Swimming Lessons

Starfish (4 to 12 months)

Orientation to water for babies and their parent/caregiver. To enter this level, babies must be able to hold their head up. The goals of this program are to help babies experience buoyancy and movement through songs and play in the water and to teach the parent/caregiver age-specific water safety. One parent per child only. Ratio: 1:10

Duck (12 to 24 months)

Orientation to water for toddlers and their parent/caregiver. Swimmers explore different water movements through games, songs and active water play. The parent/caregiver also learns age-specific water safety. One parent per child only. Ratio: 1:10

Sea Turtle (24 to 36 months)

In this program, the parent/caregiver actively participates with their child for the duration of the program. Swimmers learn, through fun games and songs, how to combine skills and to perform basic floats, glides and kicks with a buoyant object. One parent per child only. Ratio: 1:10

Sea Otter (age 3 to 5)

Sea Otter is where preschoolers who have not previously taken swimming lessons enter the swim program. Parents may wish to actively participate and gradually transfer the care of their child to the instructor. All skills are assisted by the Instructor. Using games and activities, swimmers learn to open their eyes under water, basic floats and glides, and swim 1 metre with assistance. They also learn age-appropriate water safety skills. Ratio: 1:4

Salamander (age 3 to 5)

Swimmers learn to swim independently. They learn to swim 2 metres, further develop basic floats and increase their distance on front and back glide. Front swim and roll-over glide are also included, and swimmers learn appropriate water safety skills such as how to jump into chest-deep water and how to use a Personal Flotation Device (P.F.D.). Safety skills development includes water orientation, safe entries and exits and only swimming when an adult is present. Ratio: 1:5

Sunfish (age 3 to 5)

Swimmers learn to swim 5 metre, increase their distance using buoyant objects, increase their front and back glide with kick, and develop their roll-over glide, slide glide and front swim. Safety skills include deep-water skills, use of a Personal Flotation Device (P.F.D.), safe entries and exits and always asking for permission before going near the water. Ratio: 1:5

Crocodile/Whale (age 3 to 5)

Swimmers learn to swim 7 to 10 metres on their front and back and begin using rhythmic breathing. Front swim is completed by arms coming out of the water in a circular motion. Swimmers perform a distance swim of 10 to 15 metres. Safety skills include identifying safe swimming areas, jumping into deep-water, performing surface support for 10 to 20 seconds, recognizing when a swimmer needs help, throwing assists, sitting dives and using a Personal Flotation Device (P.F.D.) in deep water. Ratio: 1:5

Level 1 (age 6 to 13)

This entry level provides orientation to the water and the pool area. Swimmers receive an orientation to water the pool area. They work on independent floats, glides and kicking. Swimmers build their endurance by working on the 5-metre front swim. Ratio: 1:5

Level 2 (age 6 to 13)

This level provides an introduction to front crawl a by having arms come out of the water while moving in a circular motion. Children are introduced to deep activities and proper use of a Personal Flotation Device ( P.F.D.). Fitness activities include the 10-metre flutter kick and a 10-metre distance swim. Ratio 1:5

Level 3 (age 6 to 13)

This level further develops front crawl and introduces proper breathing technique. Swimmer receives an introduction to diving, and build strength with a 15 metre swim. Ratio: 1:5

Level 4 (age 6 to 13)

The front crawl, back glide and shoulder roll for back crawl are further developed. Swimmers work on kneeling dives, surface support (45 seconds) and developing a greater sense of self-safety by understanding their own limits. Endurance is built through a 25-metre swim. Ratio: 1:5

Level 5 (age 6 to 13)

This level introduces the back crawl (15 metre), sculling skills, whip kick on the back, stride dives and treading water. Front crawl increases to 15 metre. An introduction to safe boating skills is also included. Endurance is developed through a 50 metre swim. Ratio: 1:8

Level 6 (age 6 to 13)

This level refines front crawl with a focus on hand entry and breathing (25 metre), back crawl with a focus on arm positions and body roll (25 metre), and introduces elementary backstroke (15 metre), safety on ice and rescue of others with throwing assists. Swimmers demonstrate the front dive and their ability to tread water in deep water for 1 and a half minutes. Endurance is built through dolphin kick and a 75-metre swim. Ratio: 1:8

Level 7/8 (age 6 to 13)

This level builds skills and endurance for the front crawl, back crawl (50 to 75 metres) and elementary back stroke (25 metre). It introduces swimmers to whip kick on the front and breast stroke (15 metre). Swimmers learn about airway and breathing obstructions, the performance of rescue breathing, the dangers of open water, hypothermia, reaching assists, stride entry and standing shallow dives. Swimmers participate in timed treading water activities using the eggbeater skill for 3 minutes. Endurance is built through a 150- to 300-metre swim. Ratio: 1:8

Level 9/10 (age 6 to 13)

This level refines the front crawl (100 metre), back crawl (100 metre), elementary back stroke (50 metre), breast stroke (25 to 50 metre) and sidestroke (25 metre). It encourages swimmers to combine different kicks for fitness (3 minutes). Swimmers learn about sun safety, wise choices, peer influences, rescue of others from ice, and head-first and feet-first surface dives. Endurance is built through a 400- to 500-metre swim. Ratio: 1:8