The Children'S Aid Society @Milbank Child Center

I enjoy their swim program but dislike how the people working in the front are rude and inconsiderate with people in general.

My three friends and I started taking adult swim lessons with Splash Fit Swim Club at the Children's Aid - Dunlevy Milbank Center this month (January). I love this place! The pool is heated, the showers are hot, and the ladies dressing room is clean and well-lit. The lockers are small, so only bring essentials. Our group has varying skill levels (2 can't swim at all, 2 are refining their skills), but Coach Mohamed has been good at helping each of us and keeping us all engaged. The pool area is well-supervised, with someone to check-in the students and direct them to the lane where their coach is waiting. Parents are allowed to sit in the bleachers to watch their little ones swim. The program has pretty strict rules about missed classes, (a limited number of make-up lessons are permitted) but this makes me a bit more focused and less likely to miss a lesson. Two thumbs up for swim lessons at Children's Aid - Dunlevy Milbank Center!

I went here for a private adult swim lesson on the weekend; however, it wasn’t very private. There were at least 40 people (children, family members, lifeguards, employees) present on the bleachers, in the pools and on the sidelines. I wasn’t expecting so many onlookers learning how to swim for the first time however my swim instructor was able to teach me some valuable tips. If you can get past the very chaotic and busy scene around you, you can learn some useful information on how to swim.

Had a very rude experience today with the main woman at the front desk. I came in with my bike to watch my nephew play basketball, I was already inside of the vicinity making my way down the hall when the woman yelled out at me saying “we dont allow bikes in the gym” I then responded by saying “if you don’t allow bikes inside why would you watch me come in with my bike and not saying anything” to which she responded “I wanted to see where you were gonna go, you can put your bike outside” in a very nasty tone. I didn’t feel comfortable leaving my bike outside so I responded “I’ll come back another day to watch my nephew” to which she very rudely replied “I think that’s a good idea.” I was also told that Milbank allows dogs inside of the gym but somehow I’m not able to park my bike inside? I grew up coming to Milbank and that experience with that front desk woman made me never want to come back. Her response was also incredibly illogical because if you know that bikes aren’t allowed inside why watch me walk all the way past your desk and turn the corner to then rudely say something. If you work at a front desk you represent the business you’re working for. She is not a good representation of this community space that I grew up in as a Harlem native and was looking forward to watching my nephew play. This experience honestly made me not want to come back as it’s clear that Milbank supports their staff being rude to people coming inside. After sharing my experience with my family today, I was also told by my step father and brother that she rudely yelled hello, as they walked in. Word of advice, if you don’t know how to speak to people in a respectful manner and tone, maybe don’t work at a front desk.

This program has been great for my 10yr old son. This is his second year attending the after-school program. It's a safe and fun environment. The staff is attentive and they keep the kids engaged!!