious changing rooms.

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★ 5

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★ 5

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★ 5

My daughter has been swimming here for past couple of years and this place is amazing! The staff are great. Rachel is SO great with the kids.

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★ 5

Instructors are amazing and very energetic! My 7 year old had a blast!

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★ 5

Very nice place, very clean and very professional staff. My kids have improved in their swimming ability very quickly. I like the place!

Source: Google

★ 5

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★ 5

We recently had my daughter's birthday party at LT Swim (Maple Grove) and received multiple compliments on the facility, the staff and the setup.
If you're looking for a great party location, this is it! The entire facility was ours, so many swim toys, a secure-locked locker room, personalized food and decorations, fun lifeguard staff that kept our attendees safe, and also organized games for them. Our attendees were on the younger side (2-6 was the average), and we had a lot of of adults in the pool (they didn't have to be), but they loved swimming too. The water was so comfortable. I can see my daughter having many parties here as she grows.
Not only was the party a great success, but the planning was fun. We worked closely with Alison on the details and she so helpful, accommodating, and provided great food and decorations for the party. I should also mention the cost for this party was very reasonable and comparable to any other activity birthday party.
Thank you LT Swim! Our daughter can't wait for another party!

Source: Google

★ 5

Great facility. Awesome atmosphere and hats off to all instructors because they all working hard behind every kids. I’m going there with my toddler daughter. Toddler can distract a lot but in some situations parents and instructors can’t do much. Still lifetime swim is a great place for kids. Hats of to instructor Leah. Thank you lifetime swim.

Source: Google

★ 4

More expensive than lessons through the city but the attention they are given is worth it.

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★ 5

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★ 5

I signed up for private adult swimming lessons (nervously) and had such an amazing experience! The staff is so nice and my teacher (Susan) went above and beyond for me to help me achieve my swimming goals. I highly, highly recommend this school.

Source: Google

★ 3

I've been a Life Time member since 2012, and started private swim lessons for my daughter back in January, and continued as much as possible through the pandemic, and back to normal up to today.

As a former professional athlete, I rate them a 3 star because they're too focused on trying to compete, and completely missing the fundamental basics with my daughter, and also I believe they may have retaliated against me for calling that out to the staff in private, by shortening the pool length for my daughter's private lessons, and blaming that on other factors, when that's the approach for nearly 9 months.

That being said, let's focus on clearly observable pros: outstanding facilities, overall very knowledgeable and friendly staff, great instructors, great staff at desk and throughout.

Clearly observable cons: too focused on competitive swimming, not enough focus on survival swimming skills, swimming pools are not deep enough to test survival skills.

My goals have been train my daughter to be able to swim, so that I can be comfortable to know that if she goes to a friend's house, and is in a 8 to 12 ft pool, or something like that, she could swim, not compete, and the school doesn't have enough options for that, and may have give me backlash because of that call out.

I'll continue to go, but will explore other schools, and potentially another exercise club too.

Source: Google

★ 5

Great swimming school!

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★ 1

One star just because they don't disclose that there is a 30 days notice cancellation fees and when you try to drop enrollment they will NOT help you with anything but charge you for another month.
One star for showing no interest in helping, for not even trying to offer anything to work it out, for terrible customer service.
Won't be returning here that's for sure !!

Source: Google

★ 5

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★ 5

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★ 5

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★ 5

Life Time Swim is the best place we've gone for swimming lessons. The staff are wonderful people. I don't think I've met a single one I don't like! I love being greeted by Alison's smiling face, and seeing lots of friendly faces throughout.
I love that there's continuity with the kids going every week, not just a 4-8 week session. My kids love having the same teacher every week. And from what I few seen, it looks like the teachers are all great with kids, and know how to make everything fun.
And I've never heard a single complaint about cold water, while some other places we've tried have "invigorating" water temps.

Source: Google

★ 5

Beautiful. Covid response is A+

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★ 5

Beautiful facility. Kind staff.

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★ 5

What an amazing class.

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★ 5

Incredible swim lessons for kids. We came here after several years at Foss. The teachers are same caliber as Foss, but the entire building is so much nicer and new. AND it's HALF the price of Foss.

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★ 3

Great place if you can find a place to park.

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★ 3

Great facility and convenient location for youth lessons. Swim team provides good opportunity for High School swimmers to improve their conditioning and skills during off-season, but so far lacks the team size and associated camaraderie of more established swim clubs.

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★ 4

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★ 5

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★ 5

Great facility! The family style locker rooms make it so much easier to get ready with a little one. The staff is amazing and we enjoy taking our 5 month old to swim lessons each weekend!

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★ 5

Amazing facility and great instructors! Friendly staff at the desk.

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★ 5

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